The Final Show Down!!!

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 30, 2009
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Today Friday the 30th of October, saw the 12 teams competing for the Student Yachting Worlds, go at it for their last day of racing. All was left to fight for with second place through to 6th only points apart. The Italians had cleaned up and had secured 1st position yesterday and are now the 2009 Student Yachting World Cup champions.

The race committee had a plan to get two windward leeward races off today but resulted in only one as the winds in Marsielle decided not to hold out for the final race.
RACE 1 today and Race 14 of the championship got underway in a 6 knot flukey breeze. ‘3 Mobile’ CIT  Team were off to a great start and in the top 5 of the fleet. They went on to round the windward mark in 4th position and continued their battle on the downwind  reaching the leeward mark in 4th having held off the fighting pack.
However USA had taken a wild gamble and were the first to gybe and went out left on the downwind they gained 7 places and climed from 8th at the windward to 1st at the leeward mark. Where the committee decided to finish the race. CIT finished in 4th, Italy 3rd, France 2nd and USA 1st. This led to a shuffle on the overall leaderboard.

The Overall Standings of the 2009 Student Yachting World Cup in Marsielle France are:
1st – ITALY – 24points.
2nd – CZECH REPUBLIC – 45points.
3rd – FRANCE (Audencia) – 48points.
4th – USA – 49points.
5th – CIT – 49points.

A long day on the water for all of the teams at SYWOC ‘09

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 29, 2009
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Day 5 in Marsielle was the first day in which the teams made it out without any postponment to racing. The wind had filled in nicely overnight and there was a slightly steady 6 to 10knots across the bay of Marsielle awaiting the teams to get their second last day underway.

The committee decided to get the fleet on there way with a windward leeward. The ‘3 mobile’ CIT team got off the line in good position and rounded the top mark in 4th position. CIT was in close battle with the front runners as usual for the entirity of the race, only been taken by Welsh on the final downwind leg did they end up with a 5th place in race one of the day.

Race 2 of the day saw the committee send the fleet on the longest isnhore costal yet a 20mile sprint along the coast of Marsielle showing the crews some new sights. CIT was well placed in the top of the fleet when they suffered damage to their spinnaker. Which snagged on an object below deck during the hoist for the final run back of the race. The crew of CIT were able to contine to hold the spinnaker but were hindered to make any gains and started to fall out of the leading pack. As a result the crew of  CIT crossed the finish line in 7th place.
The crew of the ‘3 Mobile CIT’ got its self to the dock as soon as possible in order to do the nesseary repairs to the spinnaker in preperation for the night race.

As this press release goes out the teams of the Student Yachting World Cup have departed from Marseille and have started the night race. Only time will tell how CIT will preform on this gruelling race, after such a long day on the water.

Day 4! Finally got racing….

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 28, 2009
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Wednesday in Marseille and the outstanding sunny weather led to  the race committee decided to hoist the AP flag (postponment of racing) at 10am this morning on the dock leaving the crews to enjoy the city centre of Marsielle until 12.30, when the sea breeze kicked in. Leaving enough time to run 2 races today.

RACE 1:
Was a 2 lap windward leeward that found the crew of the ‘3 Mobile’ sponsored CIT team off the line in flying form and rounded the first windward mark in 7th with the Italians, USA and Swiss out ahead. The downwind showed CIT hot the heels of the rest of the fleet, after gaining on the Czech Republic CIT capitalized on this and went on to gain position themselves well on the next beat taking out the Swiss on the second windward rounding, CIT went on to take the USA on the downwind and finished in second place.

RACE 2:
Found the race committee sending the fleet on a small 10Mile inshore coastal around the island of Iles du Friel. This time taking all the rocks and island to port, unlike Monday when the teams took the island to starboard. CIT had a good start and were off the line with speed and went to hold this position for first quarter of the race. But with the ever changing wind conditions and the sea breeze increasing slightly the crew of CIT went on to loose out on a major lift, loosing them positions. After the teams rounded the island and headed downwind the fleet had seperated out and there was a breakaway fleet of 6 boats out ahead, “3 mobile’ CIT was among this along with the Swiss, Italians, French with the English having a blinder of a day and leading the fleet around the inshore course. CIT narrowly lost the battle by boat lenghts of the forward fleet and finished in 6th position.

Tomorrow brings a new day, but for tonight the teams have all headed home to prepare for the “Team Dinner” which involves each country cooking a traditional dish. The “3 mobile” CIT team along with UL Sailing Team are preparing Irish Stew with Lamb all the way from Ireland courtesy of Durcan Butchers, and some good ol’ smoked salmon from The Good Fish Company.

The overall standings after todays racing:
Italy – 1st position on 11 points.
Czech Republic – 2nd on 29 points.
‘3 Mobile’ CIT – 3rd on 30 points.
USA – 4th on 31 points.
SUI – 5th on 35 points.

