Irish Match Racing takes the international stage
by Irish Sailing Team 4 Dec 2023 09:30 UTC
Irish Match Racing Team © Irish Sailing Team
Irish Match Racing is in full swing especially as we head into December.
Ruairi Finnegan and his team Craic'n Racing will be stopping off in France before they head to China for the Final series of the Year of the World Match Racing Tour. He is joined by Ryan Fitzgerald, Noah McCarthy and Dan Little.
Recap of their summer here.
Speaking with Ruairi at a training session held for both teams travelling internationally last Saturday he commented that it was great to see so much interest and activation in this area of the sport as we watched the National Yacht Club's Saturday Series sail past on Elliots. Only to then be followed by their Sunday series as well.
"it's great to see people doing it, there's always been a bit in the Elliot's (as we could see) but it's good to see more people getting involved and we are keen to set up an association to represent all the people interested in doing it"
He also made reference to the popularity of the Women's Match Racing Tour and how it would be great to see an Irish team their consistently.
Tom Higgins is the second helm travelling abroad as he heads to the Youth Match Racing Worlds in Sydney. Tom started his match racing journey competing at the Governors Cup in Los Angeles over the summer and even stepped aboard the Craic'n Racing team for their Chicago and Thompson Cup events.
Tom is joined by Fiona Ferguson, Jamie McMahon and one other Australian sailors. This will be the first time Ireland is represented at this event and we are very excited to see the progression of Irish teams in this part of the sport.
And finally a culmination of UCD, TCD and TUD sailors are set to head to Copenhagen for the KDY Xmas Match Racing Cup. Adam Leddy, Ben Lumley, Oisin Cullen, Kate O'Connor and Evan Smith will be taking on this challenge.
Ruairi Finnegan has paved the way for Irish Teams on the world Tour, while Tom takes up the mantle for the youth circuit only leaving us eager to now find an all Female Irish Team.