Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 1

Irish J/24 Match Racing Champs at Carlingford Sailing Club

by Emma Finegan 21 Jun 2007 08:24 BST 16-17 June 2007
Graeme Grant's team win the Irish J/24 Match Racing Championships © CSC club member

Last weekend Carlingford Sailing Club hosted the Irish J24 Match Racing Championships which brought 48 top-level sailors from all over Ireland onto Carlingford Lough to participate in this exciting event. This type of sail racing regatta is similar to the well-known Americas Cup currently being held in Valencia, Spain. Each team competes in a one on one battle, or match, with each and every other team, and wins by best using the wind, various blocking tactics or forcing the other team to make an error; all within the rules of course.

Twelve teams entered the two-day event, which saw very mixed weather conditions, with strong gusts and some showers on Saturday and for a time on Sunday morning no wind, which jeopardised the finals. Luckily enough for the race organisers the sea breeze kicked in at midday and held until evening; enough time to get all the races completed. The twelve teams of four crew per boat were split into two fleets, and in turn each fleet completed a round robin series. The top three teams from each fleet went through to the Semi-finals on Sunday morning for another round robin series and then on to the finals. In total a staggering 52 races were run over the two days, all of which were held literally just 10m off the clubhouse shore. Many sailors and non-sailors alike gathered to view this spectacular & exciting racing from the clubs rooftop terrace.

Competitors came from far and wide, from clubs such as Lough Erne YC, Lough Neagh SC, Carrickfergus SC, National YC (Dún Laoghaire), Carlingford SC, Portaferry SC, Ballyholme YC, Howth YC, Clifton BC (Galway) and West of Ireland SC. The wining team, named ‘Carlingford Sail Training Centre’, won an amazing 11 of their 12 races to get through to attain the winning title. This team was helmed by Graeme Grant (Senior Instructor in the centre) and crewed by Ivan Slater, Killian McCourt, Gordon Carey and Evan Graham (aka: Gigantor). Runner up in 2nd place was Chris Scott (Lough Erne YC) who won 9 of their 12 races, only losing out to Graeme. 3rd place went to Tim Sheard & crew (Lough Neagh SC); Tim was 2nd in last year’s event. 4th place was won by Pat McCormick (Carlingford SC), 5th also went to a local team, helmed by Mark Slater (Carlingford SC) and 6th went to Simon McGibney (West of Ireland SC). Other teams were helmed by John Coyle, Paudie Callan, Duirmuid O’Donivan, Redmond O’Hanlon, Eamon Toner and Michael McCabe.

Carlingford Sailing club would like to thank the main sponsors of the event ‘The Loughs Agency’ and ‘Interreg’ who part funded the event. Our sincere thanks also goes out to ALL the helpers that volunteered over the weekend.

For results and further photographs visit www.carlingfordsailingclub.net

Overall Results:

1ST CARLINGFORD SAIL TRAINING CENTRE, GRAEME GRANT (CARLINGFORD SAILING CLUB)
2ND LEYC TEAM ONE, CHRIS SCOTT (LOUGH ERNE YACHT CLUB)
3RD TEAM JAY KAY, TIM SHEARD (LOUGH NEAGH SAILING CLUB)
4TH FREDDY AND THE LAWN MOWERS, PAT MCCORMICK (CARLINGFORD SAILING CLUB)
5TH FOUR PLAY, MARK SLATER (CARLINGFORD SAILING CLUB)
6TH MIXED BAG, SIMON MC GIBNEY (WEST OF IRELAND SC, LOUGH NEAGH SC & CARRICKFERGUS SC)

Related Articles

2025 Toyota Youth Match Racing Cup - Final
Waitemata Racing, led by skipper Josh Hyde, emerged victorious after four days of racing After four days of thrilling competition, Waitemata Racing, led by skipper Josh Hyde, has emerged victorious at the 2025 Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, successfully defending their title in a two race final at the RNZYS. Posted on 3 Mar
US selection process for Youth Match Racing Worlds
Set to take place from July 21-27 in Gdynia, Poland US Sailing has released the athlete selection procedures for the 2025 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship, set to take place from July 21-27 in Gdynia, Poland. Posted on 28 Feb
Registration open for 2025 Rolex Big Boat Series
This legendary regatta rewards the best in West Coast racing The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for the 61st edition of Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club. Posted on 27 Feb
2025 Toyota Youth Match Racing Cup preview
Top youth match racers set for battle The world's top youth match racers are gearing up for the highly anticipated 2025 Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, taking place from February 27 to March 2 at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS). Posted on 26 Feb
Six weeks before the SRS Community Events set sail
With the WA Women's State Keelboat Championship on 5th & 6th April There are only 6 weeks left before the WA Women's State Keelboat Championship takes place in East Fremantle waters. Registration closes on March 7th! Posted on 25 Feb
Hellenic Match Racing Tour a resounding success
Event has met high expectations, with a renewed and even more exciting circuit The Hellenic Match Racing Tour (HMRT) has entered a new era with its 2025 edition, offering a renewed and even more exciting circuit. Posted on 21 Feb
WMRT celebrates 25th Anniversary season
The 2025 season features a 16-event schedule across 10 countries The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) today announced its complete 2025 championship season, which started at the inaugural Macao Match Cup last month. Posted on 21 Feb
RYA National Match Racing Series qualifier 2
Hosted in Sonars at Royal Thames YC The second qualifier of the RYA National Match Racing Series 2025 saw two days of close racing hosted by the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London. Posted on 19 Feb
Women's WMRT announces 2025 season
Over 150 women match racing sailors are expected to compete this year The Women's World Match Racing Tour has announced its 2025 schedule of six events in four countries featuring events in the USA, France, Sweden and Bermuda. Posted on 12 Feb
Gdynia to host 2025 Youth Match Racing Worlds
The championship will use the RS21 one-design racing keelboat World Sailing is pleased to announce that the Polish port city of Gdynia has been chosen to host the 2025 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championships. Posted on 7 Feb