Driscoll and O'Connor Lead Irish Sailing Keelboat Champions Cup

10th October 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Gusty Cup Action — J/80 keelboats round a mark during Saturday's Irish Sailing Keelboat Champion's Cup racing on Dublin Bay in strong, gusty north-westerly winds Credit: Afloat

John Driscoll of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club and Michael O'Connor of the Royal St George Yacht Club lead their respective fleets after the opening day of the Irish Sailing Keelboat Champion's Cup on Dublin Bay on Saturday (10 October).

Twelve teams, divided into two fleets of six, are competing in the event hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, with three races completed in each fleet.

Racing took place in strong and gusty north-westerly winds, with the 12 competing teams facing challenging conditions on Dublin Bay as they completed three races in each fleet.

Driscoll Leads Defending Champion Dickson

Representing the Squib class, Driscoll leads Fleet 1 on seven points after recording a race win and two third places.

Defending champion Cillian Dickson of Lough Ree Yacht Club is just one point behind on eight, while Kinsale Yacht Club's Micheál Súilleabháin, representing the 1720 class, is third on nine points after winning the third race.

Royal St George Yacht Club's Tom Higgins, representing team racing, is fourth on 11 points, followed by clubmate Neil Hegarty of the International Dragon class on 14.

O'Connor and Verso Tied in Fleet Two

Fleet 2 is even closer, with Royal St George Yacht Club's Michael O'Connor, representing the SB20 class, and Greystones Yacht Club's Andy Verso, sailing as an ICRA substitute, tied on six points.

O'Connor holds first place in the provisional standings following a race win, third and second, while Verso recorded a second, first and third.

Wicklow Sailing Club's Conor Haughton, representing the J24 class, is third on eight points after winning the final race of the day.

Carrickfergus Yacht Club's Trevor D'Arcy, representing the Flying Fifteen class, is fourth on 12 points.

Final Series Qualification Still to Be Decided

The provisional results, published at 15:18 on Saturday, place the leading two teams in each fleet above the indicated qualification cut for the final series, if the qualification series were to end at that point.

Driscoll and Dickson currently occupy those positions in Fleet 1, with O'Connor and Verso leading Fleet 2.

Racing continues on Sunday (11 October), with the destination of the 2026 Keelboat Champion's Cup still to be decided.

Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

Published in All Irelands

Tagged under

Irish Sailing Keelboat Champions Cup

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