J24 Carlingford Champs at Dundalk & Carlingford Sailing Club

Sponsored by the Loughs Agency

One point separated Ireland’s new Carlingford J/24 Champion, Andrew Algeo in Scandal from Frank Heath in Crazyhorse, both from Royal St George Yacht Club, at the weekend’s Carlingford J/24 Championship hosted by Dundalk and Carlingford Sailing Club and sponsored by the Loughs Agency, the cross-border body responsible for the management and promotion of both Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle, situated between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

David Taylor in Taz from Carrickfergus Sailing Club was third overall. Best of the home fleet was James Byrne in Gossip, fourth overall, and best among the four old Westerly built boats was Robin Eagleson’s Luder Too, from Lough Neagh SC, a creditable fifth overall in competitive company. The racing was lively and close at this third of six events in Ireland’s J/24 keelboat circuit.

First places were shared among five boats, including Desmond Fortune’s Hard on Port, RStGYC, winner of the final race. Two thirds of the fleet counted at least one first second or third race place in the eight races. This was one-design keelboat racing at its best, with success depending largely on crew team work. There were prizes for all and attractive crew shirts with Loughs Agency logo.

Race Officer, Michael Harris Barke set windward-leeward courses in a most scenic setting, between Mourne and Carlingford mountains, north and south. Saturday’s first race had a moderate west wind that then shifted east in the sea breeze created by sunshine on the mountains for the rest of the day’s five races. Sunday’s three races had a strong north wind in cloudy weather.

Local J/24s were joined by others from Dublin Bay, Belfast and Strangford Loughs on the coast, and from Loughs Erne and Neagh inland. The visiting J/24s were launched and recovered by crane from the east pier of Carlingford harbour overlooked by King John’s medieval Castle.

Ireland’s J/24 sailors enjoy superb sailing sport on the home circuit and at Europe and and World lJ/2 events. Ireland’s next J/24 events is the Northern Championship at a new venue, Carrickfergus Sailing Club, on 30 & 31 July. Also in July, Enda O’Coineen’s Kilcullen, National YC, and Frank Heath’s Crazyhorse crew, will be off to France for the European J/24 Championship.

The six Irish helmsmen selected to represent Ireland at September’s World J/24 Championship in Weymouth, Britain are Barry O’Neill, Andrew Algeo and Desmond Fortune, all RStGYC, David Taylor, Carrickfergus SC, Stephen Bradshaw, Portaferry SC, and Tim Sheard, Lough Neagh SC. They will compete with over 70 helmsmen from about 20 nations world-wide.

The J/24 Association of Ireland is a part of the world’s most widespread and numerous keelboat class with J/24s in most yachting nations, and local fleets like Carlingford’s on lakes and coasts world-wide. J/24s are one-design so that the boats being the same, success depends largely on crew skills. They are 24 feet long, designed by Rod Johnstone, an American of Ulster descent, hence J/24. With fin keel and real spinnaker, a J/24 keeps her crew team of five men and women all busy and makes superb team sport. J/24s are much less costly to own and run than any similar boat, local or international. This has also helped sustain their long standing popularity in Ireland.

Overall Results: