The eighth edition of the IRC European Championship at the Royal Irish Yacht Club will feature, say the organisers, a wide range of boats in action: high-tech racing yachts, hybrid cruiser racers, pocket rockets, and vintage designs.
As Afloat previously reported, racing under the IRC Rating Rule, the fleet will compete to win the overall IRC European crown, a new Corinthian Trophy, and European IRC Class honours.
Included in the fleet is a Hong Kong TP52, one of the biggest to enter the championships so far and the host club's own Ker 46 'Tonnerre de Breskens 3' (now Searcher) under skipper Pete Smyth.
The nine-race championship is over three days of competition from September 12th to 15th.
The Overall Open winner will lift the IRC European Championship Trophy. A new perpetual trophy is being commissioned for The Maples Group IRC European Corinthian Winner. There are also trophies for every IRC Class winner for both Open and Corinthian IRC Divisions.
Founded in 1831, the Royal Irish Yacht Club offers a warm welcome and magnificent facilities for the international fleet. Ireland’s historic capital, Dublin, is just 20 minutes away.
Entries are ramping up for the championship, which will include a mixture of windward-leeward and round-the-cans races in Dublin Bay.
Four days of racing are scheduled, with crew parties after every day of racing.
Commenting on the Maples Group’s new partnership, Peter Stapleton, Ireland Managing Partner, said: “We are delighted to support the IRC European Championship on its return to Ireland for the first time since 2016. As an island, Ireland’s beautiful coastline provides many wonderful places to sail, and I have no doubt Dublin Bay will be a brilliant venue for an unforgettable week of top-class sailing”.
The splendid Royal Irish YC Clubhouse, overlooking Dun Laoghaire Harbour, will welcome all competitors. The Royal Irish YC offers the best in modern Irish dining and during the regatta the fine fayre will be complemented by barbeques every night. With the famous clubhouse main bar plus live music from some of Dublin’s best artists; the atmosphere after racing will be fantastic.
Royal Irish Yacht Club IRC European Championship Chairman, Patrick Burke, noted: “I would like to thank the Maples Group for their support of this prestigious annual event. With less than a month to the first gun, the excitement is building. We look forward to welcoming notable top campaigns from Ireland, the UK, Europe and further afield. The sixth edition of the championship promises to be an unforgettable week of top-class racing.”
Special accommodations will be made to facilitate visiting yachts competing in the UNIO Irish Cruiser Racing Association Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club two weeks before, and/or the Northern Trust J-Cup Ireland and J-109 Europeans the previous weekend.
Entries are open now here
