The Maples Group IRC European Championship 2024 at Royal Irish Yacht Club - Preview
by IRC European Championship 19 Aug 17:53 BST
12-15 September 2024
IRC European Championship © David O'Brien / Afloat
The sixth edition of the IRC European Championship will feature a huge range of boats in action: hi-tech racing yachts, hybrid cruiser-racers, pocket rockets and vintage designs.
Racing under the IRC Rating Rule, the fleet will compete to win the overall IRC European crown and a new overall Corinthian Trophy as well as European IRC Class honours.
The Overall Open winner will lift the IRC European Championship Trophy. A new perpetual trophy is being commissioned for The Maples Group IRC European Corinthian Winner. There are also trophies for every IRC Class winner for both Open and Corinthian IRC Divisions.
Founded in 1831, The Royal Irish Yacht Club offers a warm welcome and magnificent facilities for the international fleet plus Ireland's historic capital Dublin is just 20 minutes away. Entries are ramping up for the championship with a mixture of windward leeward and round-the-cans races in Dublin Bay. Four days of racing are scheduled with crew parties after every day of racing.
Commenting on the Maples Group's new partnership, Peter Stapleton, Ireland Managing Partner said: "We are delighted to support the IRC European Championship on its return to Ireland for the first time since 2016. As an island, Ireland's beautiful coastline provides many wonderful places to sail, and I have no doubt Dublin Bay will prove to be a brilliant venue for an unforgettable week of top-class sailing".
The splendid Royal Irish YC Clubhouse, overlooking Dun Laoghaire Harbour, will welcome all competitors. The Royal Irish YC offers the best in modern Irish dining and during the regatta the fine fayre will be complemented by barbeques every night. With the famous clubhouse main bar plus live music from some of Dublin's best artists; the atmosphere after racing will be fantastic.
Royal Irish Yacht Club IRC European Championship Chairman, Patrick Burke, noted: "I would like to thank the Maples Group for their support of this prestigious annual event. With less than a month to the first gun, the excitement is building. We look forward to welcoming notable top campaigns from Ireland, the UK, Europe and further afield. The sixth edition of the championship promises to be an unforgettable week of top-class racing."
Special accommodations will be made to facilitate visiting yachts competing in the UNIO Irish Cruiser Racing Association Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club two weeks before, and/or the Northern Trust J-Cup Ireland and J-109 Europeans the previous weekend.
IRC Europeans online entry
Any questions regarding logistics, accommodation, crane, berthing etc. please contact Mark McGibney, Sailing Services Manager, Royal Irish Yacht Club at + 353 87 948 1707 or email
Discounted berthing and lift-outs will be provided for visiting yachts and every effort will be made to make participation easy and accessible.
For more information about the Maples Group IRC European Championship including on-line entry and facilities at the Royal Irish Yacht Club: www.riyc.ie