There has been a dramatic start to the WIORA Championships at Kilrush on the Shannon Estuary with one boat sinking and the second day of racing cancelled due to strong winds.

This year has a bumper numbers of entries for the WIORA West Coast Championship with thirty-three boats entered with representation from Mayo, Sligo, Galway, Tralee, Foynes, Kilrush, Garrykennedy and Greystones.

Day one of the Kilrush Credit Union West Coast Championships opened with light variable winds which lead to principal race officer John Leech postponing the 1155hrs start for an hour. It was not long before the wind filled in from the north building to a steady 20 knots, race one got underway for all four classes on a triangular course of which there was some spectacular downwind spinnaker reaches.

With the wind still building, race two got underway for all four classes again using a triangular course. The strong winds and heavy rain made for challenging conditions for competitors.

A spokesperson for the regatta told Afloat "At the finish line of race two, two boats met on port and starboard. The starboard hand boat was forced to crash tack which caused the boat to capsize. The three mark boats on the water were quickly on the scene to take the crew of the yacht on board the safety boat and quickly brought them ashore all in good spirits. Efforts were made to recover the boat but unfortunately, the boat later sank; all relevant authorities were informed".

Galway -based sailmaker Yannick Lemonnier who witnessed the capsize posted the photos (below) and said on Facebook: "A bit of [an] event yesterday in WIORA, a typical J24 sinking with +20kts and headsail backing but sadly no opportunity to mark and recover the boat this time". 

It is understood that after the crash tack the boat, (sail number 3050, Jumpin Jive from Greystones) capsized, filled with water and sank as the photos below show

WIORA leaders after Day One

Leaders in each class after two races are starting to become clear. In Class 1 IRC Liam’s Burke Farr 31 leads the pack, in Echo all the way from Mayo John Gordon’s W332 X-rated is in first position. Class 2 in both IRC & Echo Darragh McCormack on Relativity, an Albin Express from Foynes Yacht Club leads on both IRC & Echo. In Class 3 Tadgh O Loingsigh’s J24 Janx Spirit from Tralee Bay Sailing Club leads in both IRC & Echo. Class 4 Division A is led by Kevin Reidy’s Shelduck from Foynes Yacht Club, at their first event with their recently acquired Dufour 34, with fellow club sailor Donal McCormack and John Paul Buckley’s Battle the Shamrock 30 leading Class 4 Division B.

Day two racing has been cancelled due to weather.

Results are here