#icra – Royal Cork prowess in big boat racing shone through yesterday in Dun Laoghaire when National Cruiser handicap titles were decided on Dublin Bay in a packed final day for the ICRA championships that brought the best winds of the three day regatta for 115–cruiser–racers.  It meant classes zero and one were able to sail four races for a discard after racing was lost in a dead calm on Saturday.

Winning the Class three title with the lowest score of any of the five classes, Jonathan Skerritt's Quest from the host Royal Irish Yacht Club counted three race wins and two second places in a highly consistent performance over the three days at the Teng Tools ICRA championship on Dublin Bay yesterday.

Nigel Biggs on Checkmate V had a similarly low-score with four race wins and though a fifth in yesterday's third race spoiled the straight run, the Class 2 national title went to Biggs of the Royal St. George YC.

A fourth race was added to yesterday's programme that then ran late into the afternoon for the two big-boat classes with the Royal Cork YC taking both national titles.

Denise Phelan's Jump Juice won Class Zero with a comfortable ten-point lead thanks to four race wins and two second places. Ian Nagle's Jelly Baby won the Class One title for the second time since 2012 though with 26 boats in this fleet, the win was less straight-forward despite three race wins.

Denise and Conor Phelan's Jump Juice (Ker 37) from Royal Cork was class zero winner with a ten point margin

Meanwhile there were cheers in Dun Laoghaire last night for and Irish win in Cowes, the British IRC National Championships was won outright by Anthony O'Leary on Antix in a large Class One turn-out of 20 boats. The Royal Cork YC skipper is captain of the ICRA team in this year's Commodores' Cup at the same venue next month.

(Above and below) Maintaining consistent speed in the five to eight knot winds was essential. At times even the keeping the spinnaker flying proved difficult

After a poor weather mark rounding the J109 Powder Monkey goes for the high lane

Competitive starts and finishes. Class one (above) gets away in race four on Sunday lunchtime and (below) a bow to stern class two finish between Tribal (IRL2525) of Galway Bay and the GK Westerly Slack Alice 34 from Dunmore East

That's how it's done. Slick gybing at the Dublin Bay Merrion buoy by class two winner Checkmate V, Nigel Biggs' Humphrey's Half Tonner and (below) heading for another win off Dun Laoghaire harbour

Touch of class. The spirit of James Bond came to town when the secret agent's yacht Soufriere entered in class zero

Entries came from far and near including the west coast. This Shannon estuary based Dehler 34  (above) voyaged from Foynes for the three day event. Derek Dillon's 'Big Deal', sponsored by Union Chandlery, has also enjoyed offshore success on the ISORA circuit during her trip to the east coast. Below Fox in Sox 

 

White sails racing against the Dublin coast off Dalkey

 The Royal Irish Yacht Club hosted the 113–boat event with some style

A full ICRA Nationals photo report will appear in Summer Afloat magazine out next week.

Read also: WM Nixon's blog on his Friday sail with the ICRA fleet