Checkmate XX won in the offshore class in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Sunday (9 July), making it a double of offshore wins in the Sovereign and VDLR this season.

Prior to the event, Afloat.ie asked co-skipper Nigel Biggs about his and the team’s philosophy behind the Checkmate campaign. He was candid about their approach of putting enjoyment first, while also giving the younger generation a role to play.

That appears to be a winning combination, and one that should definitely lift spirits heading into their Fastnet Race challenge in the coming weeks.

Dave Cullen (left) and Nigel Biggs with the Sovereign's Cup Offshore trophy won last month in Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

“The Sovereign’s was fun and we certainly enjoyed being back on the podium,” said Nigel, referencing the First 50 and crew’s achievement in late June.

The next big target for the Checkmate XX crew is the Rolex Fastnet Race later this month Photo: Bob Bateman

“When we bought Checkmate XX last year, we did so in the knowledge that she wasn’t a successful race boat, more a platform for us to enjoy our sailing, as age begins to catch up with us, whilst also trying to encourage more younger people into keelboat racing,” he added.

Some of the Checkmate XX crew at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta prizegiving Photo: Michael Chester

“The plan appears to be working as we have already had some great times, sailing with friends both old and new.”

Elaborating on the importance of encouraging younger sailors, Nigel said: “Young people are the future of our sport and having discussed with some of them the reasons why they haven’t previously got involved in keelboat racing, we are trying to remove the perceived obstacles so they, both male and female, feel they can become valuable members of our crew, learning more about the sport and having fun along the way.”

As regards Checkmate XX’s stronger performance in 2023, Nigel said the answer is a simple one: using experience as a learning opportunity.

“The improved performance of the boat is not so much about rating optimisation; anyone can do that,” he said. It has more to do with the time we have spent thinking about the lessons of last year and working to improve the way we sail the boat, particularly in the conditions in which she was less competitive.

(Above and below) Co-skipper Nigel Biggs on the helm of Checkmate XX in an early season light airs ISORA race Photo: Afloat

“We have been fortunate to already have more hours under our belts this year than we managed in the whole of 2022, in a variety of conditions and are developing a better idea of what the boat likes in terms of rig setup, weight distribution and trimming, every time we go out.”

Nigel was modest about the team’s expectations for the VDLR, and harbours similar feelings for the Fastnet, “but if we continue to have as much fun with the great group of people we sail with, that is all the success we need”.

In many ways, the competition on the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta offshore race series was the most interesting of all even with only three races, as the limited number of contests was more than offset by the variety in size and type of boats racing. And in the end with today's (Sunday’s) final three-hours-plus race, Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen of Howth with the hefty First 50 Checkmate XX took it overall by clinching Race 3 by just 21 seconds from Jonathan Anderson’s J/122 El Gran Senor, which in turn was just 41 seconds ahead of Andrew Hall’s J/125 Jackknife which then was a mere 31 seconds ahead of the Pwllheli/Royal Dee J/109 Mojito (Vicky Cox & Peter Dunlop).

The J/109 Mojito (Vicky Cox & Peter Dunlop) Photo: Michael Chester

Overall, Checkmate XX has it in 6 points to the 8 of El Gran Senor, and the 10 of Mojito, which tied with John O’Gorman’s Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie (NYC), but took the place using “The System”. Secret systems or not, the Offshore Class gave some of the best racing of all.

Jonathan Anderson’s J/122 El Gran Senor with Nobert Reilly's new J111 Ghost Raider following with red kite Photo: Michael Chester

In Saturday's 30-mile offshore race J125 Jackknife leads the Grand Soleil 44 Samatom back into Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

The final 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta coastal race started in a rain squall in Scotsman's Bay and headed out from Sandycove Point (below) on a 22-mile course