Strangford Lough Yacht Club is now the home to ten Europe dinghys, with interest so high in these boats the Irish Championships with sponsors Ards Borough Council were hosted, attracting talented sailors from different classes, such as, Mary Farrell one of Northern Irelands top girls in the lasers, Robbie Richardson current Irish Champion in the Sonata class and Tristan McMillan now out of the Optimist class but had been a Worlds qualifier.

The first race got under way in an ideal force 3. On the first lap of the windward leeward course the fleet were all bunched together. Mary Farrell made a break to the left and won the race, Robbie Richardson came in next with Phil Quinn taking the 3rd slot. Race 2 showed a similar pattern. For race 3 the wind picked up to a good force 4. This time Robbie took the lead with Mary 2nd and Tristan in 3rd slot. In race 4 again Robbie won, Phil took second and then Kylie McMillan.

Going into Sunday 4 points separated the top 5 sailors. Race 5 was barely force 2, Tristan
worked well up the beat to win the race with Robbie second and Kylie 3rd. Race 6, Mary
was called OCS, she went back and sailed a blistering race to win, second was Phil and 3rd
Robbie. The final race and 3 possible winners and again a recall gun. Robbie went back and sailed a hard race to finish 3rd, Phil had sailed superbly to win the final race and Mary had been OCS, giving the Europe Irish Champion title to Robbie Richardson.

Overall Results:

1st - IRL 33 Robbie Richardson
2nd - IRL 16 Mary Farrell
3rd - IRL 8 Phil Quinn
4th - IRL 15 Tristan McMillan
5th - K 190 Kylie McMillan
6th - IRL 18 Alison Crawford