John Malone's Loinnir Girl will sit out this Friday's (July 4th) K2Q (Kingstown to Queenstown) Race after an intensive month of offshore competition that included success in both the Round Ireland Race and the Inishtearaght Race.
The red and white-hulled JPK 1030 has enjoyed a remarkable first season since arriving in Ireland earlier this year. Campaigned by John Malone and Emmet Sheridan, the boat quickly established itself on the offshore circuit with victory in the Inishtearaght Race before adding further silverware in the Round Ireland Race.
The Round Ireland campaign almost never happened. After Cian McCarthy's Sun Fast 3300 Cinnamon Girl was dismasted during the Inishtearaght Race, Malone invited McCarthy and Sam Hunt to join the winning JPK 1030 for the Round Ireland Race. The partnership, forged over post-race conversations in Kinsale Yacht Club, became "Loinnir Girl".
"The idea was born from the 45-minute pitstop providing radio relay for Cinnamon Girl and some bar chats post-prizegiving in KYC," Malone had told Afloat before the Round Ireland start.
Reflecting after completing the circumnavigation, Malone admitted the earlier race was already beginning to feel distant.
"Inishtearaght Race is a bit of a distant blur now having passed those rocks now three times in so many weeks," he wrote.
One of the defining moments came after a difficult night off Rathlin Island.
"Our dawn raid on Scotland was probably my highlight of the race, after a difficult night at Rathlin in 200 metres of water, unable to anchor and trying to hide in the lee of the island from the tide!" he said.
Dawn Raid — First light off Scotland became John Malone's standout memory of the Round Ireland Race after a difficult night sheltering in Rathlin's lee before Loinnir Girl pressed north. Photo: John Malone
The combined crew of John Malone, Emmet Sheridan, Sam Hunt and Cian McCarthy quickly gelled, turning an improvised partnership into one of the success stories of this year's Round Ireland Race.
United Crew — The Loinnir Girl Round Ireland crew of John Malone, Emmet Sheridan, Sam Hunt and Cian McCarthy after joining forces following Cinnamon Girl's Inishtearaght dismasting. Photo: John Malone
The campaign brought further success beyond simply completing the race. Loinnir Girl claimed the Class 3 Skelligs Cup and, together with fellow Kinsale boats Aurelia and Outrajeous, secured the Kinsale Yacht Club Trophy for Best Team.
"We ended up winning the Class 3 Skelligs Cup in RI and also the Kinsale YC Trophy for Best Team with Aurelia and Outrajeous, so something seems to be pulling us back to KYC and those rocks!" Malone said.
Team Triumph — The Kinsale Harbour Trophy recognised Loinnir Girl, Aurelia and Outrajeous as the best IRC team in the 2026 Round Ireland Race. Photo: John Malone
John Malone receives the Class 3 Skelligs Cup after Loinnir Girl's successful Round Ireland Race campaign
Malone also highlighted the support the crew received ashore, sharing photographs of what he described as the "legendary breakfast" at Wicklow Sailing Club with sons Aodhan and Evan, who helped prepare the boat for the delivery south after the finish.
Breakfast Club — Family and crew reunited over breakfast at Wicklow Sailing Club after the finish, with sons Aodhan and Evan helping prepare Loinnir Girl for the delivery home. Photo: John Malone
Another photograph captured the team's growing collection of silverware after an extraordinary few weeks of offshore racing.
Silver Reward —Aodhan Malone, John Malone, Emmet Sheridan and Evan Sheridan display the trophies collected after Loinnir Girl's successful offshore campaign. Photo: John Malone
The race was not without quieter moments. Light winds produced memorable dawn and dusk passages, while a calm spell even allowed Sam Hunt the opportunity for a refreshing mid-race swim.
Night Watch — Light airs under the A2 brought another memorable spell as Loinnir Girl continued her clockwise circumnavigation of Ireland. Photo: John Malone
Quiet Miles — Loinnir Girl slips through calm seas after Tuskar Rock at sunrise during one of the lighter moments of an intensive Round Ireland campaign
Cooling Off — Sam Hunt enjoys a refreshing mid-race swim during one of the calmer spells of Loinnir Girl's Round Ireland Race. Photo: John Malone
The campaign concludes with Loinnir Girl absent from this Friday's K2Q Race, but Malone's reflections underline just how much the team achieved in only a few weeks. What began as an improvised partnership after the loss of Cinnamon Girl's mast ended with victories, trophies and one of the more memorable offshore stories of the 2026 Irish sailing season.
