It's great to be back! Huge congratulations to the team at Howth Yacht Club, led by the mighty Brian Turvey delivering the first major inshore event in Ireland since 2019.
The competition was awesome, the race management excellent, the craic ashore was ninety and to see so many sailors afloat and ashore was just tremendous!
The event was a true test of boat speed/VMG and reliability. There were windward leewards, the iconic Lambay Race and "round the cans" courses in conditions ranging from 8 - 12 knots on Friday, 15 - 25 knots on "big Saturday" and 10 - 18 knots on Sunday.
Given the easterlies, we were racing in a short confused seaway which necessitated a somewhat fuller and more twisted and forgiving upwind sail set-up. Downwind, spinnaker design and fabric selection help deliver stability, easier trimming and thus better VMG.
"Storm II" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW Code 3 jib and North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail Credit: Annraoi Blaney
Here at North Sails Ireland, were we proud and honoured to see so many of our wonderful customers winning so many classes and filling the podium slots. Well done everyone and thank you!
My North Sails Ireland colleague Shane Hughes had a busy event, working long into the night repairing all makes of sails to keep you, the sailors, firing on all cylinders the next day. He was repairing sails from all sailmakers - a testament to his and the North Sails regatta service commitment.
His midnight toiling was not easy given that he was also racing aboard the Wright's beautiful new Cape 31 "Adrenaline" during the day! Well done "Shano" for the massive effort.
Cape 31 "Adrenalin" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail and Code 3.5 jib Credit: Annraoi Blaney
I was racing aboard Andrew Craig's J109 "Chimaera" and after a tough battle, we came through to 3rd overall in IRC 1, 1st J109 and 1st in the J109 East Coasts. We flew our North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail, Code 1, Code 2 and Code 3 jibs and also our A GRADE Superkote A2 and A4 kites.
"Chimaera" flying her North Sails A GRADE Superkote A2 asymmetric and North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail Credit: Afloat
We salute our wonderful customers and their great sailing teams - well done everyone.
Roll on WAVE Regatta 2024!
North Sails Results below:-
IRC 0
Class 0 winner "Jelly Baby" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail and Code 2 jib Credit: Afloat
1. "Jelly Baby" - Jones Family - Royal Cork YC - *North Sails
2. "Searcher" - Pete Smyth - Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 - National YC - 100% North Sails
3. "Prima Forte" - Burke / Lemass - Beneteau First 40 - Royal Irish YC - *North Sails
IRC 1
"Final Call" flying her A GRADE Superkote 60 S1.5 Symmetric Spinnaker and her North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail
1. "Final Call" - John Minnis - Archambault 35 - RUYC / RNIYC - 100% North Sails
2. "Snapshot" - Mike and Richie Evans - HYC - 100% North Sails
3. "Chimaera" - Andrew Craig - RIYC - 100% North Sails
IRC 2
"Lambay Rules" flying her North Sails A GRADE Superkote A4 asymmetric and her North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail Credit: Annraoi Blaney
1. "Lambay Rules" - Stephen Quinn - HYC - 100% North Sails
2. "King One" - David Kelly - half tonner - *North Sails
3. "Ghost Raider" - Norbert Reilly - half tonner - 100% North Sails
IRC 3
2. "No Excuse" - Wormald, Walsh, O'Neill - X302 - Howth Yacht Club - *North Sails
3. "Maximus" - Paddy Kyne - X302 - Howth Yacht Club - *North Sails
IRC 4
2. "Bite the Bullet" - Colm Bermingham - Elan 333 - Howth Yacht Club - 100% North Sails
IRC 5
2. "Demelza" - Steffi Ennis - Shamrock - Howth Yacht Club - 100% North Sails
J24
Craig Usher calls the start line aboard "Jumpin' Jive" flying her North Sails NPL Xi genoa Credit: Annraoi Blaney
1. "Jumpin' Jive" - Mark Usher - Greystones Sailing Club - 100% North Sails
J80
1. "Mojo" - Patrick O'Neill - Howth Yacht Club 100% North Sails
Sigma 33
"Insider" flying her North Sails 3Di 330 Mainsail and No. 1 Genoa Credit: Annraoi Blaney
1. "Insider" - Stephen Mullaney - Howth Yacht Club 100% North Sails
2. "Flyover" David Marchant - Waterford Harbour Sailing Club *North Sails
3. "Boojum" - Steph Bourke / Gus Legge - Royal St. George Yacht Club *North Sails
* denotes partial inventory
