Freshening conditions set to spark up Dun Laoghaire Regatta opener
The mid-season regatta will be the fourth edition that began with near calm weather but has steadily freshened since 2005.
Although 13 boats have registered in Class Zero, mid-size classes that have attracted the largest turnouts that are contributing to the expected 2,500 sailors on the water for the four-day series.
Anthony O’Leary has opted to leave his national championship-winning Antix in Crosshaven for the week and will instead be racing on board his son Robert’s Antix Beag, the converted 1720 Sportsboat that is likely to be a front-runner in Class One.
If the forecast conditions deliver, the strong winds should prove ideal for this small but potent visiting crew.
In Class Two, Howth boats will be seeking to repeat their 2009 podium hat-trick with Anthony Gore-Grimes’ Dux and David Cullen’s King One both certain leaders in this 25-strong fleet.
As the boat sizes get smaller, so also does the travelling ability but at close to 40 boats, Class Three features the largest entry of the cruiser divisions with a mostly Irish Sea and Dublin Bay line-up.
Cobh-born Flor O’Driscoll’s Hard On Port, an IRC-rated J24 footer, could yet secure the class win against the depth of the class and long starting-lines.
More than half the overall entry is expected to be larger keelboats racing on handicap or One-design including two White Sails classes where the emphasis is intended to be on the fun side of the event rather than outright competition.
More than 30 Laser SB3 Sportboats are taking part.
Amongst the dinghy classes, the Wayfarer is staging its UK nationals on Dublin Bay while the historic Water Wag, which is the world’s first dinghy one-design has mustered a dozen entries.
The Irish Dinghy Racing Association 14-footer will also have close to 20 boats taking part.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
