Baltimore Sailing Club's Joe Griffiths has added another international success to his season after helping Swan 45 Luna win the highly competitive Performance 40 class at the bicentenary edition of Cowes Week on the Solent.
The result comes just weeks after Afloat reported Griffiths' selection for the Round Britain & Ireland Race aboard Bellino, underlining the West Cork sailor's growing presence on the international offshore circuit.
Racing over four days in generally light to moderate conditions, Luna faced an uphill task against lighter-displacement rivals that were expected to benefit from the weather.
Instead, the crew concentrated on clean starts, consistent boat handling and tactical positioning in the Solent's famously challenging tidal conditions.
That approach produced two race victories and kept Luna firmly in contention throughout the series.
Champions Together — The crew of Swan 45 Luna celebrate after winning the Performance 40 class at Cowes Week, with Baltimore Sailing Club's Joe Griffiths among the victorious team. Photo: Luna Team
The championship was decided in the final race, with Luna edging King 40 Cobra by just two points to secure the Performance 40 title.
Speaking after racing, the team said the victory was the reward for "a hard-fought four days".
Attention now switches to the overall IRC 2 standings, where Luna remains in contention as Cowes Week continues.
For Griffiths, the result adds further momentum ahead of his forthcoming Round Britain & Ireland Race campaign aboard Bellino.
