Although the Irish Cruiser Racing Association caters for boats with offshore potential, the annual ICRA Nationals are fought with all the intensity of a major inshore series, and the pressure of several races a day keeps up the heat.
The ICRA Nats 2017 at the Royal Cork YC from June 9th to 11th were intense and then some, as the weather pattern was distinctly unfavourable. For participants, it was a matter of keeping one’s cool and dealing with the challenge in hand. It was only after his J/109 Joker 2 had won Division I that John Maybury (Royal Irish YC) allowed himself to realise he had done it three times in a row. Joker 2 has now been champion in varied conditions in Kinsale in 2015, in mostly light airs at Howth in 2016, and in heavy weather at Crosshaven in 2017. An unrivalled record, and a clearcut “Sailor of the Month”.
