J/24 Irish Eastern Champs at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club

18 & 19 May 2002

Frank Heath in Crazyhorse is the new Irish J/24 Eastern Champion, first time a J/24 winner at this level. Colin Galavan, Taz, came though in a fast 30 knot spinnaker reach to win the final race and thus made second overall, ahead of Barry O'Neill, Jazz, winner of two of Saturday's five races, third overall, and Bailey Bowl event J/24 winner the previous weekend on Dublin Bay.

This was the usual fast close exciting J/24 racing among 17 boats with 85 crew, hosted by Dundalk and Carlingford Sailing Club and sponsored by ICC Bank, on courses set by Race Officer, Michael Harris-Barke South of the shipping channel in the entrance to Carlingford Lough, in moderate Saturday winds, and near gale, 30 knots, on Sunday, both South East. The last two races of eight planned were abandoned. 13 boats had come by road from Dublin Bay and Loughs Erne, Neagh, Ree and Strangford, to join the four local boats competing (a fifth ashore re-fitting).

The results below show how top places in all races were frequently taken by different boats, for example a 3rd place for John Mul-holland, Jasper, tenth overall. New owners doing well included Diarmuid O'Donovan, Virjin, and Gerry McKenny, JAM, both first time helming at a big J/24 event, 8th and 9th overall, with JAM best placed local Carlingford boat. Good also to see first time Richard O'Connor in Nivola, and the efforts made by Kevin Kennedy to get Tripple XX there, but unable to sail Saturday, with gear missing, and then retired in Sunday's heavy weather.

Stephen Bradshaw, End Over, second in the Baily Bowl, was the Eastern's best Westerly built boat, and 5th overall, down from a top place having retired from the final race with sail damage.

The Irish J/24 fleet's next outing, 15 & 16 June, will be the J/24 Western Championship at Lough Erne YC.

Overall Results: