Annalise Murphy will launch her new Olympic sailing campaign in the 49erFx at Ballyholme Yacht Club's 'Weekend of Speed' on Saturday and Sunday, 15th and 16th September.
The Rio Olympic silver medalist will race under handicap against men's high-performance Olympic 49er teams as she and crew Katie Tingle are one of perhaps only two 49erFx's sailed in the country.
Ballyholme's Irish Open Multihull Championships incorporates the Irish F18 Championships and the Irish 49er Championships and a 29er event will also be held. According to organiser Richard Swanston, boats will be attending from 'across Ireland'.
Annalise Murphy and Katie Tingle at speed on Dublin Bay in the 49er FX dinghy Photo: Afloat.ie
The four F18’s that attended the recent European Championships in Spain will test their skills against the best of the Irish fleet in an open championship. This fleet will include everything catamaran; Dart 16, Catapult, Hurricane 5.9 and F18s.
Murphy and Tingle, meanwhile, begin their trail to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in their new 49er FX along with the 49er fleet which includes Olympians Matt McGovern and Ryan Seaton expecting to have their first competitive match since going separate their ways after Rio.
The 49ers are expecting eight boats for the Belfast Lough competition.
Annalise Murphy (left) and Katie Tingle review footage of a training run with coach Rory Fitzpatrick Photo: Afloat.ie
Currently, Murphy and Tingle are perfecting technique on their home waters of Dublin Bay where sometimes not everything goes to plan, even for Irish sailing's superstar.
The Ballyholme weekend will also feature seven to eight 29ers for a warm-up event for their National Championships.
If the weather is suitable the club will be running a speed challenge on the Friday evening, according to Swanston.
