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Shane Hughes

Shane Hughes

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Shane Hughes is a One Design Expert, Sales Person at North Sails Ireland

Mike & Richie Evans on ‘Snapshot’s’ maiden sail in May 2021. Along with Matthew O’Gorman from the North Sails Service Team
2021 was a busy year at the North Sails Ireland service loft. With a more regular sailing schedule back in play, we had unprecedented demand and it was such a pleasure to re-connect with so many of our clients and…
Winning MoJo team (L-R) Conor Cleary, Aaron Jones, Pat O’Neill, Shane Hughes
With the current Covid restrictions and other protocols in place, credit must be given primarily to the RstGYC, Jonny O'Dowd and the Irish J80 class for putting the event together and running it in compliance with these regulations. A fleet…
Jonny O'Dowd competing in the UK J80 National Championships
The J80 UK National Championships was hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club from 24th to 26th August with racing taking place in Christchurch Bay rather than the Western Solent writes Shane Hughes of North Sails Ireland. The tides are more…
Racing at the Swan 50 Worlds
North Sails Ireland want to congratulate Team ‘Mathilde’ on their podium finish at the inaugural Club Swan 50 World Championship in Porto Cervo. The Swiss-flagged yacht owned and helmed by Morten H Kielland is now in her second year of campaigning…

About J/80 Sailing

Easy to handle the J/80 is said to be less intimidating, safer and better suited for sailing offshore than other modern sport boats. 

It even has a full-length V-berth and 12-foot-long cockpit.

Thanks to its combination of stability, speed, durability, low maintenance and age-friendly deck layout, the J/80 has proved to be a great club boat around Irish yacht clubs with fleets popular in Dublin on both sides of the Bay at Howth and Dun Laoghaire. 

The key to a racing keelboat is that it holds the attention and interest of many types of sailors, young and old.  The J80 does it all, with thrilling 15-knot rides under spinnaker or relaxed sunset cruises with mainsail only. 

The Irish J/80 Class Association was formed in 2017 to represent owners, sailors, associated clubs and to help develop J/80 racing in Ireland.