Jameson are pipped for world title

DESPITE three wins in an 11-race series, Dun Laoghaire's Mumm 36, Jameson, crewed by an international panel, leave Italy without…

DESPITE three wins in an 11-race series, Dun Laoghaire's Mumm 36, Jameson, crewed by an international panel, leave Italy without the Mumm 36 world championship title. They must turn their attention instead towards producing an American victory in the next month's Admiral's Cup.

Beaten by Germany's Thomas I Punkt for overall honours at the class world championships at Punta Ala, James on produced a final race win to record an impressive scoreline of 1, 13, 9, 7, 2, 2, 7, 15 1, 3, 1.

The top four places at the championship were taken by boats which in six weeks time will represent their respective countries in the competition for the Admiral's Cup, except for Jameson, who in the absence of an Irish team, will sail instead under the American flag off Cowes.

At home, few can dispute Sarah J's (Cormac Twomey) heavy air boat speed following her successful defence of Howth Yacht Club's Centennial trophy in southerly gales, where racing on Saturday was restricted to classes zero, one and two for the Lambay Island course. Strong winds for yesterday's regatta refused to dampen the spirits of the 11 competing classes, and after an hour's postponement the 200 boats completed a round the cans course with a number of dismastings.

David O'Brien

David O'Brien

David O'Brien, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a former world Fireball sailing champion and represented Ireland in the Star keelboat at the 2000 Olympics