Host club yachts will be among the expected top performers for the ICRA National Championships at Howth Yacht Club this September.
Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) Commodore David Cullen is reporting solid entries for the Monday.com ICRA National Championships incorporating J24 National Championships with six weeks to go.
ICRA and Howth Yacht Club are encouraged to see entry numbers at 40 boats with six weeks left before the event.
Even more encouraging is to see several notable visitor boats attending, including the highly fancied J122 Jelly Baby and QuarterTonner Anchor Challenge from Cork, together with Hijacker and the A35 Final Call II from Northern Ireland.
Defending 2022 ICRA Overall National Champion, John Maybury's successful "Joker II" is also entered, having recently had massive success in Kinsale during the Sovereign's Cup, whilst several local hot shots, including Snapshot, Dux, Checkmate XX and Storm are ready to fend off all visitors whilst providing a warm welcome at Howth Yacht Club.
The J24 fleet will provide a strong presence with up to 25 boats expected, including several Under 25-year-olds; ICRA partly funded K25 boats.
"Howth Yacht Club is hopeful that the rain will run out, and an Indian Summer has been ordered for 8th -10th September, John Leech of ICRA told Afloat.
Howth Yacht Club have arranged camping and campervan facilities at Deerpark nearby to offer accommodation options for those travelling from around the country.
The Howth Harbour Master has been accommodating to the fleet offering temporary berthing in the Fishery Harbour and delivering safe and comfortable facilities to all competitors during the spring tides over the weekend.
Entry can be made on this link for the monday.com ICRA National Championships 2023 incorporating the J24 National Championships.