Royal Irish's J109 Joker II Takes the Lead in Sovereign's Cup Class One IRC

22nd June 2023

Five times J109 National Champion (and top ICRA yacht at Cork Week 2022) John Maybury and his Joker II crew lead the Sovereign's Cup Class One IRC fleet after four race sailed Credit: Bob Bateman

National J109 Champion John Maybury of the Royal Irish Yacht Club has moved into the overall lead of Class One IRC on day two of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

Maybury's Joker II crew won race two, were third in race three and won the last race of the day, and found themselves quite at home in the light winds that prevailed on Thursday, moving up from fifth overall after Wednesday's opening single race.

Mike Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth has moved up to second place in IRC One of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

The J109 design continues to hold four of the top five places in IRC One but also moving up overall is defending Sovereign's Cup Champion, Mike Evans's J99 Snapshot, now in second place from yesterday's third.

Mike Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth leads into a mark on day two of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Early leader Howth Yacht Club's Indian skippered by Simon Knowles, and Finbarr O'Regan's Artful DodJer have both dropped off the podium, letting Maybury's clubmate Richard and Timothy Goodbody's ' White Mischief' into third overall.

Finbarr O'Regan's Artful DodJer of the host club has dropped to fourth Sovereign's Cup Class One IRC after four races sailed Photo: Bob Bateman

This is the 15th edition of the biennial regatta, which has attracted 90 entries, runs from 21st to 24th June, and incorporates the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Southwesterly winds gusting to 30 knots are forecast for Friday's races.

Results below

Race Results

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Published in Sovereign's Cup

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