Four of HYC’s K25 team (Cian Kelly, Ciara McMahon, Aoibhín Farrelly, and Fiachra Farrelly) travelled to Cowes last week to compete in the Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore's Invitational. Racing J/70s for the first time, they faced a tough two-day series with five races on the first day in moderate to heavy breeze and only two on the second day, the rest of the planned races being cancelled due to the high winds.

Across seven races they showed consistent form, with two fifth place finishes as the highlights. They finished 7th overall on 36 points (5, 6, [9], 7, 6, 7, 5) in a competitive ten-boat fleet that included several teams fresh from the Europeans.

 

The series was won convincingly by Royal Thames YC, sailed by Marshall King, who posted just 7 points across the seven races. Royal Cork YC's William Twomey took second on 13 points, with RNSA's Simon Horsfield rounding out the podium on 24.

The K25 team will be returning to the J24s over the summer, participating once again in Howth Yacht Club’s Women at the Helm event on the 3rd of July, with an all female crew. The rest of the summer will see them in Carlingford at the CLYC regatta and HYC’s regular club racing as they gear up for J24 Nationals in Foynes, where they hope to top last year’s silver and take home the gold.

Written by: Archie Malcolm

Photo credit: Aoibhín Farrelly