BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race winner receives trophy
31 October 2006
At a gala dinner in Wicklow, Eric Lisson of the Royal Cork Yacht Club was formally presented with the overall winner's trophy for the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race, which was the highlight of the 2006 Sailing season. Crews from the 704-mile race gathered to celebrate prize-winners from individual categories in the race that attracted entries from as far away as New Zealand.

The Cork yachtsman's victory with his crew on board the 38-foot Cavatina was his second overall victory in this event, repeating his 2002 performance that defied expectations of some of the biggest and high-rated racing yachts in the event. Light winds at the beginning of the race slowed the fleet allowing the older and slower entries to save time on handicap against their high-tech rivals.

Lisson now joins the late Denis Doyle of Moonduster fame and a fellow Royal Cork YC sailor as only the second ever double-winner of this race that was first sailed in 1980.

Commenting on the result of this year's BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race, Sean Green, Managing Director of BMW Group Ireland said: "Eric Lisson and the crew of Cavatina should be proud of this significant achievement. This gruelling race is one of the most challenging in the world and it was superb to see such a broad spectrum of competitors from all over the world racing in Ireland this year."

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