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Royal Irish's Rockabill VI is Rocking It In Class 0 of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

7th July 2023
Paul O'Higgin's well-proven JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) leads overall after three races sailed in Class IRC Zero of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
Paul O'Higgin's well-proven JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) leads overall after three races sailed in Class IRC Zero of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Credit: Bob Bateman

You'll sometimes hear complaints that the impressive JPK range from France are marginally under-canvassed boats, but what's not to like about that when racing on Friday's slowly easing rough and tumble?

Paul O'Higgin's well-proven JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC) took it all in her stride to keep a clean sheet in IRC 0 of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta ahead of Pete Smyth's slightly lower-rated Sun Fast 3600 Searcher (NYC), with third going to Johnny Treanor's new J112eGP (NYC) in the first race of three sailed.

Pete Smyth's Sun Fast 3600 Searcher (NYC) lies second by a single point after three races sailed at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob BatemanPete Smyth's Sun Fast 3600 Searcher (NYC) lies second by a single point after three races sailed at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

And those overall scores were maintained at the close of play on Friday after two more windward leeward courses, with O'Higgins one point clear of Smyth on six points. Treanor trails Smyth by five points on 12 points.

Johnny Treanor's new J112eGP Valentina lies third overall after three races sailed at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob BatemanJohnny Treanor's new J112eGP Valentina lies third overall after three races sailed at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

The strong southerly winds are expected to continue for Saturday's races before moderating for Sunday's conclusion of the biennial event.

The Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club, and Royal St. George Yacht Club are organising the ninth Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Scroll down for 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta results class by class

  • Read all the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Race News in one handy link here
  • Click links to read more on VDLR IRC divisions Coastal, IRC Zero, IRC One, IRC Two and IRC Three
  • Listen to Lorna Siggins's interview with Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Race Director Paddy Boyd here
  • Read more on the Coastival Festival here
  • See live Dublin Bay webcams covering here 

Afloat will be posting regular race updates throughout the 2023 Regatta. Send your photos, tips and stories by email to [email protected]

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

WM Nixon

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Cruisers Zero

There will be an 11-boat entry of Cruisers Zero IRC boats competing at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023: 

  • GBR 1681, Gelert, Corby 36, Brian Dixon
  • IRL 1156, BOD, Derek de Yong
  • IRL 3721 ValenTina, J112e,GP Johnny Treanor
  • GBR 4822R, El Gran Senor, J122, Jonathan Anderson
  • IRL 6888, El Pocko, Puma 42, Jonathan Nicholson
  • GBR 6509N, Max Too, Prima 38, Neil Thomas
  • IRL 985, Ghost Raider, J111, Norbert Reilly
  • IRL 4240, Prima Forte, Beneteau First 40, Patrick Burke
  • IRL 10800, Rockabill VI, JPK 10.80, Paul O'Higgins
  • IRL 2729, Searche,r Sunfast 3600, Pete Smyth
  • IRL 2237, WOW, Extreme 37, Timothy Kane