Friday, August 1, 2014

Spinlock IRC Welsh Championship Announcement

J/109s sailing off Wales, England(Pwllheli, Wales, England)- The inaugural ‘Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships’ is only a few weeks away and is hosted by Pwllheli Sailing Club (PSC) on 1st to 3rd August.  The event has used the successful 2013 J Cup hosted by PSC as a spring board with the added award of the ‘Spinlock IRC’ regional title.

There is a strong and competitive fleet of J/Boats based in Pwllheli and in the Irish Sea, including the current Irish Sea Champion, the J/109 SGRECH, and MOJITO, the recent class winner in the grueling 700nm  Round Ireland Race.

PSC Commodore Stephen Tudor said: ‘The Club is very proud to be offered the opportunity to host the first Welsh IRC Championships and is delighted to see competitors already entered from Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Liverpool in addition to the local competitive fleet. Entries are still being received and we still have free berths available for the event on the new Academy pontoons’.

The event is supported by ‘Irish Cruising Racing Association’ (ICRA) who has just completed a very successful Championships hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire. ICRA Chairman and Event organizer, Norbert Reilly, commented that the two events strengthen the ties already established across the Irish Sea. A trophy will be awarded to the competitor with the best combined results in the two events.

On 26th July, there is a feeder race from Dún Laoghaire to the Welsh Championships in Pwllheli. This is the 7th race in the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association’s 2014 series and is sponsored by KONA. The ISORA fleet will be the first visitors to use the new pontoons in Pwllheli. ISORA Chairman, Peter Ryan, said ‘the ISORA fleet regularly visits Pwllheli either for a race start or finish and the Welsh welcome is always warm and friendly. The new facilities in Pwllheli will make the sailing waters easily accessible and a great destination for visiting offshore fleets, flotillas and for keel boat regattas and Championships.’

The social programme will start shortly after the arrival of the KONA crew bus from Holyhead on Thursday evening with the KONA ISORA reception/prize-giving for the feeder race. A crew dinner is planned with entertainment for Friday evening and a Championship party for Saturday evening.   For more Spinlock IRC Welsh Championship sailing information