The competition was fierce right through the four classes and the standard of boat handling was impressive to say the least.
The racing was organised over two courses, providing both windward leeward and round the cans racing and the weather served up different conditions which kept the competitors on their toes over three days of close and action-packed racing. The sailing area around Howth is superb; subtle tidal influences combine with land influences to provide varied conditions. There is also a lack of any kind of commercial traffic which can cause problems for a racing fleet.
The IRC Class Zero fleet was a star-studded affair with some top professional sailors from Ireland and the UK, including; Etchells European Champion, Andy Beadsworth and veteran round the world yachtsman, Guy Barron racing on Mariners Cove. Olympic sailor, Mark Mansfield, was at the helm of Jump Juice and past J80 World Champion, Ruairidh Scott was on board Teng Tools, Voodoo Chile. Volvo Ocean Race winner, Rob Greenhalgh and his brother and Extreme 40 champion, Peter Greenhalgh, were part of a top class crew on Antix Eile, along with Irish Olympic nominee, Peter O'Leary. Past Mumm 30 European champion and North Sails designer, Dave Lenz, was on Blondie IV.
In IRC Class Zero, it truly went to the wire with Dave Dwyer's Mills 39, Mariner's Cove winning on count back, having scored the same points as Conor and Denise Phelan¹s Ker 37, Jump Juice. In third place was Eamon Rohan's Mills 40, Blondie IV, who were ruing a prop that wouldn¹t fold on day one and hitting a mark on day two putting them out of contention. Anthony O¹Leary steering Ker 39, Antix Eile had a great fits day, scoring two bullets but could not repeat the form throughout the championship.
Andy Beadsworth, tactician on Mariner¹s Cove commented, 'It really has been a great weekend of racing and I am very pleased for Dave Dwyer, as he was definitely raring to go and to come out on top was our goal. The hospitality at Howth has also been excellent and the organisers deserve applause for laying on a professional event'.
One noteworthy observation, with this year's Rolex Commodores Cup in mind, was that the bowsprit-designed boats did not seem to fare as well on the windward-leeward course, as well as they did on the round-the-cans course which had an element of reaching to it.
IRC Class One saw probably the tightest and most competitive racing of the weekend. Going into the last day two yachts were vying for the class win, both of the yachts were apply named Checkmate as the two foes circled each other in the pre-start of race 6. Tino Hyland & Nigel Biggs' J/109, Checkmate XII-Sail4Cancer came out on top with Mike MacCarthy's Ker 32, Checkmate second overall. Barry Cunningham's Corby 33, Cantango, was close behind in third.
IRC Class Two saw Colwell & Murphy's Corby 25, Kinetic winning by some margin but stress levels were high throughout the championship as the crew carried a OSC from the first race of the regatta. In second place was veteran Royal Irish Yacht Club sailor, Tim Goodbody, helming his Sigma 33, White Mischief. Cork sailor, David Rose was third in the Corby 25, Obsession VII.
In IRC Class Three, veteran J24 sailor, Flor O¹Driscoll scored the lowest points of any of the classes and was the run away winner of class. In second place was Vince Gaffney's Albin Express, Alliance. 'All credit to Flor and his crew on an impressive performance,' commented Gaffney. 'We will be back next time and hope to give him a run for his money but they sailed extremely well and deserved the win.' In third place was Starlet the modified Formula 28 owned by O'Kelly, Walsh and Wormald.
The buzz amongst the competitors was that the Saab Irish Cruiser National Championships had been a huge success. Derek Bothwell and David Lovegrove, both past Commodores of the Howth Yacht Club, provided challenging courses which were very well managed. Once a shore the competitors and their family and friends were treated to a fantastic welcome from Howth Yacht Club. Each evening entertainment was laid on in the form of live music and fine fayre and the laughter in the bar was a sure sign of a happy well run event. The competitors should also be congratulated, right through the fleet, the standard of boat preparation and handling was a credit to Irish sailing.
