Waterways Ireland, the cross border body responsible for working together on inland waterways in the Republic and Northern Ireland, headquarters in Enniskillen, is main sponsor for this 24th national J/24 championship.

    About 25 boats with 125 sailors are expected from inland waters, Loughs Erne, Neagh and Ree, and from Dublin Bay, Carlingford and Strangford Loughs on the coast. Other key sponsors are Fermanagh Tourism and Mollan Brothers, Irvinestown, marking an historical link to the early origins of yacht racing. Ireland’s first rules for sailing as a fleet sport were published in 1822 by Henry D’Arcy Irvine who named this town. First Trust Bank, Enniskillen, also supports the event.

    The J/24 is the classic, fast, fin-keel racing yacht, with a big sail area and a real spinnaker. One-design rules make each boat the same so success depends on crew skills, five men and women. It was designed in 1978 by an American, Rod Johnstone and is 24 feet long, hence J/24. His Irish ancestor went from South West Ulster in the 1790s.

    More history - the fin keel was invented by Lough Erne sailor, Jack Tipping in 1887. Today the J/24 is the world’s most numerous and widespread class of fin keel racing yachts, with 5,500 built and 56 of them in Ireland.

    LEYC’s Principal Race Officer, Fred Ternan, will set windward-leeward courses for up to 10 races over the three days, starting at 11.00am each day, with no race after 5.00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, or after 2.00 pm on Monday.

    J/24 events in Ireland have used this simple but competitive course for years past. Lough Erne YC has a long standing reputation for organising excellent and enjoyable sailing events, and first hosted the national J/24 championship in 1985, when the 6th Irish J/24 Champion was Anthony O’Leary in Flying Ferret from Royal Cork YC.

    Irish J/24 competition is always close. During 2002, each of five Irish J/24 championships had a different winner, most boats finished races within five minutes after over an hour’s racing, and half of the boats racing finished in the top 20% in at least one race. And at the 2003 Eastern J/24 Championship, two weeks ago, 12 of the 20 boats achieved at least one race finish in the top four (20%). These statistics show sustained and superb sailing sport enjoyed by all.

    Disappointing news is that four new J/24s built and ready in Italy now may not arrive in time for this Waterways Ireland championship, Two are for Dublin Bay owners, Bryan Maguire, Gerry Jones and others, and two for Lough Erne YC members, Tim Rippey and Michael McCaldin, who was 20th National J/24 Champion in 2000, and should be a significant challenger again next weekend, especially if his new boat does get here in time from Italy.

    Other challengers will include 21st Champion in 2001, Tim Sheard, from Lough Neagh SC, in Jay Kay, Europe’s oldest J/24, Barry O’Neill in Jazz, Royal St George YC, Dunlaoghaire, top placed Irish helm in last yearís Alfa Romeo 2002 European Championships, 50 boats from 6 nations in a week of 10 races on Dublin Bay, and Desmond Fortune, RStGYC, in Hard on Port, who will represent Ireland at August’s J/24 World Championship 2003 in Holland. Results in this Waterways Ireland championship may help select other Irish entries for the World J/24 event.

    Also competing in JOG will be Joey Kelly, LEYC Commodore 2003, who brought the first J/24 to the Erne in 1979.