Drama, Changing Winds, and Top-Class Racing at the 2026 Irish Multihull Inland Championships

The 2026 Irish Multihull circuit kicked off in spectacular fashion on 16th and 17th May with the Inland Championships, hosted by the fantastic team at Blessington Sailing Club. Early-season racing always tests the resolve of the fleet, and this year was no exception. Competitors were greeted by cold, biting winds and highly changeable conditions, with gusts and shifting breezes bending unpredictably around the surrounding Wicklow Mountains.

Despite the chilly weather, spirits were high as a diverse fleet gathered for the first event of the season. It was wonderful to see such a fantastic spread of multihulls and sailors, ranging in age and experience! Our regional inland rep Philip O’Suillivan regrettably couldn’t join us on the water but made up for it with gusto on the committee boat.

Blessington proved to be exceptional hosts. Experienced Race Officer Joe Crilly did a masterful job in the tricky conditions, setting a challenging windward-leeward course across the lake each day. Backing up the race management was an outstanding safety crew, whose vigilance was highly appreciated given the dramatic conditions.

Overall and C1 Class: McNicholl and Billington Dominant
In the high-performance C1 Class (featuring the F18s and Spitfires), Matt McNicholl and his crew Patrick Billington showed they are already in mid-season form. The duo put on a clinic in handling the mountain gusts, racking up an incredible five bullets across the weekend. Their consistency was so dominant that they were able to comfortably discard their only non-win of the event—a 2nd place.

C2 Class: A Hard-Fought Battle
The C2 Class showcased the multifaceted multihull circuit, proving that cats of all shapes and sizes can line up and compete hard against one another. Featuring a brilliant mix of Darts, Hobies, Topkats, and Catapults, the racing was tight throughout the weekend. Ultimately, it was Ronan Laff and crew Astrid Plass who dug deep, battled hard through the shifts, and deservedly clinched 1st place overall in the category.

Drama on the Water and Junior Success
The combination of early-season rust, freezing temperatures, and sudden gusts brought plenty of drama to the lake. Several boats suffered gear failure as the conditions took their toll, and the cold tested everyone's endurance.
The weekend’s most spectacular moment came on Day 1 courtesy of the junior team, Killian and Cillian, who suffered a massive pitchpole on their Spitfire. Proving their resilience, the young duo shook off the freezing plunge and kept fighting into day two, ultimately earning them the well-deserved prize for Best Junior Team, taking home the Hamilton & Osbourne Trophy.

With a fantastic turnout, a great mix of boat classes, and thrilling racing, the 2026 Inland Championships set a brilliant tone for the season ahead. Huge thanks to Blessington Sailing Club and all the volunteers for launching the season in style! The catamaran fleet is already looking ahead to another spectacular weekend of competitive racing when they hit the water at Swords Sailing & Boating Club for the IMA Eastern Championships on June 13th and 14th.

AGM 

​Wednesday 14th. November 2023
7.00 pm
Zoom Meeting Link (limited to 40 minutes)
Richard Swanston is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: IMA - AGM
Time: Tuesday Nov 14th. 2023 19:00
Join Zoom Meeting : https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78496317942?pwd=bSI6bNAZOO10QGUthbzOhJH6DSUemS.1
Meeting ID: 784 9631 7942
Passcode:    e1bLEE
Aim is to complete in 30 mins to 40 mins.
1/ Treasurers  Report / accounts attached
Unpaid Affiliation fees.
2/ Possible events.  Dates to be decided
How many home events possible 4 no. ????
Travelling numbers ???
Ballyholme Yacht Club                    May         -   6 x Sprint races Saturday / 3 Races Sunday
Rational.
a/ Good practice for those going to the worldF18 Champs.
b/ Keeping boats close together during racing and starts
c/ Junior and senior development
Swords Sailing Club                                          -   Easterns Championships
Galway Bay Sailing Club                                   -  Nationals
Suggest August to gain entry to ISA Champions Trophy ??
Blessington S.C.                                                 -  Inlands
Cong to Galway Race                                        - Galway
Costa Brava       World F18 Championships   - 28th June – 5th. July
World F18  in Spain Championships  to coordinate dates
https://www.f18-international.org/2024-worlds-to-be-sailed-in-la-ballena-alegre-costa-brava/
3/ Election of Officers
Proposed Chair : Matt Mc.Nichol
4/ Ideas for the future
New blood into fleet / Juniors
Sprint event
Open days for try a sail CLUBS TO ARRANGE
For sale lists  
Invite 29ers Class to share any / All events ?
Join in with Wazsps / 29ers  / Fireballs / 505 or other to foster development and increase value to host clubs.
Dart 16 fleet
Age handicap to try to get old spec. boats racing
4/ AOB
Please send ideas asap to me : [email protected]

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or if you find a broken link please do let us know in the comments below this blog post or via our forum!
​This is our web site please feel free to use it !

Many Thanks!

 Last weekend, September 12th-13th the Carlingford Sailing Club hosted the Irish Open Multihull Championships 2015. Sailors arrived on Friday night to 40 knot winds and driving rain not deterred at all they set up tents! After a few hours the tents had been trashed, so several competitors had to take to the race office shed…. a very cosy welcome to Ireland. Simon Flack was over to defend his title won last year at Lough Neagh, sailing this year with multi-Irish champion crew Barry Swanston. A wrap up by Richard Swanston.
The open fleet format with all types of catamarans from a catapult to an F18 rated under SCHRS and racing an equal number of windward – leeward and triangular courses (to balance performance strengths) was used with all boats starting off the same start line. Classes were also subdivided into C1 and C2 fleets for individual fleet prizes. Saturdays forecast was gloomy to say the least. Rain and 25 knot baseline gusting to 40 knots from the S.W. To this, add the infamous Carlingford Kettles roaring off the top of the hills at all angles ripping up mini tornadoes of water that march and meander across the Lough ….not to be missed!! After much head scratching and nervous looks to the broken water in the lough and vicious squalls rolling down off the hills, it was decided (after a postponement) to ‘ give it a rattle sure’! We were treated to an unexpected two races in variable but safe conditions.

​The 2015 Multihull Eastern championships took place at Swords Sailing & Boating Club - swordssailing.ie on 29th and 30th of August with a turn out of 18 boats . 
The fleet had 7 different classes, F18, Hurricane 5.9, Dart16 Dart18, Spitfire, Catapult and A class sailing .
Richard Swanston and Jenni Britton Ballyholme Yacht Club win the championship. Well done guys !

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