Carlingford Sailing Club played host to boats from seven different clubs competed in the highly competitive Loughs Agency-sponsored J24 Class National Championship, with the overall title going to Michael Ennis and the crew of TAZ from Carrickfergus Sailing Club.
Seven races were sailed over the two days of the event and the Carrick crew won the last two races impressively to beat former champion Mickey McAldin of Lough Erne YC in Murder Picture by three points overall. Another three points behind in third place was the defending champion Stefan Hyde of the Royal St.George YC in Dun Laoghaire (who is also the current All-Ireland Sailing Champion).
The leading local Carlingford entry was James Byrne in Gossip in fourth place, after consistently finishing in the top six in every race. Competitors travelled from as far afield as Dun Laoghaire, Malahide, Lough Neagh and Lough Erne to race in the event. The J24 is one of the biggest international classes of small keelboat racing boats and the Irish Class Association is looking to bring the European and World Championships to Ireland in the next five years.
Results
- 1st TAZ Michael Ennis Carrickfergus Sailing Club
- 2nd Murder Picture Mickey McCalden Lough Erne Yacht Club
- 3rd Carrabeg Stefan Hyde Royal St George Yacht Club
- 4th Gossip James Byrne Carlingford Sailing Club
- 5th Jay Kay Tim Sheard Lough Neigh Sailing Club