Howth Yacht Club Hosts Thrilling IMRA Match Racing Nationals Qualifier
Howth Yacht Club is the latest club to catch the match racing bug, hosting an oversubscribed IMRA (Irish Match Racing Association) Nationals Qualifier on the 12th and 13th of April. Eight teams hit the water, racing in the club’s fleet of J80s, rigged with asymmetrical spinnakers.
Saturday’s racing proved challenging, with shifty conditions testing both the sailors and the race management team, led by Scorie Walls. Persistent 180-degree wind shifts kept everyone on their toes, but by Sunday, a steadier breeze allowed the final flights of the round-robin to be completed.
Ryan Scott topped the round-robin and selected Scott Flanigan for his semi-final matchup, a surprising decision for many as Flanigan was in second place after the round robin. This left Adam Leddy and Simon Rattigan to contest the other semi. Scott dispatched Flanigan 2-0, while Rattigan edged past Leddy 2-1 to book his place in the final.
An all-Howth Yacht Club showdown followed, where Ryan Scott and his crew — Isobel O’Grady, Ewan McMahon, and Matthew Cotter — defeated Simon Rattigan 2-0 in a closely fought final. Scott’s team stood out over the weekend, being the only crew using a front-hatch spinnaker hoist, gaining valuable seconds at the top mark.
Meanwhile, Flanigan secured third place after a dramatic pre-start against Leddy, where a critical umpire call swung the match in his favor, completing an all-HYC podium sweep.
The event’s umpire team, led by International Umpire Bill O’Hara alongside Emmet Dalton, Ruairi Finnigan, and Oisin Cullan, kept racing fair and smooth. O’Hara, taking a break from his commitments with the TP52, RC44, and M32 circuits, praised the event:
"It was a great event, sailed in difficult conditions. It worked because of the race team and the facilities provided by HYC, in conjunction with the Irish Match Racing Association. Everyone — sailors, officials, and organizers — worked together, respecting the boats, each other, and the competition. Good, positive discussions after racing — this is exactly how it should be."
Special mention goes to HYC’s bosun team, led by Alin Gudea, for providing critical on-water breakdown assistance, and to Jill Sommerville, the event's master planner, whose behind-the-scenes work ensured a seamless regatta.
Final Results:
- Ryan Scott
- Simon Rattigan
- Scott Flanigan
- Adam Leddy
- Emily Riordan
- Daniel Copithorn
- Dan Little
- Seafra Guilfoyle