2015 National 18 Championships overall

by National 18 on 2 Aug 2015 The Royal Cork Yacht Club are hosting this year’s National 18 Championships. Besides the Proctor and Classic boats, there are 11 of the brand new Morrison designed 18’s build by White Formula in Brightlingsea. These boats are proving to be lighter faster and sleeker than their predecessors giving exacting and close racing.

The event comprises ten races with a practice race last Sunday. The wind to date has been very varied, with no racing on Monday because of 35-knot gusts. So over the next two days, Peter Crowley, Principal Race Officer ran three races back to back over a windward-leeward course, with NW breezes between five to 25 knots. On Thursday, the start was delayed due to light winds but two races were sailed – the second being a long race in a steady 12 knots SW wind.

Competition in the new Morrison designed boats called the Ultra’s is fierce with the current leader being Colin Chapman in 404 Aquadisiac. The second fleet has 18 starters comprised of Ultimates and Classics. Ewen Barry in 362 D’Good D’Bad D’Ugly is leading the Ultimate fleet with the leader in the Classic fleet being Colman Garvey in 233 Nimrod.

The Class dinner was held last night at the Royal Cork Yacht Club for 150 guests – a free whiskey from Jamieson Irish Whiskey set the tone for a very relaxed and fun evening.