Royal Irish Yacht Club skipper Michael Boyd finally got his hands on the Volvo car prize after accumulating the best overall points’ results on corrected time in the biennial Round Ireland races 2016, 2018 and 2022.
To add to the drama, Boyd had to wait an extra four years for his prize bid due to COVID cancelling the 2020 race.
And if that wasn't enough, in the end, the race for the top prize in Irish sailing came down to the wind and a Protest Committee on June 23rd in the final stages of the 21st edition.
Boyd raced three different boats in the last three circuits. The offshore racing stalwart sailed the Beneteau 44.7 Lisa in 2016, the J109 Jedi in the 2018 race and the J122 Darkwood to clinch the car in June's 2022 SSE Renewables sponsored race.
During the 2022 race, Boyd took the opportunity to pay tribute to lost rescue service personnel off Eagle Island.
Boyd was presented with the keys of his new Volvo XC40 by David Thomas, Managing Director of Volvo Car Ireland and Kyran O’Grady, Commodore of Wicklow Sailing Club.