SAILING: IT PROVED to be a profitable dash back across the Irish Sea from Cowes for Dave Dwyer and his Royal Cork crew when they retained the Irish IRC championship in Tralee this weekend, a title that will be added to the British national trophy he won in Cowes just a week ago.
The double suggests that Dwyer’s 2010 Commodore’s Cup campaign is already in full swing, and confirms that in spite of the economic downturn that has scuppered some big-boat sailing, Irish cruiser racing remains buoyant.
Further proof of that was on show in Tralee bay on Saturday for the final two races of the ICRA championships. The 70-boat fleet that had gathered surpassed the equivalent British fleet by 10 boats.
The combined entry of class zero, one, two and three boats experienced a range of conditions, including a five-hour wait for wind on the opening day, Thursday.
It was the first time the event, now in its sixth year, has been sailed on the west coast.
Championship honours were decided in both the International IRC handicap and Ireland’s Echo handicap system.
“Magic” is how ICRA commodore Barry Rose summed up proceedings when racing finished off Fenit pier in the last of seven races in 20 knots on Saturday afternoon, with the turnout a vindication of the decision to take the event so far away from the main racing fleets in Dublin.
Dwyer, who had recruited Beijing Olympian Peter O’Leary as driver for the event, easily overcame a challenge from club-mate Eamon Rohan on Blondie V, counting six wins in seven races.
In class one, Rockabill V (Paul O’Higgins), steered by Cork’s Mel Collins, beat Royal Cork admiral Mike McCarthy, sailing Checkmate, for the honours in the 24-boat fleet with two wins. Anthony O’Leary’s much-talked-about, modified 1720, Antix Beag, was third.
In class two, where 22 boats competed, Kinetic defended her title. Local Sigma 33 (F O’Connell) Treyona was runner-up.
Third was Ruthless, a Corby 25 sailed by Sligo’s Conor Ronan with David Burrows on board.
In the seven-boat class three fleet, a Clifden Boat Club entry, Hallmark (J Ward), took the title, with Vince Gaffney’s Alliance from Dublin second for a second year.
