Three boats represented Howth YC at the recent RS Aero European Championships in Travemünde. Daragh Sheridan, John Phelan and Emmet Dalton joined three other Irish Aeros at the north eastern German port town, to make a combined fleet of 197.

 

Travemunder Woche is one of the largest regattas in Europe, with over 1,000 boats competing over ten days. It’s not all about sailing either. The long beaches, drifting down into the Bay of Lübeck, and the quays along the River Trav were packed with day- and night-time entertainment, food, music and an awesome final night laser show.

 

Back on the race course, the Aeros were dealt fourteen races, the second day of which was an epic four races affair in big airs. These were the conditions Daragh had prayed for, John had accepted and Emmet dreaded! The former pair clocked up some impressive results and, for the most part, kept the mast bits above the boat bits. The latter decided this would be an ideal day to visit Lübeck, get some World-famous marzipan into the suitcase and have the beers waiting in the boat park for the two returning heroes.

 

The final seven races on Thursday and Friday provided us with steady winds but, even for “Offshore” sailors from Howth, the waves were tricky. One minute, you could look like a sailing god, the next a complete novice as the bows resembled scrambled dive scenes from “Das Boot”. 

 

Daragh topped the Irish placings in the Aero 6 fleet, coming 6th overall and second Master. John rounded up his regatta in a strong 30th, with Emmet’s 43rd reflecting a midweek day supporting the Schleswig-Holstein tourism industry.

 

Commendation should also go to the National YC’s Noel Butler in 11th overall, chalking up six top-ten results along the way.

 

Cork was represented by Sophie Crosbie, closing out her Aero 5 Europeans in 5th overall, while Greystones’s Roy van Maanen took 33rd in the same division.

 

The 2027 RS Aero Europeans are being hosted by our neighbours in the National Yacht Club. Expect big demand for boats between now and then!

 

Results:  https://www.travemuender-woche.com/en/the-regatta/results-2/

Gallery: https://gallery.digitalsailing.co.uk/rsaeroeuropeanandyouthworldchampionship/

Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbKUjkiDh7s/