Barry Cunningham of the Royal Irish YC is “Sailor of the Month (Regatta)” for August

1st September 2023

J109 National Champion Barry Cunningham of the Royal Irish Yacht Club Credit: Maurice O'Connell

The first J/Cup Championship in Irish waters on Dublin Bay in August 2023 saw several classes of this leading marque represented in the 40-strong fleet, but there was little doubting that the most intensive competition was in the J/109s.

This especially attractive product of the renowned Johnstone range has not only hit the target for success in Dublin Bay, but the participation by boats from this fleet elsewhere has brought home many significant titles, so this was definitely the class to watch.

Barry Cunningham's J109 "Chimaera" on her way to J109 victory at the J Cup Ireland Photo: Key Yachting

The racing was intense in the extreme, but Barry Cunningham of the hosting Royal Irish YC with Chimaera and his team had a performance graph going the right way, for after a fifth in the first face, they found their groove to register two firsts and ultimately take the title.

Published in Sailor of the Month, J109, Royal Irish Yacht Club

Published in Sailor of the Month

Tagged under

Barry Cunningham

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.