Jeff Kay emerged as overall winner of the 2026 Ramor International One Metre Open after 12 closely fought races at Ramor Watersports Club in Virginia, Co Cavan.
Eight radio-controlled International One Metre yachts from clubs across Ireland and Northern Ireland contested the event on Saturday, July 11.
Originally planned as a two-day regatta, the championship was condensed into a single day, with the race committee completing a full 12-race programme.
Bright sunshine and a north-easterly to easterly breeze of approximately 10–20km/h provided favourable conditions. Wind shifts across the course ensured that tactical decisions remained important throughout the series.
Two discards were applied to each competitor’s score.
Kay, sailing a Britpop design, finished with a net total of 18 points. His consistent series included multiple race victories and three second-place finishes, allowing him to remain at or near the front throughout the day.
Michael Hill, also racing a Britpop, finished four points behind on 22. Hill won the opening race and remained in contention for the overall prize through a succession of podium finishes.
Steven Kay completed the podium aboard an Alternative with 36 points. He recovered from an early result that was subsequently discarded and recorded a race victory during the series.
Tomás A’Coistealbha placed fourth on 42 points aboard Gilbert’s Goth XP. His results improved as the regatta progressed, culminating in a victory in Race 9.
Just three points separated the next three competitors.
Vangelis Simonidis took fifth overall on 44 points, one point ahead of Gilbert Louis and Martin Gray, who both finished with 45. Louis secured sixth place on countback.
Simonidis recorded a race win during the series, while Louis demonstrated the potential of his new 3D-printed Proteus design with a victory of his own.
Gray produced a consistent performance across the 12 races, rarely finishing outside the leading five.
Karl Cassidy completed the eight-boat fleet aboard his Nimbus 3.5.
A range of different race winners and frequent changes at the front underlined the competitiveness of the fleet at the Co Cavan venue.
Ramor IOM Open 2026 Results
- Jeff Kay — Britpop — 18 points
- Michael Hill — Britpop — 22 points
- Steven Kay — Alternative — 36 points
- Tomás A’Coistealbha — Gilbert’s Goth XP — 42 points
- Vangelis Simonidis — 44 points
- Gilbert Louis — Proteus — 45 points
- Martin Gray — 45 points
- Karl Cassidy — Nimbus 3.5
