January 2025
Dear Member,
I hope this finds you well and excited for the year ahead. As Chairperson of the Irish Match Racing Association (IMRA), I am delighted to share our plans for 2025 and beyond, as we continue to champion the growth of match racing across Ireland.
A Growing Match Racing Community
Match racing, with its exhilarating one-on-one battles and tactical challenges, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, especially in Dun Laoghaire. Recognizing the demand for more opportunities, IMRA was formed a year ago to support and grow this thrilling discipline nationwide.
In its inaugural year, IMRA laid the foundation for an ambitious calendar of events, starting with the Irish Match Racing National Championships last May at the National Yacht Club—the first such event in over a decade. This milestone was a pivotal moment in our journey, but not without its challenges. With few Irish skippers having recent match racing experience, a selection committee faced the difficult task of narrowing down 17 requests for invitations to just 8, based on each skipper's broader sailing experience. This process highlighted both the enthusiasm for match racing in Ireland and the need to expand opportunities for participation in the years ahead.
Qualifier Series and National Championships
To move away from a résumé-based selection system, we are excited to introduce the IMRA Qualifier Series—four events that will provide a clear and fair pathway to the Nationals. This process is designed to ensure equitable access, promote fairness, and encourage widespread participation. Skippers will be invited to events in the following order.
Invitations for Qualifier Entries:
Irish skippers who have not yet competed in any Qualifier will be prioritized.
Remaining spots will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
One entry will be reserved for the host club of each Qualifier.
National Championship Invitations:
Up to 12 invites will be extended for Nationals, with spots allocated as follows:Most recent IMRA National Champion.
Current Student Champion.
Winners of Qualifiers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Top 2 skippers from the Qualifier Series leaderboard.
2 Wild Cards, issued at the discretion of IMRA.
Participation in IMRA Qualifiers and the National Championships is restricted to IMRA members. Membership is due in March and we will be in contact close to the time regarding this.
Supporting Clubs and Sailors
IMRA is dedicated to supporting both clubs and sailors in growing the sport of match racing across Ireland. For clubs, we offer guidance and resources to help organize informal match racing sessions, supported by our "Introduction to Match Racing" session plan. We can also assist with hosting match racing events, providing detailed information on event requirements, race management, and promotion, all outlined in our Hosting Information document. If your club has two equalized boats and is interested in introducing match racing, we encourage you to reach out to us. For sailors, we provide opportunities to develop match racing skills through participation in our structured Qualifier Series, which offers skippers a chance to earn a World Sailing ranking.
Additionally, we have compiled a comprehensive list of resources, available on our website [here], to support both clubs and sailors alike. Our goal is to ensure that all participants—whether seasoned racers or newcomers—have the tools and support to thrive in this exciting and strategic discipline.
Follow and Support IMRA
As we continue our journey, we encourage you to follow our journey on Instagram at @irishmatchracing and share your own match racing experiences with us.
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and look forward to collaborating with all of you to build a vibrant match racing community in Ireland. If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you on the water this year!
Warm regards,
The Irish Match Racing Association Team
