The success of the J/109 in Ireland has been underlined, with boats of this marque filling the first five places of Cruisers 1 IRC in the UNIO ICRA Nats 2024. Why so? Well, the reality is that apart from the fact that this versatile boat is relatively numerous in Ireland, it also might be argued that as the granny of them all, the J/24, emerged from a garage in Connecticut in 1975, the entire range thus have their ancestry in the racing of Long Island Sound, in which success in lighter winds is a priority.

An IRC One start packed with J109s at the Unio ICRA Nationals on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Certainly there's no doubt that sailors on other craft will tell you that a well-sailed J/109 is winning every which way in lighter breezes. But in addition to that, the J/109 is hugely popular here because she is of a size that fits well with the Irish scene, and is a very worthy successor to the remarkable cruiser-racers of the Dublin Bay 24 Class.

EXCELLENT COMPETITION

So not only does racing in Cruisers 1 with a J/109 give you excellent competition against sister-ships several of whom will have visiting rock stars on board, but as well, if you win overall even just once in an annual series like this, you've done something very special.

Do it two years running, and you're among the Gods. Which is what John and Suzie Murphy's Outrajeous has done. So when the definitive "Who Does What" statement was issued around dawn this morning like a thunderclap from the Murphy stronghold in the heights of the Hills of the Naul, we heard what they were saying.

OUTRAJEOUS CREWING ARRANGEMENTS

"Neil Spain (my long time friend and crewmate) is the driver/helm of Outrajeous" writes John Murphy, "and has been our driver since Suzie took a step back with the arrival of our four children. Also worth noting that two of those children now form part of the crew Thomas (16) and Charlie (13), Mid Bow. (Suzie is meanwhile sailing on First 50 Checkmate XX in Class Zero in this series, as she has done on a regular basis since returning to competitive sailing in recent years).

The Outrajeous crew on their way to a successful defence of their ICRA IRC One title on Dublin Bay at the Unio Championships Photo: Afloat

"Ross McDonald does indeed sail with us as an invaluable part of our crew, but as Trim 1 on Jib, with Paddy Good trimming downwind. I allow myself the privilege of trimming the mainsail. Rory O'Sullivan is on Bow, Cuan Whelan on Mast, Aoife McDonald (nee English) on Nav, Killian Collins on Tactics, and Derek Moynan in the Pit.

"They're a brilliant team, and we are very lucky to have each and every one of them" concludes John. "In these "crew sparse" times, please give credit where it is due, before we lose any more good people to our sport..............."

RED HOT 420 DINGHY TALENT

Dear reader, you'll have to work some of this out for yourself. It seems to be not so long since Neil Spain was a very hot new talent emerging from the 420 Class. As for Mrs Murphy throwing in her lot with the Checkmate crowd, you can make of that what you will.

Second-placed Chimaera (Barry Cunningham) of the Royal Irish Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

Meawhile, the reality is that Outrajeous (please note the "J") has emerged from some of the best racing seen this season as overall Cruiser 1 IRC winner on (2), 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, which is stratospheric - it gives her just five points to the 10 of second-placed Chimaera (Barry Cunningham) of the host club, while John Maybury's Joker II is third on 11.

John Maybury's Joker II (right) finished third Photo: Afloat

CRUISERS 1 ECHO

For all those J/109s in Cruisers 1, ECHO acquired extra meaning in what was effectively a One-Design class, with ultra-close margins. To add to the sense of occasion, two of the most distinguished names in Irish sailing past and present battled for the title, with the Goodbody family of Dun Laoghaire racing White Mischief (not all J/109s have a J in their name), and squaring off against the Donegan family of Cork and Kinsale in Jalapeno.

Richard and Tim Goodbody's J109 White Mischief Photo: Afloat

It went right to the wire, with both concluding on 9 points after discard. But as Jalapeno was DSQ in Race 4, White Mischief wins on countback. As to third place overall on ECHO in Cruisers 1, the performance handicap system couldn't quite keep up with the stellar performance of Outrajeous, and she is third.