Three skippers share the lead after a testing opening day of the 2026 Dublin Match Cup, as changing conditions forced World Match Racing Tour racing from Dublin Bay into the shelter of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
Fourteen teams from eight nations are competing in J/80 keelboats at the National Yacht Club-hosted Grade 2 event, which runs from Thursday, 24 September to Sunday, 27 September.
The event follows the World Match Racing Tour's Dublin debut in 2025, when 12 international skippers contested the inaugural Dublin Match Cup at the National Yacht Club. World Match Racing Tour's Dublin debut in 2025
Dublin Bay Delivers Two Very Different Sessions
Group A opened racing in an eight to 10-knot breeze and relatively small sea, providing conditions for close tactical match racing.
But Dublin Bay had changed significantly by the time Group B took to the water at around 2pm.
The breeze became increasingly variable at eight to 18 knots while the sea built to an estimated 1.5 to two metres.
At around 4pm, the race committee moved racing into Dún Laoghaire Harbour, allowing the programme to continue in more manageable conditions.
Close Quarters: J/80 crews go head-to-head as stronger breeze and a building sea test boat-handling on Dublin Bay. Photo: Brian Carlin
Three Skippers Locked Together in Group A
France's Victorien Eon, Dutch skipper Lennard Bal and Finland's Jon Eriksson finished the opening day tied at the head of Group A, each recording three wins from four matches.
Their head-to-head results underline how little separates the trio. Eon defeated Eriksson, Eriksson beat Bal and Bal scored a victory over Eon.
France's Timothée Rossi is close behind with two wins from three matches.
Ireland's Tom Higgins recorded one victory from his three matches, defeating Britain's Julian Fung. Fung and Denmark's Victor Christian Melchior finished the day without a win from three starts.
Bay Battle: J/80s race off Dún Laoghaire with the Poolbeg chimneys behind as the Dublin Match Cup fleet tackles a freshening opening day. Photo: Brian Carlin
Allix Unbeaten in Group B
France's Martin Allix made the strongest start in Group B, completing his shorter afternoon programme unbeaten with two victories from two matches.
Allix's wins included a victory over Irish skipper Ruairi Finnegan, who responded by beating Sweden's Alexander Brorsson to end the day with one win from two.
Finnegan has already represented Ireland on the World Match Racing Tour this season, including at the Macao Match Cup in March, where light and shifting conditions provided a difficult opening to the Irish campaign.
France's Tom Foucher also made a winning start, taking his only completed match against Poland's Patryk Zbroja.
Kites Up: Dublin Match Cup crews power downwind under spinnaker with Dalkey Island providing the backdrop to the opening day's racing. Photo: Brian Carlin
Spray Day: A J/80 crew works hard upwind as the breeze builds during a demanding first day of the Dublin Match Cup. Photo: Brian Carlin
Racing continues on Friday as the round-robin programme resumes in Dún Laoghaire.
