There were light winds for the resumption of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club season after last weekend's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta last night. And some of the winners of that regatta were back in form again on Scotsman's bay. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna) was the Fireball dinghy class winner from Elevation (N. Colin/M. Casey). Third was the Louis Smyth and Cormac Bradley combination in Licence to Thrill. Full DBSC results for 12 JULY 2011 are below:

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al), 2. Upd8 (Whelan/McCabe/Carey)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 2. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn), 3. Chouskikou (R.Sheehan/R.Hickey)

Ensign - 1. NYC 2 (Helen Cooney), 2. NYC 1 (Olivier Prouveur)

FIREBALL - 1. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 2. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey), 3. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

GLEN - 1. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 2. Glencorel (B.Waldock/K.Malcolm), 3. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Squalls (Stephen Harrison)

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Lively Lady (G O'Neill & M Hanney), 3. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke)

PY CLASS - 1. Evan Dolan (), 2. E Ryan (RS400), 3. N O'Toole (Laser)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Pippa lV (G.Kinsman/K.Blake/M.O'Brien)

In one of the busiest racing weekends of the Irish sailing calendar a vintage Quarter tonner sailed by six friends lifted the top prize in Dun Laoghaire. We report on Supernova's success. In a weekend of extremes for the biennial 'big one' we have reports, photos and video from Day one, two, three and overall. Plus how one VDLR competitor skipped the ferry and sailed over, from Wales in a dinghy. We have the DBSC likely first series winners too. On Friday, John Twomey and his crew qualified in Weymouth for next year's Paralympic Games. Yesterday in Croatia Sophie Murphy took a race win at the ISAF Youth Worlds for Ireland. From a lead at the halfway stage Peter McCann ended up eighth at the Oppy worlds in Portugal.We have less serious Optimist action from Crosshaven too.

In offshore news, the Transatlantic Race 2011 Nears a Finish, and RORC yachts that headed West did best in the St Malo from Cowes race. Ireland's entry in the Tall Ships race, Celtic Mist, is safely in Scotland. WIORA starts this week in Clifden, thirty boats are expected.

Two top Cork performers are in Cowes for this week's Quarter Ton Cup.

In other boating news, rower Siobhan McCrohan won bronze at the World Rowing Champs in Lucerne, Kiteboarding debuted in Dun Laoghaire. There were Medals for Irish Kayakers at Athens Special Olympics.

And finally after a Elaine 'Shooter' Alexander is set for hero's welcome this week as she becomes the first woman from Northern Ireland to circumnavigate the island of Ireland.

All on our home page this morning, thanks for your interest in Irish Sailing and Boating.

Local success is being toasted in Dun Laoghaire tonight following the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta prizegiving this afternoon.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PRIZEGIVING PHOTOS by Gareth Craig.

The bulk of the major trophies were divided among sailors from the waterfront Dublin Bay yacht clubs or Howth at the end of four days of racing today.

The major overall prize went to the Class III IRC winner Supernova who produced three wins and three second places in a 38 boat fleet, the biggest class of the regatta. More on Supernova HERE.

The quarter tonner Supernova - Shining brightly on Dublin Bay

The biennial regatta is being hailed an enormous success both afloat and ashore as a combined fleet of 420 boats raced over nine courses and a range of conditions since racing began last Thursday from full gale to flat calm.

Supernova won but only after the third tie-break was applied against arch rival Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll). Both boats had equal points plus three wins and two second places apiece. Both had also discarded a second place and so the class, and the 2011 title, was decided on countback and who won the last race.

The cruisers zero IRC winner, in the biggest turn out of the class this year is Alan Chambers and Norbert Reilly's Crazy Horse. Steven Cowie's Beneteau 40, Zephyr from Royal Gourock was 4 points behind the Howth winner with the Dufour 42 Grand Cru from Clyde Cruising club three points further adrift.

In Cruiser one IRC the prize went to the National Yacht Club's Something Else (John & Brian Hall & Sue McDonnell). Second was Scotland's Carmen II (Paul Scutt/ Alan Jeffrey) and third Bengal Magic (John Moorehead/ Chris Ferres)

In class two Howth's Impetous lifted the IRC trophy from a fleet of 21. Second was Sligo traveller Conor Ronan sailing Ruthless, a Corby 25,
Third was the half tonner King One (David Cullen) from Howth.

