Royal Air Force Yacht Club

The final race of the J/109 Open Irish National Championship took place during the last day of racing at ACC Bank Cork Week.  With an overnight lead of 3 points J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) and Tigh Soluis II (Ken Grant) were guaranteed the top slots, whilst 3^rd to 5^th was up for grabs. 

J-Dream and Joker (John Maybury), the top Irish boat of the week, went right on the first beat whilst Tigh Soluis II went left with Juke Box (Brian Moreton).  Juke Box rounded first and for the rest of the race had little to worry about from the rest of the fleet.  Meanwhile Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith), J2Eau (Steve & Jody Maine) and Aquelina (James & Sheila Tyrrell) had moved up to be amongst the leaders.

By the leeward mark J-Dream rounded in second place with Tigh Soluis II close on their transom.  The second run saw Tigh Soluis II squeeze past J-Dream together with Outrajeous, Aquelina and J2Eau.  Another beat saw Joker lose 2^nd place and to fall back down the fleet which in turn cost them 3^rd place in the J/109 Open Irish National Championship.

On the final run J-Dream got inside Tigh Soluis II and by the leeward mark they had once again moved into 3^rd place.  A shortened course saw the next beat being to the finish and Jaguar of Burnham (Adrian Lower) managed to pip Tigh Soluis II on the line to finish 4^th today and 4^th overall, to only lose on a technicality in the protest room later.

A 3^rd place for J-Dream behind Juke Box and Aquelina gave them victory in the inaugural J/109 Open Irish National Championship.  David Apthorp said, "We are absolutely delighted with this result as the racing has been very challenging, particularly spotting the wind shifts.  We have really enjoyed the friendship of other competitors in the J/109 Bar every evening.  We picked up Paul Martin aka Badger (12 years old) a Cork Optimist sailor on Sunday so we would meet the weight limit and he has sailed and partied as hard as the rest of us!"

The J/109 fleet would like to thank each course PRO for setting good courses which have provided competitive racing for all.  In addition the fleet would like to thank ACCBank, Heineken, Port of Cork, Failte Ireland and the Irish Examiner for their sponsorship of ACCBank Cork Week 2008.

Overall Results:

1^st - J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp)

2^nd - Tigh Soluis II (Ken Grant)

3^rd - Juke Box (Brian Moreton)

4^th - Joker II (John Maybury)

5^th - Jaguar of Burnham (Adrian Lower)