The Bristol Channel IRC Championships 2025, sponsored by North Sails, held its second and final leg over the weekend of 24th/ 25th May. Racing in Cardiff and Penarth Roads, just off Cardiff Bay, it saw the fleet re-group from across the Bristol Channel.
Organised by PCC and Cardiff Bay Yacht Club (CBYC), the regatta aimed to run racing across both Saturday and Sunday. With a typical bank holiday forecast breaking the recent spell of settled weather, crews were anticipating a weekend of mixed conditions.
Saturday’s racing initially saw less wind than forecast with holes and shifts scattered over the course. The committee set a series of windward / leeward races using a combination of laid and navigational marks.
As the breeze filled in the racing became fast and furious, with the lighter boats planing downwind and all crews being tested to the limit. The racing was close, with the results being decided by seconds not minutes. There were some impressive broaches as the wind speed climbed towards a force 6 and after 3 races the teams returned to the bar at CBYC. For a review of the action, see the video below.
With Sunday’s racing cancelled on safety grounds, the podium positions saw representation from the length of the Bristol Channel with boats from Cardiff Bay and Pembrokeshire taking second and third. The winner, for an impressive fourth consecutive year, was the Portishead J109, Ctrl-J skippered by Andy Williams, who was awarded the stunning Shanghai Cup and a host of prizes from event sponsors North Sails. For the full regatta results, visit the event website.
A huge thank you to the organising committee for another successful Bristol Channel IRC Championships and to event sponsors North Sails. Thanks are also due to Cardiff Barrage for getting the boats in and out together with the crew at CBYC for their hospitality after the racing.
Photo & video credit: Tim Gifford