Eye on the Prize - The Contenders Optimised for the IRC European Championships
by Cyclops Marine 20 May 10:00 PDT
Cyclops smarttune on a Cape 31 © Ian Roman / Cyclops Marine
This weekend, Poole Regatta plays host to a spectacular edition of the IRC European Championship, as over 50 entries prepare to descend on the South Coast. For the teams gathered, the challenge is as much about versatility as it is about raw speed.
The Euros will be contested over an intensive 11-race series, split between Poole Bay and Bournemouth Bay. With a mix of windward-leeward sprints and longer coastal courses on the menu, consistency across different conditions and sea states will be the only path to the podium.
Last year, in Bonifacio, Cyclops sailors rose to the occasion, with Niklas Zennström's Rán 7 clinching the Overall Title. This year, with a fresh set of challenges, we're running through a few of our favourites to pull out stand-out performances.
Most favour smarttune sensors from Cyclops, designed for the forestay, where accurate load measurement is key to understanding the overall dynamic balance of the rig.
Each of these Cyclops-equipped race yachts has utilised live load data, displayed via their marine instruments (and logged on the Cyclops app), to collect a set of fast settings for all conditions - enabling them to find their optimal gear quickly and effectively when things shift. Consistency wins regattas. smarttune unlocks the ability to find your best settings and repeat them with precision.
Cetewayo
Few yachts possess a history as storied as custom sloop Cetewayo. Originally launched in 1955 under the name 'Zulu', this Laurent Giles design was found rotting and abandoned in Pembroke Dock. After a 15-year restoration and a legendary career through the 90s, she "rose again" in 2015 with a brand-new rig and is now optimised to compete against modern race yachts. Cetewayo utilises smarttune from Cyclops on the forestay, both for performance, and to guard her precious equipment against overload.
Bullit
The Cape 31 class is the most ferociously competitive fleet in modern IRC racing. Julian Metherell's Bullit, a frequent front-runner, is a prime example of the high-performance tuning required when the margins are so small. Like much of the Cape 31 fleet, Bullit uses a smarttune on the forestay, allowing the crew to hit precise rig tensions in real-time.
Jack Rabbit
The 2024 IRC Dutch National Champion, Jack Rabbit is a J/112 coming across the North Sea with a fantastic reputation. Amongst a fleet of so many British boats familiar with local conditions, her crew will be buoyed by the ability to use load data to get a handle on conditions quickly.
Khumbu
At the larger end of the spectrum, Botin 56 Khumbu is built for pure power. Owned by Guy Gillon and Christian Hamilton, this 56-foot racing machine is designed for high-performance both offshore and inshore. She'll be equipped with smartlink sensors from Cyclops in her onboard systems.
Pacifist
Unlike many yachts that have changed hands dozens of times, Pacifist is currently owned and sailed by her original designer, Duncan Peace. He designed her in the winter of 1981 just after graduating from university. After selling her in the 80s, he bought her back decades later to restore her and race in the revived Quarter Tonner class. Despite being an 80s design, she's a masterclass in optimisation, typified by a smarttune 7/16" on the forestay, which integrates seamlessly with her Garmin displays.
Baraka GP
Having helped the Netherlands to 6th place in the historic return of the Admiral's Cup last year, the de Graaf family's Ker 43 is fine-tuned for performance both inshore and offshore at the highest level. Her powerful sail plan is complemented perfectly by live load data from Cyclops, helping her push the limits of performance, without over-stressing the gear.
From the cutting-edge Cape 31s, to the restored beauty of Cetewayo, regatta glory often comes down to the same thing: the ability to hit and maintain optimal settings under pressure, especially when conditions shift. When it comes to repeatability, smarttune is the ultimate crewmate.
Targeting a big regatta this season? Find the sensor to help you win it. Or speak to a Cyclops expert to learn more.