The David Harte-inspired Fastnet Marine & Outdoor Education Centre in Schull is a great resource for sailing in Ireland, as its well-managed setup facilitates flexibility when the weather has been disobliging. Thus although the Junior Championship of Champions scheduled for the first weekend of October was blown out, the Centre had no bother in setting up another championship a month later, immediately before their own annual Team Racing Training Week.

In those circumstances, it was more than appropriate that the Team Racing Nominee in the National Juniors, Russell Bolger of Royal St George YC crewed by Louis McGovern, emerged clearly as the new title-holder in the National Junior title after, successfully demonstrating that his team racing skills enabled him to keep close opponents well down the fleet as the full series unfolded. He won by a clear six points, making Russell Bolger our “Sailor of the Month (Junior)” for November.

A busy week of Team Racing focus with the Fastnet Marine & Outdoor Education Centre’s TR 3.6s - with much input from Schull Community College - concluded on Friday (November 3rd) after successfully handling a decidedly mixed bag of weather. The hectic week had got off to a flying start with the postponed National Junior Championship finally being sailed with some very intense competition.

The Team Racing Nominee in the National Juniors, Russell Bolger of Royal St George YC crewed by Louis McGovern, emerged clearly as the new title-holder in the National Junior title after successfully demonstrating that his team racing skills enabled him to keep close opponents well down the fleet as the full series unfolded. He won on 28 points to the 34 of Max Cully of Blessington, crewed by Freddie Nelson, with Royal Cork’s Liam Duggan taking third on 39 with Andrew Kingston as crew.

A tough competitor in boat duelling – the 2023 Junior National Champion Russell Bolger of the Royal St George YC with his newly-won trophies in Schull

The overall results table shows a very satisfactory nationwide spread of home clubs in this junior Championship of Champions, and it reminds us that while everyone else seemed to be battening down the hatches during this past week with the prospect of Storm Ciaran passing to the south, the keen and efficient sailing management in Schull was able to fulfil two events of national significance to round out a busy season.

The gallant little pit pony of sailing in Ireland – the David Harte-created TR 3.6 finding sunshine sailing this past week in Schull

National Junior Championship Results at Schull Harbour Sailing Club