What a TREMENDOUS event that just was!
Three days of racing in a combination of windward/leeward and round-the-can courses makes for happy sailors.
The triangles elicited some debate with the supertight first reaches necessitating a call between a running kite (A2 or S2) and accepting that it may not be optimal, or else deploying your flatter/heavier reaching kite (A1.5/A3) or your Code 0 - knowing that a gybe "peel" (spinnaker change) to your running kite was needed at the gybe mark for the broader second reach. Plenty of foredeck action anyway, if nothing else!
North Sails Ireland was there, as we always are, at the ICRAs. Shane Hughes and your scribe were both racing. Shane was on The Evanzezzes J99 "Snapshot," and I was on Barry Cunningham's J109 "Chimaera."
J109 "Chimaera" flying her North Sails A-GRADE Superkote A2 Asymmetric kite inc. "BLAST" Graphics and North Sails 3Di RAW mainsail - Photo: Afloat
We have provided our overnight sail repair service at the ICRA's every year since 2009; this year was no exception. Thankfully, the lighter airs did not have Shane burning the midnight oil too much, but there were still repairs that he did, which kept teams' people racing at full tilt the following day.
Here at North Sails Ireland, we work very hard to provide the finest sails and service. It doesn't get any easier, as it shouldn't! So, we were DELIGHTED to see North Sails-powered teams topping the podiums in almost all the classes.
We share that success and live and breathe our customers' efforts, so it is very gratifying to see. WELL DONE, everyone, and thank you.
Here is the North Sails powered scoresheet............
IRC 0
J112e "ValenTina" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW HELIX Code 1 jib and North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail - Photo: Afloat.ie
- J112e "ValenTina" - John Treanor
- Corby 37 - "Impetuous" - Miller, Compton & Hidges
- J122 - "Jelly Baby" - Brian Jones*
IRC 1
J109 "Outrajeous" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW mainsail and North Sails 3Di RAW HELIX Code 1 jib - Photo: Afloat.ie
- J109 - "Outrajeous" - John Murphy
- J109 - "Chimaera" - Barry Cunningham
- J109 - "Joker II" - John Maybury
IRC 2
Classic Farr half-tonner "Swuzzlebubble" flying her North Saisl 3Di RAW Mainsail and North Sails 3Di RAW HELIX Code 1 jib - Photo: Afloat.ie
1. Farr Half-Tonner - "Swuzzlebubble" - James & Dave Dwyer
3. J97 - "Lambay Rules" - Stephen Quinn
IRC 3
J24 "Jupiter" flying her North Sails Fat Head Mainsail, DX7TT genoa and FR-2 Spinnaker - Photo: Afloat.ie
- J24 - "Jupiter" - Conor Haughton, Jonny Flood, Charles Heather & Garrett Kinnane
- ¼ Tonner - "Snoopy" - Martin & Joanne Mahon
- Sigma 33 - "Squawk" - Paul Prentice
IRC Non-spinnaker
Elan 333 "bite The Bullet" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsail and North Sails 3Di RAW No. 1 Genoa - Photo: Afloat.ie
- Elan 333 - "Bite The Bullet" - Colm & Therese Bermingham
- Dufour 40 - "Splashdance" - Andy George & John Beckett
B31.7 Nationals
Beneteau First 31.7's "After U Too" and "Kernach" both flying their North Sails 3Di RAW Mainsails & North Sails 3Di RAW No. 1 Genoas - Photo: Afloat
2. "After U Too" - Michael Blaney
3. "Bluefin 2" - Michael & Bernie Bryson
From your North Sails Ireland team, roll on the Ireland J-Cup this weekend and as always, sail FASTer for LONGER with North Sails.
*indicates partial inventory
