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"How Fast We Were!" - North Sails Powers 1 x European and 2 x National Championship Titles

5th September 2022
"Little Fella" rounding the windward mark at the Dragon National Championships flying her North Sails LM-2 Mainsail and V-6M genoa Credit: Afloat

What a week that was for North Sails Ireland!

Dragon Nationals

HUGE congratulations to the "Little Fella" team of Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Matias Helstern from Kinsale YC, who brought the Dragon Nationals back to Kinsale for the first time in 31 years.

It was a poignant and emotional moment for Cameron, whose Dad, Courtney Good won the Dragon Nationals in 1975 and sadly left us recently. His heartfelt speech at the prizegiving last night left us all a little choked up.

I managed to snap this pic of the winning team yesterday evening in Royal St. George YC holding the coveted trophy.

L-R Matias, Henry and Cameron holding the Dragon Irish Championship trophyL-R Matias, Henry and Cameron holding the Dragon Irish Championship trophy Photo: Maurice O'Connell

"Little Fella" was powered 100% by North Sails. Huge congratulations again, guys - epic stuff.

Click here for overall results.

Flying Fifteen Nationals

Double Olympian Peter Kennedy, racing with his fantastic daughter Juliette, won the Flying Fifteen Nationals hosted by the Nationals YC at the weekend. I witnessed the strong and gusty but magic conditions out there yesterday, and at only 145kgs all-up crew weight, they still won. "Amazed at how fast we were in 20 kts with only 145kg", commented Peter after the racing.

Peter & Juliette Kennedy winning the Flying Fifteen nationals, seen here flying their North Sails FR-5 mainsail and RS-1 spinnakerPeter & Juliette Kennedy winning the Flying Fifteen nationals, seen here flying their North Sails FR-5 mainsail and RS-1 spinnaker Photo: Afloat

Click here for results

J24 Europeans

Finally, racing in Howth YC all week, the Greek team of Stelios Sotiriou with his crew Christos Kifidis, Kynthia Skotida, Rania Vergou and Costas Tridima won a tightly contested J24 European Championships.

They won on "JMANIA" on a split-point "countback" tie-break against David Hale's "Cacoon".

(R) European champions GRE 5367 "Jmania" flying her North Sails Fat Head mainsail and DX7TT genoa leading into the offset mark(R) European champions GRE 5367 "Jmania" flying her North Sails Fat Head mainsail and DX7TT genoa leading into the offset mark

Pic: 2nd overall in J24 Europeans GBR 4269 "Cacoon", seen here flying her North Sails fat head mainsail and DX-7TT genoa to leeward of "Headcase" from Howth YCPic: 2nd overall in J24 Europeans GBR 4269 "Cacoon", seen here flying her North Sails fat head mainsail and DX-7TT genoa to leeward of "Headcase" from Howth YC

Click here for overall results

We salute all the competitors for yet another memorable week of championship racing - well done, everyone!

Published in North Sails Ireland

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LOFT INFO

Cork

Cois Chuain
O'Regan's Field
Myrtleville, Cork P43 V997
 353 0212061769

SPECIALITIES

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Wicklow

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Sea Road, Newcastle Wicklow
Leinster A63DT26 Ireland
0838103539

SPECIALITIES

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Hours

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08:30 – 17:30

NORTH SAILS EXPERTS

Nigel Young

Loft Manager, One Design Expert
[email protected]

Shane Hughes

One Design Expert, Sales Person
[email protected]

Maurice O’Connell

One Design Expert, Sales Person
[email protected]

Maurice O'Connell

About The Author

Maurice O'Connell

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Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell is a partner in North Sails Ireland. He is also a professional sailor, sailing & life/business coach and sailing media analyst/commentator.

In 2018 he again won his class in the Round Ireland Race and in 2019 finished 2nd in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race - 10 years after he won it!

Also in 2019, he was providing expert commentary and analysis in studio for the SSL Star Europeans in Garda, Italy and SSL finals in Nassau.

Full bio here.

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North Sails Ireland is operated by Loft Manager and One Design Expert Nigel Young at his Cork Harbour base at Myrtleville. The company specialities include Bend on / Bend off, Canvas, Certified Service, Sail Hardware Upgrades, Sail Inspection / Evaluation, Sail Measurement, Sail Repair, Sail Storage and Sail Washing. Working with Nigel are Maurice O'Connell, Shane Hughes and Richard Marshall.