The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta takes place from July 7th - 10th 2011. Below is an event preview, click here for the latest news on the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
There's a new helmsman at the wheel of Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta in 2011 and after taking soundings from local Dublin Bay classes, new event boss Adam Winkelmann (pictured inset) is expecting in excess of 500 boats, despite the hard times.
"We all need to enjoy ourselves from time to time," said Winkelmann, "and that, as always, will be the focus of the regatta in July next year – great racing and good fun ashore."
A number of classes have already committed to run open championships within the regatta including the Wayfarer UK and Irish Nationals, the J109 Open Championship, the SB3 Open Championship and a return match of the Irish Sea Championship in J80s between Ireland and Wales. The race management team, headed up by Con Murphy and aided by the usual ocean of volunteers, is working to facilitate this to ensure the kind of quality race management and organisation that will ensure the success of these championships.
The non-spinnaker fleet was the largest fleet in the Regatta in 2009 and is expected again to top the numbers and provide great racing for large boats with a smaller crew.
The regatta combines the wonderful waterfront facilities of all four Dun Laoghaire clubs and includes support from other clubs in the Dublin area including Howth. There will be a full-on entertainment programme for all participants and many more with the continued support of many of the sponsors of 2009 which included Volvo Cars, Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, The Royal Marine Hotel, Helly Hansen, Dubarry and many more.
One of the highlights of the regatta is the Ladies Lunch which will again be held across a number of the clubs on Saturday. Top fashion, great food and a dash of style accompanied by a glass of champagne are the order of the day, and all at a very reasonable price, reflecting the realities of today's tightened purse strings.