#Optimist – Warsash Optimist sailor Robbie King leads the senior fleet of the 190–boat Irish Optimist national championships at the National Yacht Club this morning. The championship sponsred by the Jelly Bean Factory began yesterday with senior, junior and regatta fleets racing inside and outside Dun Laoghaire harbour in light to medium winds and rain showers.
Second in the senior fleet is Daniel Hopkins of Howth Yacht Club with the host club's Loghlen Rickard third.
The junior fleet is lead by another visitor, Vita Heathcote from Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
The in–harbour regatta fleet is lead by the NYC's Conor Gorman.
Racing, under race officer Con Murphy, continues until Sunday with high winds forecast for Saturday. Full results here
As a novel part of the sponsorship arrangements in Dun Laoghaire, the Jelly Bean Factory has engaged the services of professional marine photographer Aidan Tarbett to photograph the entire fleet and offer photo downloads for free here.
