Irish Sailing President Dave Cullen and sailing colleague Declan Byrne, both of Howth Yacht Club, have returned a dormant Quarter Tonner to the water after an extensive rebuild that transformed the yacht into a race-ready campaigner.
The Ceccarelli-designed Chronos has been launched following a major refit programme involving an estimated 500 man-hours of work and significant upgrades throughout the boat.
Before The Makeover — Chronos pictured before restoration work began. The yacht spent years ashore before being brought back to racing condition.
The yacht began life in Italy as a sistership to the successful Per Elisa before Byrne brought her to Ireland from Sardinia some 12 years ago with plans to campaign her under IRC.
After a brief period afloat, the project stalled and the boat spent much of the following decade ashore.
Its fortunes changed when Byrne and Cullen teamed up to undertake a comprehensive restoration programme.
"Declan brought her back from Sardinia 12 years ago with a view to IRCing. He sailed it in original form for half a season and then sat in his garden for the next ten years," Cullen explained.
"I decided to buy into the project and get the boat into the shed. We reckon there are about 500 man-hours in the rebuild, helped enormously by the expertise of Alan Power," Cullen said.
Shed Time — Hundreds of hours of work went into the Cullen-Byrne (Declan Byrne pictured on bow) restoration project, with major structural, rigging and performance upgrades completed ashore.
The rebuild included a new rig, new keel and rudder, updated deck hardware and a new sail inventory. The result is a striking modernised Quarter Tonner ready for a fresh chapter on the racecourse.
The focus for Chronos will initially be closer to home, with plans centred on club racing, bay regattas and a trip to the West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association championships.
"We needed a boat for some local sailing so emphasis is on club racing first, bay regattas and we are heading to WIORA for some fun with a young crew that averages 62," Cullen said.
Although best known as the 2018 Half Ton Classic Cup World Champion and current Irish Sailing President, Cullen says the Quarter Ton scene represents new territory.
"I've never sailed a Quarter Tonner but so far so good and a bit of fun as we share Difene prescriptions," he joked.
The launch marks the culmination of a joint Cullen-Byrne restoration project and adds another competitive boat to Ireland's active Quarter Ton fleet ahead of a busy summer season.
