Details for next year's course of the La Solitaire du Figaro race were revealed at the Paris Boat Show yesterday. The race will comprise four French towns and Dun Laoghaire will be the only foreign port of call when the boats are expected to arrive on 10 August.

In spite of Dublin airport weather delays a National YC contingent headed by Commodore Peter Ryan made it to Paris in time for the announcement.

Following several days for rest, the fleet shall once again set sail on 7 August for the second leg, of 470 nautical miles, that will take the Figaro Bénéteau 2 towards Dún Laoghaire. After leaving the Bay of Seine, a 40-mile or so run, the first obstacle will be the passage of the Barfleur point. The course remains inshore, as the single-handed sailors will sail along the Cotentin to the cape of the Hague, before heading towards the Channel Islands.

It will be compulsory to leave the islands of Aurigny, Herm and Guernsey to starboard. The skippers will then take on a long crossing of the English Channel, 120 nautical miles to Land's End. The last third of the course is a sail up almost full north over 190 nautical miles to reach Dún Laoghaire.

The Dublin Bay harbour is set to be a discovery for the visiting sailors and where the National Yacht Club are to be the host venue. After a few days rest and recuperation, the fleet then will set sail on 14 August to The Vendée and Les Sables d'Olonne. This third leg is long at 475 nautical miles with boats expected on 17 August.

Four days later and the final leg departs on 21 August with the boats setting a course for Dieppe, to arrive on 24 August. On the following day the Normandy port will also be hosting a closing regatta. For more information www.lasolitaire.com

Preparing for La Solitaire du Figaro here

The National Yacht Club's Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial) travelled to Australia last weekend for the Perth International Regatta http://www.perth2011.com/ which starts on the 16th of this month. The aim is to gain valuable experience at the venue which will host the December 2011 ISAF World Championships and which will be a vital qualifying event for the the 2012 London Olympic games.

Also heading for Perth is the Royal St. George's Ben Lynch in the high speed 49er dinghy.

After Perth, Annalise travels to Melbourne for the season's first ISAF World Cup event which will be run from Sandringham Yacht Club from 12-19th December. Annalise is currently ranked 20th Womens Laser Radial sailor and 1st under 21 in the World and is campaigning full time to represent Ireland in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Top youth Laser Radial Sailor Ross Vaughan from the Royal North of Ireland YC has gone down as a training partner for Annalise together with her coach Rory Fitzpatrick.

Also taking part in the Perth Regatta are Irish 49er team of Ryan Seaton and Matt Mc Govern (Ballyholme YC) and Ross Hamilton from the RIYC, Dun Laoghaire.

One of Dun Laoghaire's major international events next season, the visit of the French single-handed fleet, La Solitaire du Figaro, in August, will have a public festival running alongside say the National YC organisers. Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council are behind the festival.

Preparing for La Solitaire du Figaro here

The 2011 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race run jointly by the National Yacht Club and Dingle Boat Club starts on Saturday 11th June with a prize giving on Wednesday 15th in Dingle. 

Several waterfront buildings in Dun Laoghaire Harbour will be made open to the public on Sunday 10 October as part of 'Open House' Dublin Week (7th-10th October). With over 150 tours and workshops, the free event is Ireland's biggest architecture festival, allowing citizens to explore the architecture of their city. Buildings of all types and periods will open up in an event programme which is organised into areas.

In Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown the following buildings below are all open on Sunday 10 October. NOTE: There are other buildings throughout the borough also open to the public for free admission, for information on contact details see bottom of this page.

Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), Harbour Road. Tours provide a fascinating insight into the headquarters and work of the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Sunday 10 October (12–5pm). Last tour at 4.30pm. Regular tours. First-come basis. Disabled access.

Harbour Lodge (HQ of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company), Crofton Road. Built in the neo-classical style, the Georgian house represents the first serious piece of architecture in the town. Sunday 10 October (12–5pm). Last tour at 4.30pm. Regular tours. First-come basis. Disabled access.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Hall, Marine Road. The council's premises have evolved to comprise the original Town Hall, the adjoining 19th century post office and a late 20th century extension. Sunday 10 October (12-5pm) Last tour at 4.30pm. Regular tours. First-come basis. Disabled access.
(Tour includes the recent Old Town Hall refurbishment by DLRCC Architects Department).

Royal St George Yacht Club, Harbour Road. Founded in 1838, the historic building has been extended with a very contemporary addition. Clad in distinctive copper, this extension is connected to the original club by a glass-covered atrium. Sunday 10 October (12–5pm). Last tour at 4.30pm. Regular tours. First-come basis. Disabled access.

National Yacht Club, Harbour Road. A magnificant Class A listed building which has a design hybrid between a French château and an 18th-century country garden pavilion. Sunday 10 October (2–5pm). Last tour at 4.30pm. Regular tours. First-come basis. Disabled access.

Like most of the tours and events in Open House Dublin, there is no pre-booking required. Entry is FREE and on a first-come basis. For more information about what to expect from your tour or event. Contact: Open House Info Desk Tel: (01) 6165220 and check 'How It Works' by logging onto www.architecturefoundation.ie/openhouse/

New sailors are invited to try a sail on the 'one design performance boat' in a special Open Day on Saturday, 9th October between 1030 and 1600. Registration begins at 9.30am.

Boats will be alongside at the National Yacht Club in the harbour for demo runs and class members will be available to discuss the Sportsboat design.

The recent SB3 Nationals staged in Howth this month attracted a fleet of 48 boats racing with attendance from all the major Irish sailing centres. Internationally Ireland sends a team to the World championships and the inaugural world championships were held here in Dun Laoghaire in 2008 with a massive fleet of 137 boats.

The class association will organising sailing in Scotsman's Bay on October 9th with RIB transfers to the boats. Experienced or novice sailors are all invited to participate. Those wishing to sail ideally should advise the organisers first of their time slots and make sure they bring their sailing wet weather gear and a life jacket. Short races will also be run to allow visitors get a feel of the boats.

To make a provisional booking, please call or text Justin on 087 2417542