In order to encourage greater participation by female sailors in the Irish J109 fleet, the class has voted to amend the crew weight limit to permit up to two female crew members to be excluded from the combined crew weight limit for class events.
This amendment, passed by 75% of voting class members, changes the crew weight limit requirements from the current maximum combined crew weight (excluding helm) of 650kg to a maximum crew weight (excluding helm) of 600kg plus up to two additional female crew members, according to Irish J109 Class Captain, Dave Egan.
The 2023 Irish J109 Class events are the J109 Eastern Championships, to be held 10th - 11th of June on Dublin Bay, and the J109 National Championships to be held as part of the Key Yachting J-Cup from the 26th - 27th of August.
There is a new crew weight limit for the Irish J109s in 2023 Photo: Afloat
It is hoped that with the National Championships being held as part of the J-Cup, and near the ICRA Championships, a number of yachts from Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and potentially further afield will make the journey to Dublin to compete in both events.
In a further change, this year, the Eastern and National Championships will be contested under both Scratch and Progressive ECHO, to encourage as many boats as possible to enter.
