Darragh McCormack's Stouche claimed the 2026 J24 Eastern Championship title after a closely contested six-race series at Lough Ree Yacht Club. Nine boats competed over June 20-21 in light and shifting conditions that tested both crews and race management. Despite difficult forecasts, Race Officer Derek Bothwell and his team completed the full championship schedule.
Three different boats won races on Saturday as the leaderboard changed throughout the day.
Luke McBride's CrazyHorse took the opening race after finding stronger pressure on the right-hand side of the first beat, then controlled the race from the front. Martin Mahon's Snoopy's J claimed race two by working through the fleet on the second beat, while McCormack's Stouche rounded off the day with victory in race three.
Consistency put Conor Haughton's Jupiter at the top of the overnight standings with three second-place finishes.
Title Battle — Darragh McCormack's Stouche (IRL 4215) crosses with Martin Mahon's Snoopy's J (IRL 4265) and Luke McBride's CrazyHorse (IRL 4533) during the closely contested J24 Eastern Championships at Lough Ree, where the title remained in the balance until the final race. Photo: Cillian Dickson
Sunday began with Stouche extending its momentum, leading race four from start to finish despite sustained pressure from Andrew Mannion's Jeb Stuart.
Snoopy's J then secured its second race win of the championship, leaving just two points separating the top four boats going into the final race. The deciding contest produced the dramatic finish the championship deserved. Headcase led at the first windward mark ahead of Snoopy's J, but Stouche found better pressure and clear air downwind, moving into the lead.
McCormack and crew steadily pulled clear to win the final race. Snoopy's J finished second, while Bernard McConville's Proud Mary completed the podium with one of its strongest performances of the weekend. The victory secured the Eastern Championship title for Darragh McCormack and the Stouche crew from Foynes Yacht Club after a highly competitive weekend on Lough Ree.
The J24 fleet now looks ahead to the next championship event in Carrickfergus on August 14-15 before the National Championships at Foynes Yacht Club from September 4-6.
Results from the J24 Eastern Championship can be found here.
