Class bands released for next week's ICRA National Championship (see below) reveal a smaller than usual fleet for the Royal Cork Yacht Club Championships but with three events in three weeks all trying to attract boats out of Dublin where 90% of boats are based, it was always going to be a tough nut to crack. Championship fleet sizes will range from four boats in Class Zero to fourteen in Class Four where there will be some great battles for national honours starting next Thursday in Crosshaven. With early forecasts showing strong south-westerly winds prevailing, Afloat.ie sticks its neck out in a 'Runners and Riders' Guide to the 2017 Cork Harbour Championships.
Class 0 There are just four boats in Class Zero and two are travellers to Cork Harbour. The Dubois 37, Dark Angel, ex–Antix, with Rob O'Leary onboard, won at Cork Week last year beating local favourite Jump Juice (Ker 37) for the top spot, so this pair are likely to produce another close battle next week. If winds are strong, a previous Round Ireland winner, Inis Mor, a Ker 39, will be a force to be reckoned with. [See update: Inis Mor sinks on way to championships –Ed.] The fourth boat entered is a Salona 45, Meridian. With half of the Zero fleet travelling to Cork for the event, the hope is the strong south–westerlies won't deter.
ISORA series, pundits say she will be strong in Cork too if all three days are sailed in strong winds, but one light day may prove her undoing. ICRA Boat of the Year, John Maybury's Joker II is going for three–in–a–row of ICRA wins, with Star keelboat Olympian Mark Mansfield as Tactician. Pat Kelly's Storm, fresh from a class win at last month's Scottish Series will certainly be in the mix. The Rush Sailing Club boat has now changed to symmetrical spinnakers which will give her an edge if winds are stronger. Kelly was afloat early this year and competing in the Spring Warmer in Howth and then HYC Wednesday nights. It means this team is race–ready as they have already proved in Scotland. Whether or not the new kite is paying dividends has not been disclosed. A tight–lipped Ronan Kelly told Afloat.ie: 'We can't really give that much feedback as it is very much in the early stages of trial for us'. The IRC rating is slightly higher than Storm had prior to the change in spinnakers. And the decision to change, says Ronan Kelly, was based on the notion of 'why not try something different out?'
Class 1 Only the four top J109’s from the 2016 ICRAs are turning up in Cork for this nine–boat class. Joker II, Storm, White Mischief and Jigamaree. The new Dublin Bay J109’s of Andrew Craig and Andrew Algeo are not entered. Algeo's Juggerknot is opting for the D2D and Sovereigns but not ICRAs. The JPK10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) from the Royal Irish Yacht Club has already shown his potency offshore this season in theTim Goodbody's J109 White Mischief is also very likely to be in the mix. Rob McConnell's A35 Fools Gold (second in Scotland last month) will be competitive, especially in stronger winds and former winner in ICRA Tralee 2013, the Xp–33 Bon Exemple (Colin Byrne of the Royal Irish) is also expected to be there or thereabouts. This will be a very competitive class, and wind conditions will likely make a big difference with Joker II the favourite in the mixed conditions but if it is strong on all three days, Rockabill VI is a likely winner.
Nigel Biggs new Checkmate XVII is entered and this is an unknown factor as is his appearance at all. 'We are putting long hours in at the moment but it's very touch and go. Fingers crossed...' he told Afloat.ie. If conditions are strong expect to see Ross McDonald's X-332 Equinox from Howth to be a dominant player, as she was at the 2015 ICRAs in Kinsale when she won easily in stronger winds. Paul Tingle's X34 Alpaca, as top–rated boat in this class, also could be a wild card.
Class 2 Normally, the Half tonners would be favourites in this 12-boat class and any one of Checkmate, Harmony or Big Picture could take it, especially if the conditions are mixed or lighter.
Class 3 The quarter tonners, like the half tonners in class 2 are bottom of this the second biggest class of the ICRA championships with 13 entered. If conditions are light or mixed, expect Paul Gibbons Anchor Challenge to be strong. She has Olympian Kiliian Collins onboard and they will give Ken Lawless’s Cartoon, 2016 ICRA winner, a tough challenge. If conditions are stronger then the Corby 25’s Fusion and Stonehaven racing will be up there as will the two X302’s, Dux and Maximus. The Sigma 33’s could also prove competitive in the breeze. In a mixed event, however, the money would be on Anchor Challenge to take it.
Class 4 There are 10 J24’s in this class of 14, the event's biggest fleet, and the winner will very likely come from one of them. Corkman, Flor O'Driscoll, with his local knowledge, should be up there on Hard on Port. However, this is a close class and hard to call.
ICRA Nationals 2017 – Class Divisions (as at June 2, 2017). Data supplied by ICRA
DIVISION | BOAT NAME | TYPE |
---|---|---|
0 | Inis Mor | Kerr 39 |
0 | Meridian | Salona 45 |
0 | Jump Juice | Ker 37 |
0 | Dark Angel | Dubois 37 |
1 | Rockabill VI | JPK 10.80 |
1 | Saxon Senator | X37 |
1 | Fools Gold | A35 |
1 | Altair | First 36.7 |
1 | Storm | J109 |
1 | Joker 2 | J109 |
1 | Jigamaree | J109 |
1 | White Mischief | J109 |
1 | Bon Exemple | XP33 |
2 | Alpaca | X-34 |
2 | Ellida | X-332 |
2 | Equinox | X-332 |
2 | Coracle IV | Olson 30 |
2 | Jostler | J92 |
2 | Jedi | J80 |
2 | Rioja | J80 |
2 | Artful Dodger | Elan 333 |
2 | Slack Alice | GK34 |
2 | Harmony | 1/2 Tonner |
2 | Checkmate XV | Mod 1/2 Ton |
2 | Checkmate XVII | Mod 1/2 Ton |
3 | Fusion | Corby 25 |
3 | Bad Company | Sunfast 32 |
3 | Stonehaven Racing | Corby 25 |
3 | Maximus | X-302 |
3 | Dux | X-302 |
3 | Luas | HB31 |
3 | Sea Hawk | Sigma 33 |
3 | Flyover | Sigma 33 00D |
3 | Cri-Cri | 1/4 ton |
3 | Powder Monkey | Sigma 33 |
3 | No Gnomes | Nicholson 30 |
3 | Cartoon | 1/4 ton |
3 | Manzanita | 1/4 ton |
4 | Jade | J24 |
4 | K25 Team Scandal | J24 |
4 | Jumpin' Jive | J24 |
4 | Hard on Port | J24 |
4 | Stouche | J24 |
4 | Johnny Bravo | J24 |
4 | Jana | J24 |
4 | Gala Racing | J24 |
4 | Ya Gotta Wanna | J24 |
4 | Jelignite | J24 |
4 | Bandit | Mod Bolero 26' |
4 | Relativity | Albin Express |
4 | Whistlin Dixie | Impala 28 |
4 | Raffles | Sadler32 |
Non Spin | Rebellion | Lambay 60 |
Non Spin | Nieulargo | Grand Soleil 40 |
Non Spin | Indulgence | Dehler 365 |
Non Spin | Aisling | Dufour 365 |
Non Spin | Sweet Dreams | Sun Odyssey 36 |
Non Spin | Surfdancer | Elan 333 |
Non Spin | Roaring Forthyes | Beneteau 35s5 |
Non Spin | Privateer | Dufour 365 |
Non Spin | Lady T | Sun Odyssey 32i |
Non Spin | Loch Greine | Hanse 31 |
Non Spin | Aramis | Contessa 33 |
Non Spin | Cracker | Trapper T250 |
Non Spin | Speedy Gonzales | Jaguar 27 |