![Class Zero competitor El Gran Señor](/media/k2/items/cache/f688468d2fd5d3a408fb14574af99a76_L.jpg)
![J109s will be part of the Frank Keane BMW ICRA National Championship fleet on Dublin Bay next month](/media/k2/items/cache/23724c24d11a386ecc778e4b9a2b66f8_L.jpg)
![Pat Kelly's Storm was runner-up in the RC35 class at Kip Regatta](/media/k2/items/cache/066e3463a45229543013bde044918189_L.jpg)
![The new Howth Yacht Club J109 'Outrajeous' campaign will contest class one of June's ICRA National Championships on Dublin Bay](/media/k2/items/cache/4b4d1b3a11882e5302becfa3495d1fbd_L.jpg)
![A start of the highly competitive RC35 class at the Scottish Series on Loch Fyne](/media/k2/items/cache/992644bea42f06b2db6d63f0dda555cf_L.jpg)
![Andrew Algeo's brand new J99 Juggerknot II from the Royal Irish Yacht Club is entered for the RSTGYC ICRA Nationals in June](/media/k2/items/cache/cb5aa730ee778a1352f8e97673c34cd7_L.jpg)
![The new WOW, an XP44 from the Royal Irish Yacht Club, skippered by George Sisk is entered for the ICRA Nationals at the Royal St. George Yacht Club](/media/k2/items/cache/c5e2891d39161b31f852dd9ca5a2982c_L.jpg)
![New formula – ICRA's boat of the year trophy](/media/k2/items/cache/c6787b0e51463c0123bb099552c14b8b_L.jpg)
![IRC rated boats of all sizes and configurations race in the GBR Championships](/media/k2/items/cache/01d752ecbfd71726ea3296f07215faf0_L.jpg)
![Three races were sailed at Spi Ouest Regatta today](/media/k2/items/cache/da6a7b3a896007b2d8196829d0f52d43_L.jpg)
![The J99 is a brand new design from J-Boats](/media/k2/items/cache/f6e528af96a4c86099e8f963fddeb273_L.jpg)
![ICRA is seeking to make ECHO handicap work better at cruiser racer National events](/media/k2/items/cache/9b3f1797bc51400b3ddd2627dc1efb7c_L.jpg)
ICRA Introduces Trial ECHO Handicap System for National Championships on Dublin Bay
12th April 2019 ICRA![Regatta scene at the Royal St. George - the club has announced the social programme for the ICRA Championships in June](/media/k2/items/cache/0a3aa430b85b5b135a3d56c605c239ea_L.jpg)
ICRA Championship Social Programme Announced for Royal St George Yacht Club Event
26th March 2019 ICRA![Liam Shanahan's J109 Ruth is entered for the ICRA Nationals on Dublin Bay this June](/media/k2/items/cache/1e8bf4b2e3cbffc7f72838bcf4e33119_L.jpg)
![The Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 Yoyo will compete in June's Royal St. George Yacht Club event on Dublin Bay](/media/k2/items/cache/7a4a653c44a2b49fb68bf89cb1f4bae4_L.jpg)
![ICRA Event Chairman Ian Simington (left) with Ronan Adams, David Bolger, Brendan Foley, Derek Ryan and Gina Luizzi](/media/k2/items/cache/b0900a72debc0a748b4fb83a4d5e633f_L.jpg)
The creation of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) began in a very low key way in the autumn of 2002 with an exploratory meeting between Denis Kiely, Jim Donegan and Fintan Cairns in the Granville Hotel in Waterford, and the first conference was held in February 2003 in Kilkenny.
While numbers of cruiser-racers were large, their specific locations were widespread, but there was simply no denying the numerical strength and majority power of the Cork-Dublin axis. To get what was then a very novel concept up and running, this strength of numbers had to be acknowledged, and the first National Championship in 2003 reflected this, as it was staged in Howth.
ICRA was run by a dedicated group of volunteers each of whom brought their special talents to the organisation. Jim Donegan, the elder statesman, was so much more interested in the wellbeing of the new organisation than in personal advancement that he insisted on Fintan Cairns being the first Commodore, while the distinguished Cork sailor was more than content to be Vice Commodore.
Initially, the highlight of the ICRA season was the National Championship, which is essentially self-limiting, as it is restricted to boats which have or would be eligible for an IRC Rating. Boats not actually rated but eligible were catered for by ICRA’s ace number-cruncher Denis Kiely, who took Ireland’s long-established native rating system ECHO to new heights, thereby providing for extra entries which brought fleet numbers at most annual national championships to comfortably above the hundred mark, particularly at the height of the boom years.
YEAR | BOAT | SKIPPER | CLUB | BOAT MODEL |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Rockabill VI | Paul O'Higgins | Royal Irish Yacht Club | JPK1080 |
2017-2018 | Checkmate XV | Dave Cullen | Howth Yacht Club | Half Tonner |
2016 | Joker II | John Maybury | Royal Irish Yacht Club | J109 |
2015 | WOW | George Sisk | Royal Irish Yacht Club | Farr 42 |
2014 | Antix Catapult Quokka |
Anthony O'Leary Mark Glimcher Michael Boyd & Niall Dowling |
Ker 39 Ker 40+ Gand Soleil 43 |
|
2013 | Full Irish | David Kennefick | Royal Cork Yacht Club | Figaro 2 |
2012 | NUI Galway | Cathal Clarke & Matin Breen | NUI & Galway Bay Sailing Club | Reflex 38 |
2011 | Storm | Pat Kelly | Howth Yacht Club & Rush Sailing Club | J109 |
2010 | Antix Mariner's Cove Roxy 6 |
Anthony O'Leary Dave Dwyer Andrew Creigton |
Royal Cork Yacht Club | Ker 39 Mills 37 Corby 36 |
2009 | Kinetic | Richard Colwell & Tom Murphy | Howth Yacht Club | Corby 25 |
2008 | Mariner's Cove Rosie |
Dave Dwyer Roy Dickinson |
Royal Cork Yacht Club Howth Yacht Club |
Mills 37 Corby 36 |
2007 | Jump Juice | Conor Phelan | Royal Cork Yacht Club | Ker 37 |
2006 | Chieftain | Jer O'Rourke | RWYC | Cookson 50 |
2005 | Antix | Anthony O'Leary | Royal Cork Yacht Club | Corby 36 |
2004 | Voodoo Chile | Eamonn Crosbie |