This article is from page 27 of the 2007-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
KILRUSH Marina is quickly becom- ing the focal point for yacht racers and enthusiasts around the country, even before the announcement of the €50 million investment into the sur- rounding lands.
At the request of Trinity College Dublin the Western Yacht Club, Kil- rush hosted the 2007 Irish Universi- WUE TIED a OHO GROIN eO Mh Te tional team Racing Championships, just a short few weeks ago.
The IUSA Nationals consist of 25 sailing teams from participating Irish Universities and third level Colleges competing in three days of dinghy
racing. This race then goes towards deciding which team will go to the World Team Racing Championships to be held in La Rochelle, France this year.
A Celtic flavour was brought to the IUSA Nationals in 2007 by the at- tendance of a number of teams from Scottish Universities.
A total of 150 sailors participated in Kilrush and competed in 176 races over the three days all of which were comfortably completed in courses laid out within the confines of Kil- rush Creek Marina.
It is estimated that the IUSA Na- tionals 2007 was worth €60,000 to the West Clare economy, a welcome
injection of funds to the town consid- ering it is off-season for tourists.
The event provided a colourful spectacle over the three days of rac- ing as each race consisted of two teams of three firefly dinghies with each team’s dinghies having differ- ent coloured sails.
Large numbers of people viewed the event from the Marina Gates causeway and from lands around the marina itself.
A major logistical effort consisting of the running of 60 races a day at three minutes intervals each, and the daily on-water transportation of up to 600 sailors from the marina pontoons to the race area, was successfully co-
ordinated by the Western Yacht Club with the help of its many members.
The Naval Service Reserve located in Kilrush, through its assistance, provided a unique Naval and profes- sional aspect to the event.
The event was a major success and approaches have already been made with regard to the hosting of the Na- tionals or a similar event in 2008.
Trinity College won the overall oLeynel oer eI ele) NF