Thames tops in Racing Challenge

The Royal Thames YC led by Adam Gosling emerged overall winners of the Chubb Insurance International Team Racing Challenge on Dublin Bay yesterday after a gruelling 56-race series.

Decided on a tie-break with the New York Yacht Club, both sides had ten wins apiece and just three points in the overall scores decided the result.

A fleet of 26 Sigma 33 One-designs was used over the two days for the eight teams drawn from both sides of the Atlantic.

The RTYC won this event on The Solent two years, but the recent development of the club’s Academy programme saw the team benefit by the inclusion of several BUSA (British Universities Sailing Association) champions on their three-boat squad.

Later this year, a return event will take place in Newport, Rhode Island when the annual Patriot’s Cup will be sailed and invitations have been extended to teams from Ireland and Britain to take part.