Day 3 of racing & no night race due to lack of wind!

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 27, 2009
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With the forecasted wind strength of  5 to 9 knots, the teams of the world championship left the dock into what would be both challenging and frustrating conditions.

RACE 1:
After an average start the team battled hard on the upwind leg and even after and unlucky wind shift managed to round the mark in 8th place. At the bottom mark, with a bold move the CIT crew managed to gain 3 places and continued to gain on the fleet by the last mark rounding CIT were in 3rd place and held this to the finish. A great achievement considering the conditions and our placing at the first mark.

RACE 2:
The breeze looked unlikely to hold out for the teams for the second race of the day the
sea breeze kicked in nice and early and the race was underway with little delay.
The fleet were sent on a log beat to a rock off the island of Iles du Frioul, where CIT were mid fleet. After rounding the rock the fleet seemed to be forever switching positions, some staying by the shore of the island and others heading out to the bay hoping for some fresh breeze. CIT went from 9th to 4th and back to 6th. The racing made from excellent spectating for all whom were looking enough to be enjoying yet another fabulous day in the South of France. CIT went on to pick off England on the final approach to the finish. Leaving them finish in 5th.

Due to lack of wind this evening the night race was thrown by the way side, to much delight of many of the teams. As no one was looking forward to floating around the Bay of Marseille in what was to be a painful night of sailing.

The overall standings at the moment are as below:
1st Italy on 15 points.
2nd Czech Republic on 27 points.
3rd CIT on 28 points.
4th France (Audencia) on 30 points.
5th USA on 31 points.

Second day of racing in Marseille

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 26, 2009
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As the teams headed out into the bay of Marseille this morning, they were greeted with a lovely solid 10 knots of breeze rather than the 2 to 5 knots that were expected.

The first race of the day was an amazing costal race showing us all the beautiful scenry and the island of  Iles du Frioul. The race committee sent the fleet on a small up wind leg before having them head downwind to the famous cardinals Pte d’Endoume. CIT were 6th at the first windward mark and rounded the famous cardinals in 3rd before broad reaching across to the shore of the island. CIT went on to finish 4th in Race 1.

Race 2, was a two lap windward leeward course in the slightly increasing breeze. CIT came off the line in some dirty air and rounded the  windward mark in 8th but went on to pick off  the Swiss and English on the downwind leg. CIT continued their fight and picked off the Czech Republic in the final sprint to the finish and went on to finish in fourth place.

Race 3, was again a windward leeward with the breeze holding nicely for the teams. With the confidence growing among many of the teams, some seemed too sure of themselves and the start of race there were many great games being played. However CIT were trying to sail there own race when FRA (Audencia, France) decided to intervein, which ended in a slight collision with 5seconds to the gun. This has led to a protest, which is currently in session and CIT await the decision of the International Jury.

Frustrating conditions in Marseille!

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 25, 2009
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After a  very different day on the water the ‘3 Mobile’ CIT Sailing Team, came off  the water with their heads held high.

The light winds that dominated the day, saw the fleet being postponed for the first race and finally getting away in a small 5/6knots of wind and rounded the windward mark in second place. After sticking to the right with the majority of the fleet the wind completely died and left the fleet sitting in rippless water that resembled a mirror. The course was then shortned and favoured to left side of the course leaving all on the right to a slight upset. CIT went on to finish 7th in Race one.
Race two was delayed again from the lack of wind, but the race committee were determined to get as many races as possible off today, as the forecast for the coming days is looking like a no show in the wind department.
CIT were in the mix for the entirity of race 2, only for the Swiss holding them out on the downwind would they have come to finish in the top 3. CIT then went on to finish 5th.
Race three went ahead and saw CIT struggle in the starting sequence after crossing the line at the back of the fleet. They went on to pick off the fleet and rounded the windward mark in first position. They held a 30m lead on the Italians and Americans, both top contendors for the cup this year. CIT gybed off with the majority of the fleet following the defenders. The team was then faced with a battle to the finish with the underdogs from the Czech Republic. Whom stole first place by seconds, leaving CIT with a second.

CIT Sailing Team finished the day in overall 2nd position with up beat spirts. They showed some of the best upwind speeds in the fleet today considering not having trained in such light conditions. Knowing now that they are in  the top rankings to retain the cup, the teams confidence is on the up and they are looking forward to tomorrows racing and securing some more top 3 positions on the race track.

Our First Day in Marseille

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Deirdre O Rourke
on October 24, 2009
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After a much expected calm day on the water, Marsielle harbour welcomed the teams of the Student Yachting World Cup with over 20knts of breeze with gusts reaching into the 30knts at various stages of the day.
All the teams held it together well with the exception of a few brakages amoung the fleet.The Swiss team having suffered the most damage by blowing out they’re kite after the race committee advice of not to fly kites at the mornings briefing.

