Byrne and Durcan Steer Final Final To 151 Miglia Glory

3rd June 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Winning Formula: National YC's Will Byrne and Baltimore SC's Harry Durcan were part of the Final Final crew that won overall IRC honours at Italy's 151 Miglia race. Photo: Studio Taccola Fabio Credit: Studio Taccola Fabio

The Irish offshore sailing season received another boost over the Bank Holiday weekend when National Yacht Club bowman Will Byrne from Dublin Bay and West Cork's Baltimore Sailing Club helmsman Harry Durcan helped the TP52 Final Final secure overall IRC victory in Italy's prestigious 151 Miglia offshore race.

Owned by Jonathan Desmond, the American TP52 topped the overall IRC standings and won IRC A after the 122.9-mile race along the Tuscan coast. Final Final also claimed third overall on line honours in a highly competitive fleet of 31 entries.

Full Flight: TP52 Final Final charges through offshore conditions during the 151 Miglia, where Irish sailors Will Byrne and Harry Durcan were part of the winning crew. Photo: Studio Taccola Fabio

The result continues an impressive run for the international crew, which included Byrne and Durcan as part of the same squad that competed in last year's Admiral's Cup campaign. The team also finished fifth overall at the recent ORC World Championship, capping a successful spring programme.

Golden Hour: Baltimore Sailing Club's Harry Durcan at the helm of Final Final during the 151 Miglia, where the TP52 secured overall IRC honours. Photo: Studio Taccola Fabio

Durcan was entrusted with helming duties for two watches during the race, while Byrne worked the bow aboard the powerful TP52.

The 151 Miglia is one of the Mediterranean's premier offshore races, starting off Livorno and taking competitors on a demanding course through the Tuscan Archipelago before returning to the finish. This year's edition featured a strong international fleet racing under IRC and ORC rules.

Final Final crossed the finish line after 24 hours, 45 minutes and 16 seconds of racing to secure overall IRC victory by more than an hour on corrected time from Italy's Italica.

The Italian success adds to a growing list of international achievements for Irish offshore sailors ahead of a busy summer season on both sides of the Atlantic.

Download results below as a pdf file.

Downloads

151-MIGLIA-2026-IRC_0106_ore1530.pdf (21 Downloads)

Published in TP52, Offshore, RORC, ORC

Published in TP52

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About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.