Dublin Crewman James Hynes Onboard for Yes! Overall UK IRC Victory in Cowes

27th June 2023

Solent-based top Dublin crew James Hynes of Howth Yacht Club (left) with the IRC National Championships trophy with shipmates from the winning JPK 1080 Yes!, skipper Adam Gosling and Mark Williams Credit: Paul Wyeth

The UK IRC National Championships has been the battleground for close victories in the past, with Rán winning last year by 0.005 of a point. However, the 2023 Overall IRC National Champion was decided by an even smaller margin. Adam Gosling’s JPK 1080 Yes! scored second place in Race 8 by four seconds after IRC time correction. This gave Yes! the overall IRC National Championships by 0.004 of a point.

Onboard Gosling’s JPK 1080 for the victory was Solent-based top Dublin crew James 'Heinzy' Hynes of Howth Yacht Club, who has a long and successful track record with the Yes! campaigns.

“It doesn’t get closer than that; races were won by seconds, and when you are up against other good boats, that level of competition makes you sail better,” commented Adam Gosling. “Arcus sailed really well in our class and really challenged us, as did John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox. Today, Elaine Again pulled a real blinder; well done to Ed Mockridge and his team. The RORC and the volunteers have given us three days of sunshine, wind and other people to sail against. Thank you, it has been a great regatta; see you again!”

Yes! win the IRC National Championships and IRC Three by a whisker after three days of spectacular racing in the Solent Photo: Paul Wyeth

Giovanni Belgrano’s 39ft classic sloop Whooper was the overall runner-up, winning the Jackdaw Trophy as well as IRC Four. Tony Langley’s TP52 Gladiator made a welcome return to Solent racing, winning IRC One. James Howell’s Cape 31 Gelert was the winner of IRC Two and the Roger Grainger Trophy for the best-performing RORC boat.

Spectacular conditions prevailed for the final day of the IRC National Championship. The RORC Race Team delayed the start of racing to allow a solid south-westerly to establish, and it was well worth the wait, as 16-18 knots arrived in the combat zone. The race winners on the final day were: TP52 Gladiator, MAT 12 Sailplane 3, Cape 31 Gelert, JPK 1010 Elaine Again and the classic sloops Cetaweyo and Whooper.

Results are below

Next year, the RORC IRC National Championships will be going on tour! Held at the International Paint Poole Regatta over the Spring Bank Holiday, 25 - 27 May 2024.

Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

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About The Author

Louay Habib

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Louay Habib is a Maritime Journalist & Broadcaster based in Hamble, United Kingdom

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