Although Ireland will be setting sail for Cowes as a potent Commodore’s Cup force this July it will only be a single team as a second ‘corinthian’ team could not be mustered. At the Spring meeting of the ICRA executive, Commodore’s Cup team manager Barry Rose made a detailed report on preparations.
Anthony O’Leary has been confirmed as team captain, a position he also held in the 2010 Commodores’ Cup winning Irish team.
As has been widely reported the three boat Irish team consists of Catapult, a US based Ker 40which had been shipped to the Solent and was due to be enter the water to start her training programme on the 1st May.
Quokka, a Grand Soleil 43, had been chartered by Royal Irish sailors Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling. O’Leary’s Antix, a Ker 39, completed the line-up.
The services of meteorologist Mike Broughton had again been secured on an exclusive basis to provide local tactical and Solent tidal support to the team.