"Schizoid" or "Schizophrenic" are not words you'll find to describe weather conditions in any meteorological textbooks. But how else are we to convey the flavour of the racing situations which ran through the gamut of experiences in the three-day Monday.com ICRA Nationals at Howth?

Waiting for the wind on the half tonner Mata on day one (Friday) of the ICRA National Championships in Howth when the wind didn't blow for the IRC classes Photo: Afloat

Goldilocks Conditions they were not. The only thing lacking in excess - or often in any form at all - was wind. Oh for sure, Saturday - with its four races - was wellnigh perfect. Yet it was only when the sea breeze finally cooked itself into action that it happened. And it took a long time to do so. For by mid-September, the sea is approaching its warmest to lessen the disparity with the relative heat ashore, and while the sun was indisputably glaring, it seemed so because it was at an angle rather than providing the ultra-power of direct sunlight.

Brendan Foley's First Class 8, Allig8r from the Royal St. George in Dun Laoghaire, finished third in IRC Three at the ICRA Championships Photo: Afloat

As for the cloudbursts of the final day, you could have been forgiven for thinking of donning scuba gear. Miraculously, the deluges were of sudden and very clearly defined brevity, otherwise the Howth Peninsula would have reverted to island status. And miraculously again, the hard-done-by race organisers did manage to get in just one race, but it was only for the already multi-blessed plutocratic denizens of Class 0.

The biggest boat of the regatta - Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen's Class Zero First 50 in fine set up in Saturday's four race day Photo: Afloat

However, their solitary and slowly completed Sunday race did provide a popular winner Class Zero winner for the day that was in it, with Paul O'Higgins JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI having her one moment at the peak of the ICRA podium. And as she notched the ISORA Championship 2023 a week ago, we need not allow excess emotion to overflow on the O'Higgins crew's behalf.

ICRA Class Zero IRC Champion 2023 - The Brian Jones skippered J122 Jelly Baby from Royal Cork Yacht Club. Jelly Baby had a narrow one-point win over John Treanor's ValenTina from the National Yacht Club (below).  That result reversed under the ECHO Performance handicap result Photo: Afloat

Two National Yacht Club boats, Valentia (left) and Searcher, finished second and third, respectively in Class Zero IRC Photo: Afloat

But it was the overall winner which brought it all up in lights. Admittedly seasoned observers casting an eye over the pre-prize-presentation results suggested the smart money would be on the J/109 Outrajeous (Johnny & Suzy Murphy, Howth YC). But nevertheless when it became official, the wave of shared emotion was off the scale. 

Despite the challenging weather conditions, the monday.com ICRA National Championships at Howth saw four races with all podium results delivered by John and Suzie Murphy's Outrajeous to crown the local boat as the overall event winner. In Class 1, Murphy's Howth team was also crowned IRC champion in their ten-boat division Photo: Afloat

For as Johnny told us in a deeply felt few words, he'd had such difficulty in getting the J/109 to show the kind of performance he used to get out of the Albin Express and the 1720 that he was seriously thinking of jacking it in. But fortunately helmsman and shipmate Neil Spain persuaded him to keep going. Sailing in Ireland needs as many Neil Spains as it can get. Meanwhile, there'll be celebrating in the Murphy stronghold in the Hills of the Naul tonight.

John Minnis's A35 Final Call II made a strong challenge for Class One ICRA Honours but ended up as runner-up in the cut-short championships Photo: Afloat

Class Two

James Dwyer's classic New Zealand half-tonner Swuzzlebubble won the championship after Johnny Swan on Harmony from the host club couldn't match the all-podium scoreline from Saturday's four races that comprised the championship for the bulk of the fleet.

ICRA Class Two IRC Champion 2023 - James Dwyer's Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble from Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

Class Three

The Class 3 championship went to the Quarter Tonner Snoopy from Courtown Sailing Club, owned by Joanne Hall and Martin Mahon, which counted two race wins and all podium results in their scoresheet for this, the largest class after the J24's with 13 entries.

ICRA Class Three IRC Champion 2023 - Martin Mahon and Joanne Hall's Quarter Tonner Snoopy from Courtown Sailing Club Photo: Afloat

A Class Three battle saw the X-332 take second overall at the ICRA Nationals Photo: Afloat

White Sails

Dermot Skehan's MG34 Toughnut of the host club won the White Sails fleet.

ICRA White Sails Champion 2023 - Dermot Skehan's MG34 Toughnut from Howth Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

The event, which saw 70 boats representing 27 clubs from all coasts of Ireland plus inland venues, witnessed Royal Cork and Howth Yacht Club boats each winning two of the five individual championship titles.

J24 National Championships

The 24 National Championships was raced as part of the 2023 ICRA National Championships Photo: Afloat

David Bailey and partners with Hard On Port from Bray Sailing Club won the J24 national championship title over five races in their 20-boat fleet that also comprised many of the Under 25 crews.

The U25 trophy was won by the crew on Kinsailor hailing from the West Cork club who also placed second overall and were just three points off the overall win.

ICRA says next year's championship will be hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire.

See all Afloat's coverage of the 2023 ICRA Championships in one handy link here