Displaying items by tag: J122

18th March 2022

New Race Boats Arrive for Irish Sailing Season Including an X-Treme 37, a J122 & a Sunfast 3300

Quarter Tonner movements may have stolen the new boat headlines over the past month but that's not to say there haven't been some other new race boat arrivals around the Irish coast too.

While the move certainly seems to be into the smaller boat sizes or Cape 31s, there is nevertheless some change in the 40-foot bracket too.

The X-Treme 37 on the RIYC pontoon

X-Treme 37

The Royal Irish Yacht Club on Dublin Bay has a new X-Treme 37 among its fleet. The X-Treme 37 (RP Design No. 142) was designed by Reichel/Pugh for G-Force Yachts. The new arrival is expected to join the DBSC racing fleet when the summer racing season starts next month.

Howth Yacht Club J/122 The J122e at Howth Yacht Club is the latest addition to the Irish race fleet

J/122

Howth Yacht Club has seen the arrival of a J122 to the North Dublin Harbour. It brings to three the number of J122s now racing in Irish waters. This latest version was trucked in from continental Europe in early February.

There are unconfirmed reports of another big boat coming to north Dublin too. A First 50 could be on its way subject to survey, Afloat understands.

For quite some time, Chris Power Smith's top ISORA contender Aurelia was the only J122 racing in Ireland but all that changed in 2021 with the arrival of Greystones sistership Kaya.

J122 Jelly Baby

J/122 Jelly Baby - ex Kaya - now flying the Royal Cork flag in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

The performance of the Wicklow boat, which had a remarkable championship-winning season in 2021, meant it was snapped up when it went on the market last November.

It was sold to Cork Harbour and becomes the new 'Jelly Baby' of the Royal Cork's Jones family. As regular Afloat readers will know this move follows an accident last October where the original Jelly Baby (a J109) ended up on the rocks.

Among improvements made by her new skipper, Brian Jones, is a revolutionary new antifouling system.

All is not lost for this J109 however with social media reports stating that the boat is now in Northern Ireland waters and undergoing repairs and hopefully a return to the race course in 2023?

It is reported that the Cork Harbour J109 Jelly Baby will be joining the Strangford Lough cruiser-racer fleet this season or next

Sunfast 3300

As Afloat reported previously, Ireland will have a second Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 for next season's offshore yacht racing calendar.

As regular Afloat readers know, the first of the new range, Cian McCarthy's Cinnamon Girl, debuted at Kinsale Harbour in 2020 but this second one, a used and high specification one is coming into Dublin Bay.

Due to its light, powerful hull, twin rudders and straight keel, this Sun Fast can combine speed and stability in most sea conditions.

It's not clear what Irish events the boat will compete in but as 2022 is a Round Ireland Race year and the boat is set up for double-handed sailing it might well take its place on the Wicklow start line next June.

Published in Boat Sales

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Is Champion J/122 Kaya Heading for Cork Harbour?

ICRA Champion 2021 yacht Kaya is heading to Cork Harbour subject to survey, that's according to unconfirmed reports from Crosshaven.

This month's advertisement for the Greystones Harbour yacht (for sale at €145k through Key Yachting) drew an immediate response from interested south coast parties currently looking to upgrade.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the J/122 that took overall honours in her debut Irish season at the ICRAs at Dun Laoghaire and Calves Week in West Cork first sailed in Irish waters in May during ISORA's training races.

Set up for both inshore and offshore racing, the good news is the ready to race boat looks to be staying in the Irish cruiser-racer fleet and not going abroad so it's entirely feasible she could yet be on the June start line for the 2022 Round Ireland Race and July's Cork Week.

Published in Cork Harbour

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Third J122 to Join the East Coast Cruisers Zero Fleet for 2022

The East Coast Cruisers Zero competition just got tougher with the news that a third J122 may be joining the Dublin fleet later this year.

In 2021, Chris Power Smith's top ISORA offshore performer J122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club got company in May from a new Greystones Harbour sistership Kaya (Frank Whelan), which went on to win ICRA and Calves Week honours this season as well as last month's September's DMYC Kish Race too.

The Golden One - Chris Power-Smith's Royal St. George J122, Aurelia

The J/122, a 40-foot cruiser/racer, was designed by Alan Johnstone of the legendary J/Boats family and built in France by J/Europe. Its sporty credentials include light-to-moderate displacement (14,900 pounds), minimal overhangs, and a slippery, flat-bottomed hull form.

Now, Afloat understands that a third Irish J122 is destined for Howth (but with Dublin Bay 2022 race plans), will join from France.

The new addition, an 'Elegance' version, may arrive here in time for at least some of the forthcoming DBSC Turkey Shoot Series starting in November.

Published in Howth YC

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What is the National Watersports Campus Project?

Similar to the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, the watersports campus will provide quality, public, recreational and high-performance facilities for the many watersports participants. The Campus will considerably enhance the services currently provided by more than 30 clubs and activity centres to over 50,000 annual users of the harbour.

Why has the Watersports Campus project come about now for Dun Laoghaire Harbour?

The passing of control of the harbour to DLRCC, the public appetite for a community benefitting project and the capital funding for sports infrastructure in the Project 2040 National Plan have aligned to create an opportunity to deliver this proposal.

What organisations are promoting the Watersports Campus project?

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and the Irish Sailing Association (Irish Sailing) are the project leads, endorsed by the National Governing Bodies of other Irish watersports and clubs and activity providers.

What is LSSIF?

The National Sports Policy, published in 2018, established the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to provide Exchequer support for sports facility projects. In some cases, these may be projects where the primary objective will be to increase active participation in sport. In other cases, these may be venues where the focus is more related to high-performance sport.

What funds have been allocated to the LSSIF?

Government has allocated at least €100m over the term to 2027 to successful applicant projects.

Is the National Watersports Campus a beneficiary of the LSSIF?

The Watersports Campus was one of seven successful applicants for Stream 1 funding allowing planning to commence on the project design and feasibility. €442,000 has been granted in this phase.

What are the key elements of the Watersports Campus project?

NThe project will provide for a municipally-owned public access facility to include a small craft slipway that is accessible at all stages of the tide (currently none in public ownership in the greater Dublin area), storage and lock-up resources, watersports event management space, a high-performance centre and NGB accommodation.

What other benefits are envisaged with the Watersports Campus?

The project aims to enhance the profile of Dun Laoghaire as a major international venue for maritime events, shows and conferences. Establish Dun Laoghaire as the 'go-to place' for anything marine – generating revenues Create employment in the county - attract businesses, visitors and events. Grow the market for watersports Promote the services of activity providers to the public. Complement the plan to develop Dun Laoghaire as a 'destination.'

What are the next steps in the Campus project?

As of January 1 2021, The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has approved the applicant project and DLRCC are expected to appoint a team to further advance the project.