The 2026 Irish J24 season got underway in style at the J24 Western Championship 2026, hosted by Mayo Sailing Club on 9-10 May.
Fifteen boats travelled to Clew Bay for the opening major event of the Irish J24 calendar, continuing the momentum generated by the class following Ireland’s successful performance at the 2025 J24 World Championship in Plymouth, where Irish boat Headcase secured the world title.
Headcase, co-owned and sailed by Cillian Dickson, Sam O’Byrne, Ryan Glynn, Marcus Ryan and Louis Mulloy, delivered a dominant performance across the six-race series to take the championship title with a net score of six points.
Competitors faced challenging conditions throughout the weekend, particularly on Saturday when gusty offshore winds of 20–30 knots tested crews across three demanding races sailed under small jib conditions. Sunday brought slightly lighter breezes initially before conditions strengthened again for the final race.
Conor Haughton’s Jupiter from Wicklow Sailing Club opened the regatta strongly with victory in Race 1, but Headcase quickly took control of the championship with race wins in Races 2, 3, 4 and 6. Jupiter finished second overall, while Martin Mahon’s Snoopy’s J secured third place following a strong final day.
In the Silver Fleet, Yachtzee, sailed by Dermot Clarke, Fionn McGibney, Diarmuid O'Donovan and Mike O’Dea, claimed top honours.
Irish Sailing also recognises the excellent work of Race Officer Derek Bothwell and the volunteer team at Mayo Sailing Club, who successfully delivered a full six-race championship in difficult and shifting conditions. Ashore, the club provided a warm welcome for visiting crews, highlighting the strong community spirit that continues to underpin Irish keelboat racing.
The J24 fleet now looks ahead to the Eastern Championship at Lough Ree Yacht Club later this season.