Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

monday.com Irish Cruiser Racing Association National Championships at Howth Yacht Club - Overall

by Irish Cruiser Racing Association 10 Sep 2023 10:36 PDT 8-10 September 2023
8933R Cruiser 1 yacht Bon Exemple entered by Colin Byrne sailing for Royal Irish Yacht Club in the monday.com ICRA National Championships © David Branigan / Oceansport

Outrajeous overall victory

Four races with all podium results delivered the overall event win to John and Suzie Murphy's Outrajeous at the monday.com ICRA National Championships at Howth today.

In spite of valiant efforts by the race management teams, there was no overcoming the weather that delivered near calm conditions and torrential downpours of rain that only allowed a brief race by one of the six classes.

The result sees Murphy's Howth team crowned IRC champion in Class 1 as well as the overall event winner in their ten boat division.

Speaking at the prize-giving John Murphy paid tribute to his team on Outrajeous in a short but emotional speech where he revealed that after three years campaigning he was close to calling it a day before this season. However, his friend and helmsman Neil Spain persuaded him to keep going for the 2023 season leading to this weekend's happy outcome.

The full 70-strong fleet representing 27 clubs from all coasts of Ireland plus inland venues saw Cork boats win two of the five individual championship titles.

Amongst the big boat entries of Class Zero, Brian Jones Jelly Baby from the Royal Cork Yacht Club had narrow one-point win over John Treanor's ValenTina from the National Yacht Club. That result reversed under the ECHO Performance handicap result, spreading the prizes as expected.

In Class 2, James Dwyer with the classic New Zealand half-tonner Swuzzlebubble, also from the Crosshaven club won after Johnny Swan on Harmony from the host club couldn't match the all podium scoreline from Saturday's four races that comprised the championship for the bulk of the fleet.

David Bailey and partners with Hard On Port from Bray Sailing Club won the J24 national championship title over five races in their 20 boat fleet that also comprised many of the Under 25 crews that are emerging from numerous clubs around the country as a pathway event into cruiser sailing.

The U25 trophy was won by the crew on Kinsailor hailing from the West Cork club who also placed second overall and were just three points off the overall win.

With no further racing apart from Saturday's four races, the Class 3 championship went to Snoopy from Courtown Sailing Club owned Joanne Hall and Martin Mahon that counted two race wins and all podium results in their scoresheet for this, the largest class after the J24's with 13 entries.

"Considering the challenging weather conditions that the race management team and competitors alike had to face, we've a super championship and Saturday's racing must count as one of the most memorable Sailing day's in Ireland of recent times," commented ICRA Commodore David Cullen. "We're already looking forward to next year's championship to be hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and we're keen to receive feedback - good, bad or indifferent - to help deliver a great event."

Boat owners, crews, participants and non-participants alike are welcome to contact the association by email here.

Related Articles

2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race preview
To date, yachts representing ten nations have confirmed their participation There has been an encouraging early wave of entries for the 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, set to commence on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Posted on 20 May
IMA Maxi Europeans Inshore Series Day 2
Bella Mente wins on corrected time in the coastal race The second day of inshore racing at the IMA Maxi European Championship delivered another spectacular show in the Gulf of Naples, with breathtaking scenery and challenging weather conditions. Posted on 20 May
52 Super Series fleet is out into the Atlantic
11-strong fleet is now mustering in Galicia Following the successful shipping of most of the TP52s from Nice in the Mediterranean out into the Atlantic and to Vigo on rugged northwest of Spain, the race fleet is now mustering in Galicia ahead of the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup. Posted on 20 May
Puget Sound sailing, Etchells, J/70s, Cup news
Seeking Goldilocks conditions on Puget Sound, Etchells NAs, J/70 U.S. Nationals, AC38 news As the saying goes, 'you don't know unless you go'. While I've mostly heard this phrase applied to climbing, skiing, and mountaineering, four late-winter and springtime races on Puget Sound this year exemplified the fact that this line. Posted on 20 May
2025 edition of fivepointfive magazine published
5.5 Metre Class now off to Poland for the first time The 2025 edition of fivepointfive Magazine was launched during the recent Alpen Cup at Riva and is now available to read online and download. Posted on 20 May
Henri-Lloyd supports Jazz Turner's challenge
GBR para-athlete overcomes fears in attempt to break record For a young woman with multiple and complex health issues, Jazz Turner is remarkable calm as she faces her imminent departure on her around Great Britain sailing challenge. Posted on 20 May
A new IMOCA for Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia
Three teams have joined forces to build three new boats Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia announces the build of a new IMOCA racing yacht and with it, an unprecedented collaboration. Posted on 20 May
VX One Class forms Int. Class Assoc.
Significant new chapter begins for VX One sailors with formation of an Int Class Assoc. A significant new chapter has just begun for VX One sailors worldwide with the formation of the VX One International Class Association Posted on 20 May
IMA Maxi Europeans day 1
Jolt takes the lead The International Maxi Association's European Championship, run by Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia out of Sorrento, began its second phase today with four days of windward-leeward and coastal racing on the Gulf of Naples. Posted on 19 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla overall
Nolot and Pianosi reclaim European Titles, and Maeder wins Open Trophy Racing couldn't have been more dramatic in the medal series day of the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships. With too many passes to count, a steady eight knots and smooth, turquoise water provided a perfect playing field in Urla. Posted on 19 May
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastExposure MarineZhik 2024 December