Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly racing Starfish (Sutton DC) have secured the 2026 IDRA 14 National Championship at Lough Erne Yacht Club after a closely fought six-race series was decided on countback. Sixteen boats of this 1946-founded lapstrake-built class travelled to Enniskillen for this year’s championship, where light and shifty conditions tested the fleet throughout the three-day event. The lack of breeze forced the cancellation of the scheduled practice race on Wednesday, while only one championship race could be completed on Thursday.
The 1820-established Lough Erne YC is reputedly the first yacht club in the world founded for yacht racing purposes. Its current hospitable HQ is on a site that served as an Allied Base for flying boats and seaplanes during World War II, and in May 1941 it was a Catalina flying from Lough Erne that found the Bismarck as she tried to make her way from Norway to France via the Denmark Strait, resulting in the sinking of Germany’s mightiest warship within 24 hours
The opening race saw 14/119 Crackers, sailed by Harry Thompson and Orla Doogue, lead to the first windward mark after opting for a port-tack start at the pin end. However, a decision to hoist the spinnaker early cost Crackers the lead, allowing 14/38 Starfish to take control. Starfish went on to win, with 14/128 Dr JP Frog, sailed by Ryan Cairns and Finn O’Doherty of Howth, second and 14/161 Dart, Pierre and Rémy Long (DMYC), third.
Winners again – but only by a whisker. Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly racing the legendary all-timber Starfish to victory
GETTING BACK ON SCHEDULE
Friday provided three further races as the fleet attempted to bring the Championship back on schedule. Starfish continued their impressive form, winning all three races and establishing themselves as the boat to beat. Behind them, the battle for the remaining podium places remained wide open. Dart moved into second overall, one point ahead of Dr JP Frog, while 14/1 Error, sailed by Jim Lambkin and Wendy Rudd, produced a consistent series of top-five results to lie fourth overnight.
SILVER FLEET
The Silver Fleet was also closely contested, with Crackers and 14/51 Mystery, sailed by Pat O’Kelly and Ronan O’Sullivan, exchanging positions throughout the series. Mystery suffered an unfortunate trapeze wire failure during Friday's racing, resulting in an unexpected swim for Ronan O’Sullivan in Lough Erne.
Hint of sun on Lough Erne. The IDRA 14 class incorporates a wide range of racing ability, and the class actively develops ways of turning this all into a true community of sailing
Saturday brought more uncertainty over whether racing would be possible, but the fleet took to the water for the final two races. Dart claimed the Race 5 victory ahead of Dr JP Frog, while Starfish were caught by an individual recall, adding further tension to the championship battle.
OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED BY DISCARD
The final race provided a fitting conclusion. Dr JP Frog took the race win, with Error second, but the overall championship was ultimately decided by the discard.
Starfish, Dr JP Frog and Dart all finished on 14 points, with Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly taking the title on countback. Starfish's series included four race wins and a fifth-place finish, enough to secure the National Championship. Dr JP Frog finished second, with Dart completing the overall podium in third.
Crackers claimed the Silver Fleet title, ahead of Mystery, while 14/142 Cheeky Gin took the inaugural Bronze Fleet championship.
Remy Long of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club helming to the Crew Race win with his father Pierre on the trapeze in their all-GRP boat
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The 2026 championship also saw the introduction of the Bronze Fleet, a white-sails-only division designed to encourage new and returning sailors into the class. The two-boat fleet was supported by members of the CYBC IDRA 14 training boat programme and former Class Commodore Donal Heney.
Youth participation was another highlight of the championship. Dan Kinlay, sailing 14/30 Chloe with Hannah McCloskey, won the IDRA 14 Youth Trophy in his first year helming at the Nationals. The Crew Race provided perhaps the clearest indication of the class's future. With helms and crews swapping roles across 14 boats, nine of the 14 helms were youth sailors. Rémy Long took the Crew Race victory, sailing with his father Pierre.
The strong youth presence, alongside the introduction of the Bronze Fleet and the return of several boats and sailors, provided an encouraging backdrop to an intensely competitive championship.
COMMUNITY AT HEART OF CLASS
Despite the focus on competition, the Nationals retained the strong community atmosphere for which the IDRA 14 Class is known. Family teams featured throughout the fleet, while evenings at Lough Erne Yacht Club included a quiz, BBQ, games and the inaugural IDRA 14 Mahjong Championship.
The Class also continued its Equipment Inspection programme, with the measuring team collecting observational data on spinnaker pole lengths alongside routine safety checks. The information may contribute to future consideration of a more accessible standard spinnaker pole within the Class rules.
“Like the swan in the evening…..” wooden IDRA 14s berthed at LEYC. When the class was founded in 1946, dinghy parks were a rarity, and it was assumed most boats would lie to moorings
The IDRA 14 Class thanked Lough Erne Yacht Club, the Race Committee, safety crews, volunteers and the IDRA 14 Class Measuring Group for their contribution to the event, as well as Tom and Adam for filming material for the forthcoming IDRA 14 Class documentary.
After six races and a three-way tie at the top, the 2026 National Championship provided both a dramatic sporting finish and encouraging signs for the future of the Class.
