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Dublin Institute of Technology 1 became the first IT team in 60 years of Irish Intervarsity sailing to lift the cup on Saturday 8th March 2008. The event, held in Killaloe, was impeccably organised by the University of Limerick Sailing Club, under the watch of captain Darragh O'Connor; who also led his young but experienced team safely through the knockouts and into the finals against the 'techies.

Results:
1st: DIT1
2nd UL
3rd CIT
4th DIT2
=5th UCC1, Edinburgh, SUSA, Trinity.

O'Connor had been here before - in 2007, against a then victorious Trinity. This time out, however, Trinity were shelved by Bryan Byrne's DIT2 in the quarter finals, raising spirits and hope in the DIT camp after a rocky route through the leagues.

After breezing through Edinburgh and Cork IT in the quarters and semis with solid 2-0 wins in both, DIT had fire in their bellies; Jonny O'Dowd/Hannah Herlihy were unstoppable in hard winds which at times gusted over 25 knots through the storm sails of the Firefly dinghies.

UL saw off SUSA in the quarters, and had a close 2-1 win over DIT2 in the semis to see them through to face DIT1 in the final.

In the best-of-five contest for gold, DIT took a 1, 2, 4 result in Race 1. Race 2 saw a DIT boat return behind the line after the start, and UL's O'Connor/Morehead take the lead, leaving DIT in a losing 2, 3, 6 combination by Mark 2. DIT split their efforts to tame UL, to some degree of success until the last beat when Stallard/O'Brien in 3rd tacked ahead of Byrne/McNally, and were denied water they rightfully had on the finish boat, causing a collision and substantial damage to the UL Firefly. Byrne had little choice but to retire immediately and forfeit the race. UL won Race 2 with a 1, 4, 5 combination.

Race 3, and DIT boats O'Leary/Fenlon and Byrne/McNally ran off the line to win with a 1, 2, 5, leaving only one race for UL to have a chance at varsity glory.

The finals were not without some history. DIT's Byrne had been captain of UL on two previous occasions; and had been a solid UL team helm for the past five years, last year losing in the final against Trinity. Much was at stake for both teams.

O'Dowd was eager to put away the regatta and shot off the line at the start of Race 3, followed like a greyhound by O'Leary/Fenlon around Mark 1 leaving DIT in a 1, 2, 5 combination. Emotions were hard to disguise on all sides as DIT gallantly turned mark 4 up the final beat to cross the line in a winning 1, 2, 3 combination.

In five college events this year, DIT lost only one - the southern Championships in Baltimore. For this feat, DITSC and Captain Bryan Byrne were awarded 'IUSA Club of the Year' at the gala dinner in the Raddison on Saturday evening, while DIT's Marty O'Leary was deservedly titled 'IUSA Sailor of the Year' for his outstanding performance as part of the DIT Team.

DIT1: Jonny O'Dowd, Hannah Herlihy, Marty O'Leary, Brian Fenlon, Conor Byrne, Emer McNally.