J/109 One-Design Racing Sets Pace In Volvo Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race

12th June 2025

WM Nixon

Johnny Murphy's J/09 Outrajeous (HYC), pictured here during a sail change in Killiney Bay on day one, has taken on the overall IRC lead on the morning of day two of the 2025 Volvo Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race Credit: Afloat

D2D Day 2 (Thursday) 5.30 am - The wind became more settled in the southeasterly quadrant as the bulk of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race fleet came past the Tuskar Rock on the night's ebb tide, with Frank Whelan's Elliott 57 Opal registering some awesome speeds. That said, before the Tuskar Conor Doyle's Xp50 Freya was continuing south to such good effect that for a while she was the overall leader on IRC, but now that they're out into the clear water west of the Coningbeg, it's the battle of the J/109s that takes centre stage.

Tom Shanahan's Ruth (NYC) had been showing best, but only by the narrowest of margins, such that now with the way clear to the Fastnet Rock turn many miles away, Johnny Murphy's J/09 Outrajeous (HYC) with a crew of all the talents has taken on the overall IRC lead as the new day makes in.

As the fleet pass Dungarvan in County Wateford, Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia is lying second on the morning of day two of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race Photo: Afloat

But talking of the way being "clear" is only relative. Heavy rain is steadily engulfing the fleet, and there's fog about. However, the going is good, an excellent example being Richie Fearon of Lough Swilly YC with the JPK 1030 Coquine. At 03:00 hrs they came out past the Tuskar making better than 10 knots over the ground.

Richie Fearon of Lough Swilly YC with the JPK 1030 Coquine came past the T,uskar making better than 10 knots over the ground Photo: Afloat

Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt are leading the double-handed Volvo Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race on the morning of day two Photo: Afloat

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Live Tracker 2025

Track the progress of the 2025 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race fleet on the live tracker above and the leaderboard below

The 17th edition of the 280-mile race organised by the National Yacht Club starts at 2 pm on Wednesday, June 11th, on Dublin Bay.

Read the full 2025 race preview by WM Nixon here
Read all the D2D Race News in one handy link here

WM Nixon will be posting regular race updates and analysis throughout the 2025 race here

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race Information

The biennial Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race is a 320-miles race down to the east coast of Ireland, across the south coast and into Dingle harbour in County Kerry.

The race is organised by the National Yacht Club.

It never fails to offer a full range of weather, wind and tide to the intrepid entrants, ranging from a 32ft cruiser to a 79ft all-out racer.

Three divisions are available to enter: cruiser (boats equipped with furlers), racing (the bulk of the fleet) and also two-handed.

D2D Course change overruled

In 2019, the organisers considered changing the course to allow boats to select routes close to shore by removing the requirement to go outside Islands and Lighthouses en route, but following input from regular participants, the National Yacht Club decided to stick with the tried and tested course route in order to be fair to large and smaller boats and to keep race records intact.

D2D Course record time

Mick Cotter’s 78ft Whisper established the 1 day and 48 minutes course record for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race in 2009 and that time stood until 2019 when Cotter returned to beat his own record but only just, the Dun Laoghaire helmsman crossing the line in Kerry to shave just 20 seconds off his 2009 time.