Within 24 hours of the first races of Ireland's biggest sailing event at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Division One IRC gets hotter with the unconfirmed report that a Hong Kong crew skippered by Jamie McWilliam has entered the 24-boat fray on a J109.
As Afloat reported earlier, there will be only nine 'non-J109s' in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's buoyant IRC One fleet, but two new powerful campaigns are within those nine.
And, as crews arrive at the east coast port for today's Carlisle Pier registration, there is more information on some of the top sailors racing in IRC One.
In a repeat of his successful Sovereign's Cup campaign, defending champion John Maybury in Joker II will have Cork Harbour's Harry Durcan on tactics.
Waterfront news says Jamie McWilliam from Hong Kong, a regular at Dun Laoghaire, will sail John and Suzie Murphy's Howth Yacht Club 'Outrajeous' at Dun Laoghaire with some of his best guys onboard.
"We're a combo of Ireland/HK/UK of ex and new shipmates. All a bit last minute, but we’re really looking forward to it. I’m calling shots; Laurence Mead is driving, Dave Hassett, Andy Algeo, and Richard Knatchbull are trimming, and Jane McLelland is in the pit. Simon MacDonald, Rodney Hendy and Griff Kelleher are doing the real work!" McWilliam told Afloat.
John and Suzie Murphy's Howth Yacht Club J109 'Outrajeous' will be skippered by Jamie McWilliam
Half-tonner ace Johnny Swan is the tactician on Pat Kelly's J109 Storm.
Pat Kelly's J109 Storm Photo: Afloat
Former SB20 champion Ben Duncan is calling the tactics on Colly Byrne's Bon Exemple, and it looks like the wide-transomed XP 33 may get her preferred heavy air conditions.
Likewise, as skipper John Minnis told Afloat, the fast downwind A35 Final Call will relish the forecasted big breeze, especially with multiple Irish Laser Champion and dinghy ace Gareth Flannigan driving.
John Minnis's A35 Final Call II Photo: Aquaventus
The Evans brothers' J99 Snapshot
Sailmakers are making their appearance in the class, too, with North Sails' Shane Hughes on board the Evans brothers' ICRA yacht of the year, J99 Snapshot (that has Laura Dillon on tactics) and North Sails Prof O'Connell onboard Barry Cunnigham's J109 Blast on Chimaera.