‘3 Mobile’ sponsored CIT sailing team had a good day on the water. The team spent their time getting used to the Grand Surprise 32 with their new crew members.
By the time the practice race came round the team was in racing mode and ready for action. The practice race was a one loop windward leeward. CIT did not have the perfect start they had hoped for, but made many gains on the upwind with good height and boat speed against the fleet. This led to a fourth place position at the windward mark. No kites were flown on the downwind leg, due to the challeneging conditions being shown by the Harbour of Marsielle. CIT unoffically finished 5th in the practice race as they did not wish to break  any superstitions of crossing the line of a regattas finish line before its even started!

After the hard day on the water, the teams attended the events opening ceremony, handing back the cup to the event organisers and for all the teams to see what we are all fighting for.
The very anxious CIT team turned in early tonight to get a good nights sleep and prepare themsleves for what lays ahead. Tomorrow the forecast is light and shifty so a very different day lays ahead of the team.

CIT SAILING TEAM DEPART THIS WEEK TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE

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george kenefick
on October 21, 2009
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After months of rigorous preperation themobile ,sponsored CIT Sailing Team will finally

depart this Friday for Marsielle in the South France to defend their title as Student Yacht World Champions 2008.

This year the 29th edition of The Student Yachting Worlds will constist of 140 students from 12 countries , from as far a field as South Africa and the United States, so there is sure to be plenty of competition to keep the CIT sailors on their toes for the week of gruelling racing that lays before them.

Picture of the Team

L to R (Front Row); Joe Bruen, Judy Costigan, Cian Twoomey, George Kenefick, Silvia Phelan.
L to R (Back Row); Kevin Goulding, Nathan Kirwan, Donagh Good.

 

This year the much expierenced team is under the reigns of a new skipper George Kenefick, whom takes over as helm from Nicholas O’Leary who has graduated. George will be attending his third Student Yachting World Cup, having placed second in 2007 and first in 2008 as a crew for CIT. Along with George the team has 3 other members whom have competed at the Worlds previously, Joe Bruen, Cian Twoomey and Silvia Phelan all of which were on the CIT team last year and will be fighting to bring the cup back to Ireland once again.

New members joining the team this year are Judy Costigan , Kevin Goulding, Donagh Good and Nathan Kirwan all whom come from sailing back grounds and have been training with the others since the end of August.

For CIT to retain the title this year would mean that Ireland will have held the world tiltle 3 years out the last 4, with Trinity College, Dublin first bringing the trophy to Irish waters in 2006. CIT then attended the worlds in 2007 to be narrowly defeated in the final race and came away with second place, but there was unfinshed business and CIT went back to bring the cup home in 2008.

The team are not going to give up the title without an almighty fight and have been training hard for the past 2 months both on and off the water.

The team would like to acknowledge that their 2009 campaign would not be possible if it wasn’t for their title sponsor mobile whom came onboard to support the team in September. Also of course thanks to CIT for their support and encouragement.

Racing is due to commence on the 24th of October and end on the 31st. It will be a gruelling week of intense racing in the South of France for all involved.

Many Thanks to Durcan meats and the Good fish company for their annual support to the team for providing them with quality Irish produce, as Sunday night will see each country cook a traditional meal .

3 Mobile sponsor’s CIT Team for Student Yachting World Cup 2009

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george kenefick
on September 19, 2009
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Good news for Cork Institute of Technology Sailing Team, the defending champions of the World Student sailing title.  They have indeed been extremely fortunate to secure generous sponsorship from 3 Mobile, Irelands fastest growing mobile network for this prestigious event.

                                                              

The team, under skipper George Kenefick, continue to pursue a rigorous training campaign with the use of Denise and Conor Phelan’s First 36.7 so generously provided.

The event will take place in Marseille, France, from October 24th to 31st, 2009.

Preparing for Student Yachting World Cup 2009

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cian
on September 15, 2009
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October 24th to 31st will see the Student Yachting World Cup 2009 take place at Marseille, France.  Cork Institute of Technology are the defending World Champions and their training is well under way to mount a strong defence of their title.

CIT Team prepare for Student World Cup. Photo Robert Bateman

They were photographed off Crossshaven to-day, (Sun) in Denise and Conor Phelan’s First 36.7 “Endeavour” kindly provided again this year for their training schedule for the event.

 

The team is made up of  George Kenefick, Donagh Good, Nathan Kirwan, Sylvia Phelan, Judy Costigan, Kevin Goulding, Graham Durcan, Cian Twomey and Joe Bruen.

 

It is hoped the team will shortly be in position to announce a sponsor.