J24 Blog

[source: Afloat]
Tuesday, 16 September 2008

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Incumbent and current All-Ireland Sailing Champion Stefan Hyde was deposed as J24 national champion over the weekend, when the Carrickfergus crew of Taz took the J24 National Championship title at Carlingford Lough.

Carlingford Sailing Club played host to boats from seven different clubs competed in the highly competitive Loughs Agency-sponsored J24 Class National Championship, with the overall title going to Michael Ennis and the crew of ‘TAZ’ from Carrickfergus Sailing Club.

Seven races were sailed over the two days of the event and the Carrick crew won the last two races impressively to beat former champion Mickey McAldin of Lough Erne YC in ‘Murder Picture’ by three points overall. Another three points behind in third place was the defending champion Stefan Hyde of the Royal St.George YC in Dun Laoghaire (who is also the current All-Ireland Sailing Champion).

The leading local Carlingford entry was James Byrne in ‘Gossip’ in fourth place, after consistently finishing in the top six in every race. Competitors travelled from as far afield as Dun Laoghaire, Malahide, Lough Neagh and Lough Erne to race in the event. The J24 is one of the biggest international classes of small keelboat racing boats and the Irish Class Association is looking to bring the European and World Championships to Ireland in the next five years.

Results

1st TAZ Michael Ennis Carrickfergus Sailing Club
2nd Murder Picture Mickey McCalden Lough Erne Yacht Club
3rd Carrabeg Stefan Hyde Royal St George Yacht Club
4th Gossip James Byrne Carlingford Sailing Club
5th Jay Kay Tim Sheard Lough Neigh Sailing Club