Swords Sailing and Boating Club (SSBC) hosted the Irish Multihull Association (IMA) National Championships this weekend, 6/7 Sep, proudly sponsored by Caterbox and Biddulph Refrigeration.
With strong winds forecast to gust up to 30 knots over Dublin Bay on Sat, Race Officer Siobhan Broaders was hoping the Broadmeadows Estuary would do what it often does best and lessen the breeze just enough to allow racing to proceed. At 10am, the RO took to the water to assess conditions, and the estuary delivered, while the forecast predicted 16–27 knots, actual readings came in at a more manageable 12–18 knots.
Briefing done and the RO with support team took to the water on schedule and the fleet followed for what promised to be an exciting showdown between both class 1 and class 2 boats on the Broadmeadows Estuary, with boats travelling from Galway (GBSC), Ballyholme (BYC) and Lough Derg Yacht Club (LDYC) to compete with the SSBC fleet for the title of IMA National Champions 2025.
With winds blowing 12-18 knots and nice flat water the RO and team set the W/L course, with a spreader at the top and gate at the bottom, with the committee boat positioned to allow for a down wind finish.
R1 Day 1, with all 11 boats on the water the sequence commenced for the first race, with 7 races planned over the two days of the event. SSBC team David and Orlaith Biddulph took an early lead on their F18 Nacra and held to the end to take the first. The battle for 2nd was played out between SSBC Pawel Trojanowski and Sean Dorenbusch on F18 and GBSC junior team Sean Lemonier and Killian Mathieu on their Spitfire. Trojanowski/Dorenbusch were 2nd across the line but Lemonier / Mathieu took the result on SCHRS as only seconds behind.
R2 Day 1, and the wind is starting to build. It was Trojanowski/Dorenbusch turn to take the early lead and hold the win but the Biddulph team were not far behind taking the 2 nd and Richard Swanston and Toby Collins BYC taking the 3rd on their F18. SSBC team Simon and Anne O’Gorman were close behind in 4 th on their Hurricane but not close enough to take it on SCHRS.
R3 Day 1, and the wind continues to build, averaging 20-22 knots. The RO decided on a shorter 2 lap race and the fleet got off to an excellent start with all boats battling for the win with only seconds between 1st and 4th position. Team Biddulph SSBC took the 1st , Swanston/Collins BYC took the 2nd , Trojanowski/Dorenbusch SSBC took the 3rd with SSBC Stephen Broaders and Paul Hendricken on F18 seconds behind in 4th. Lemonier/Mathieu forced to retire following gear failure in a capsize.
Great close racing to finish off the day and time to head to the shore for race analyses, some well-earned foodand refreshments and an early night ready for Day 2 of the IMA National Championship 2025 in SSBC. Team Biddulph the overnight leaders on 4 points, Trojanowski/Dorenbusch on 7 points and Swanston/Collins on 11points.
Day 2 and the RO took to the water to check the conditions and decided to delay as the wind was high as forecast and was due to swing and come from the West around mid day. The RO and team took to the water at noon and it wasn’t long before the shift happened, the fleet launched and the same W/L course was laid in a flat 12-16 knots.
R1 Day 2, and the battle continued for podium positions and the title. With the wind favouring the boats that went to the right, Trojanowski/Dorenbosch took the win, Swanston/Collins taking 2nd , Lemonier/Mathieu 3rd and Team Biddulph 4th , so it all came down to the final race for overall winner. In the C2 fleet, Andy Flannagan and Astrid Plaass from GBSC were back out on their Dart 16 following a capsize on Day 1 R1 to battle against Darragh Dunne/Jackie Malone on their Dart 16 for the C2 title.
R2 Day 2, it was all very tight at the top but Swanston/Collins fell back following a bad gate rounding which saw Trojanowski/Dorenbosch and Biddulph/Biddulph to battle on, and it came down to the wire as both crossed each other all the way down to the finish. Biddulph/Biddulph took the win and we had our Champions.
with Siobhan Broaders (Commodore and Race Officer), Stephen Broaders (Sponsor)
Thank you to all our competitors, support volunteers, our RO Siobhan Broaders and our sponsors, Caterbox and Biddulph Refrigeration for making this such a super event.
See you all on the water soon!
Results: Sailwave results for IMA Nationals 2025 at SSBC 2025