Strong southerly winds got the first race of the J109 National Championships off to a spectacular start at the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire on Saturday (6th Setpember).
Pat Kelly’s Storm from Rush Sailing Club and Howth Yacht Club claimed victory in the opening race as winds gusted to 30 knots.
Pat Kelly’s Storm from Rush Sailing Club and Howth Yacht Club showed great heavy weather pace upwind and downwind in the opening race of the J109 Nationals at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
Kelly finished ahead of Royal Irish Yacht Club’s Barry Cunningham on Chimaera after giving a demonstration in heavy air sailing when she dominated the eight-boat fleet in what turned out to be the only race of the day.
RIYC also took third with Richard Goodbody’s White Mischief despite a shredded spinnaker.
Richard Goodbody’s White Mischief and what's left of her spinnaker Photo: Afloat
May's Scottish Series winner, Brian Hall’s Something Else from the National Yacht Club, placed fourth even after a spectacular broach as captured by Harry Tilling of Key Yachting in the vid below.
Eight J109s competed, with NYC’s Tom Shanahan on Ruth in fifth.
The first race start of the J109 National Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire on Saturday Photo: Afloat
Fairlie and Largs entry Mocking-J, owned by Ben and Jono Shelley, came sixth.
Tony O’Brien’s Tighey Boy of Schull Harbour Sailing Club finished seventh, with Riders On The Storm of Robert Kerr and Peter Corr (RIYC) eighth.
Racing at the championships, part of the J Cup Ireland, continues on Sunday with five more races scheduled in another day of strong winds, according to forecasts.
