Shanghai Cup and Bristol Channel IRC Championships 2025

Shanghai Cup and Bristol Channel IRC Championships 2025 at Portishead © Timothy Gifford

Over two weekends in May, Portishead Cruising Club (PCC) and Cardiff Bay Yacht Club (CBYC) hosted the annual Bristol Channel IRC Championships. With two legs, one off Portishead and one off Cardiff, the event is attended by crews from across the Bristol Channel - from Thornbury to Pembroke.

Recognising the event's continued success, this year, the championships were sponsored by North Sails who provided a fantastic prize showcase.

The first leg, held in Portishead, was run over the weekend of 4th/5th May. Delivering 'champagne conditions' across the weekend with slightly more breeze on the Sunday, the crews enjoyed bright sunny skies. Racing used a number of the navigational marks in Kings Road off Portishead, including the shoots buoy by the Prince of Wales bridge and Denny Island, to offer a variety of courses that tested the skills of the competing crews.

Racing was close on both days with only a few feet separating the boats on the water and a few seconds on the corrected time scoreboard. Crews played the tide to generate additional pressure with tight spinnaker margins on day two. After the racing, crews enjoyed a drinks reception at the Portishead Marina boat hoist to dissect the day's racing.

The second and final leg took place over the weekend of 24th/25th May in the waters outside of Cardiff Barrage. With mixed conditions expected, the first races saw less wind than forecast with holes and shifts scattered over the course. 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 with some impressive broaches as the wind speed climbed towards a force 6. After 3 races the teams returned to the bar at CBYC.

Shanghai Cup and Bristol Channel IRC Championships 2025 at Portishead - photo © Timothy Gifford

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.

PCC extends a huge thank you to the organising committee for another successful Bristol Channel IRC Championships, to Cardiff Bay Yacht Club for their generous hospitality, and to event sponsor North Sails for their much-valued support.

If you'd like to join future races but don't know where to start, contact us to find out about the latest crewing opportunities that may be available. You don't need a boat to join in the fun.

Overall Results: