The last big event of the cruiser racing calendar at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club took place on the last weekend in September and drew an entry of nine boats from all around the Lough.

Carlingford Lough lies between the south Co Down coast and the north coast of Co. Louth.

Three races were scheduled for each day, with the main prize being the Claire McCann Whitesail Trophy.

As spinnakered boats are not eligible to race for that trophy, the competitors had to make the decision whether to fly a spinnaker and be in with a chance of winning overall or should they keep the big sail down below and have a chance of winning the Claire McCann Trophy?

Some of the Spinnaker and Whitesail yachts in action at the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta

Saturday’s racing was exciting with a lumpy Northerly wind, and after three races, Ron Finegan’s SB20, So-Brr! scored three first places, closely followed by Gerry Byrne’s Gibsea 312 SD, Atlantic Diva with three-second places overall.

In the Claire McCann Trophy races, Tom Kearney’s Beneteau 25 Platu Supersonic picked up three first places, followed by Tim Gibbons’ J80 Warrior.

The crew of Supersonic with the Claire McCann Trophy raced for as part of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta

Sunday’s races were raced in an even livelier 10 – 18 knots from the northwest. Ron Finegan scored two-second places and a first in his SB20, making him the overall winner.

In the Whitesail class, Tom Kearney finished with six first places in his Beneteau 25 Platu, Supersonic, making him the clear winner of the Claire McCann Trophy.

Results are below

"We'd an amazing weekend at Carlingford Marina for the SB20 Ireland Northern Championships", reports Irish SB20 President John Malone of Lough Ree YC

Conditions were perfect on the very beautiful Carlingford Lough. There was wall-to-wall sunshine and a good enough breeze to make for some very competitive racing, and the wind direction even made it possible for the Start/Finish line to be right in front of the Marina to give everyone ashore a great view of the racing on both days.

We want to say a massive well done and heartfelt thanks to Carlingford Sailing Club for their organisation of the racing. Carlingford Marina worked closely with Carlingford Sailing Club in the months leading up to the event, and the Carlingford Marina involvement included everything from the lifting and launching operations for the SB20s, towing the boats to their berths, reserving wet berths for competitors, and providing storage for the road trailers in the Boat Yard.

"Welcome to Carlingford" – Carlingford Marina provided an ideal base

On the hospitality side of things, there was festive Pig on the Spit (thank you Jonathan) for the competitors, and a Guinness and Oysters (Carlingford of course) reception by Harry Jordan as crews came off the water. As well, the lovely staff in Rabelo Restaurant kept the racers fed and watered at other time all weekend in a gargantuan effort, for not only were they looking after the race competitors and spectators, but they did it while still providing their exceptional café and bar service to their regular weekend customers.

Carlingford SC Commodore Ainne Gorman, Race Officer Pat McCormick, and Ron Finegan on Sailing Club/Marina liaison kept everything running smoothly afloat and ashore in a shared vision with the Class Association, and the resulting accomplishment was even better than we'd fondly imagined in anticipation.

As to the sailing, a weekend of Lake Garda style-weather and racing was experienced with the steady Southeastly kicking in as forecast each morning after overnight northerly or variable breezes.

Although there were spring tides, race officer Pat McCormick set courses inshore as much out of the stream as possible, making the racing user-friendly for competitors and spectators alike.

Michael O'Connor from Dun Laoghaire initially had it all his own way for three wins on Saturday, but Day 2 saw the chasing pack unlock the O'Connor dominance, with the Wexford-based Doran family on LowFly (Doran Family) taking two bullets in Races 4 & 6. In Race 5, it was Cork's turn, with Mel Collins on Gold Digger taking the bullet.

The Doran family from Wexford took two wins on Sunday, and finished third overall.

But despite everyone else's best efforts, the O'Connor squad in Team Ted did enough on Sunday to retain their overnight overall lead – in fact, they did it in in some style, as their discard as a third.

El Presidente John Malone had managed a personal race best in the second contest on Saturday to get a second, and this contributed to his winning of the Silver Fleet As for the class's future, this is one tough and experienced challenge for young helms to contemplate, but the bare scoreboard doesn't tell it all – 18-year-old Ben Graf of Lough Ree with Glasson Farm Bango was often right there even if his race best in the final tally was a fourth, and 13-year-old Lucy Ives seemed set to take second in Race 6 before being cruelly caught in seaweed.

Despite the inevitable individual instances of personal setback, this was an idyllic event in perfect conditions in one of the loveliest sailing locations in Ireland, and the SB20 class will cherish the memory of a very complete sailing hospitality package.

The final scorecard revealed overall winner Michael O'Connor (Royal St George YC) as having the luxury of discarding a third

#idra14 – The IDRA14 National Championships at Carlingford Lough concluded on Sunday. A good representation from Royal St. George, DMYC, Clontarf Y&BC and Sutton Dinghy Club saw eighteen crews attending. Results sheet downloadable below.

Pat O'Neill and Jim O'Hara (pictured) of Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club sailed to an almost perfect score of 6 points with 4 bullets over the 6 races on board Delos II.
Second overall were former National Champions Alan Henry and Simon Revill of Sutton Dinghy Club scoring 12 points on board "Sunshine"
In third place just one point behind were Julie Ascoop and Heather Keenan of DMYC sailing "Chaos"
In the Silver fleet former Class Commodore Stephen Harrison took line honours along with crew Stephen Johnston on board "Squalls" also sailing out of DMYC.
In the Crew's Race Calum Maher of Sutton Dinghy Club was first home. Star of the future potentially.
Race Officer Ian Sargent with support from Carlingford SC volunteers ran 7 races over 3 days in sometimes very challenging conditions.
The IDRA14 Class wishes to acknowledge the great welcome, hospitality and assistance shown to members both on and off the water by all member of Carlingford Sailing Club. Vice Commodore Erin Finnegan has invited the class to return with the event again in the future.

Why not join CLYC in 2009?

It's more than fifty years since CLYC started sailing on Carlingford Lough. You too can enjoy sailing and boating in 2009 by simply joining CLYC. It's easy, just download a membership form from the website or ask Catherine McDonagh (or any committee member) to send you one. Click here to download

How much will it cost?
To join CLYC you only pay the annual membership fee. There is no joining fee.
Membership fees are as follows:
Family Sailing £310
Single Sailing £200
Family Social £130
Single Social £65
Country Member £65
* Must already be a member of another club
Cadet £50
Bridge Member £45

What are the benefits?
Learn to sail in a safe and friendly environment. During 2009 the club will run sail and powerboat courses aimed at both young and old.
Feel safe while out on the water as the club's rescue boats are always in attendance.
Get advice and help from existing members.

Carlingford Lough Yacht Club, Killowen Point, Rostrevor, Newry, Co Down BT34 3A, N. Ireland. Tel: 028 4173 8604, email: [email protected]

(Details courtesy of Carlingford Lough Yacht Club)