In the one designs class champions prevailed in the SB3, the Sigma and the Flying fifteen classes.

In a new departure for the event Kitesurfing was added to the slate and the sport was showcased yesterday off Seapoint. Francios Colussi won the demonstration event.

The next Dun Laoghaire regatta is scheduled for early July 2013

The full breakdown of overall results is below.

Overall results VDLR 2011 (provisional and subject to protest)

OVERALL WINNER – Supernova (Sybil MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon),

IRC CLASS 0 - 1. Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly), 2. Elf Too (Christina Murray) 3. Grand Cru II (Jamie McGarry)

IRC CLASS 1 ­ 1. Something Else (John & Brian Hall & Sue McDonnell 2. Carmen II (Paul Scutt/ Alan Jeffrey) 3. Bengal Magic (John Moorehead/ Chris Ferres)

IRC CLASS 2 - 1. Impetuous (Fergal Noonan/Robert Chambers) 2. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 3. King One (David Cullen)

IRC CLASS 3 - 1. Supernova (Sybil MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon), 2. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 3. Scandal (Brian McDowell)

NON SPINNAKER 1 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lula Belle (Liam Coyne), 3. Persistance (Charles Broadhead/Jerry Collins/Ian Stuart)

NON SPINNAKER 2 - 1. Bite the Bullet (Colm Bermingham), 2. Voyager (Joe Carton), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

NON SPINNAKER DBSC CUP - ) 1. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 3.Eden Park (Liam Farmer) 3. Nauti-Gal (John and Jason Crawford)

J109 - 1. Joker 2 (John Maybury) 2. Storm (Pat Kelly), 3. Jedi (Barratt/Austin/McGuinness)

J80 WELSH/IRISH CUP- 1. Ireland 1 (Geoff O'Donoghue), 2. Ireland 2 (Stephen Doherty), 3. Wales 1 (Kieron Iniman)

LASER SB3- 1. Sharkbait (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran), 2. TBC Aidan O'Connell, 3. BoMChickaWahWah (John O'Driscoll)

BENETEAU 31.7 ­ 1. Twister (Fletcher/Byers/Fair), 2. Flying Machine (Conor & Donal O'Gallagher),3. 30 Something (Kavanagh/Jones/Gaffney/Lubliner)

SIGMA 33 - 1.White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Gwili Two (Dermot Clarke and Paddy Maguire)

RUFFIAN 23- . 1. Diane 2 (Alan Claffey) 2. Ruff Nuff (Derek & Carol Mitchell), 3. Ruff n'Ready (Cullen/Brown/Kirwan)

SHIPMAN- 1.Curraglass (John Masterson), 2. Whiterock (Henry M Robinson), 3. Lulu (Bob & Tom Galvin)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (Donal &Richard O'Connor), 2. Pterodactyl (Roderick & David McCaffrey) 3 .Glenmarissa (Frank Elmes/Wilf Higgins)

FLYING 15- 1. Hy5ive (David Gorman), 2. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole) 3. Deranged (Alan Green)

DRAGON- 1.Phantom (Peter Bowring/David Williams), 2. Jaguar (Martin Byrne), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (Jonathon O'Rourke), 2. Endeavour (Roger Bannon), 3. Dolphin (James O'Toole)

SQUIB - 1. Toy for the Boys (Peter Wallace), 2. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne/Vincent Delaney), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming) (PROTEST PENDING THAT AFFECTS SECOND AND THIRD)

WATER WAG - 1. Little Tern (J Ross-Murphy) 2. Tortoise (William & Linda Prentice) 3. Molly (Cathy McAleavey)

WAYFARER- 1. Black Pear (David Wade) 2. Hofreki (Trevor Fisher) 3. Devil's Advocate (Richard Hartley)

FIREBALL- 1. El Rey Del Fuego (Francis Rowan) 3. Moon Monkey (Diana Kissane) 3. Lets Get Messy (Andy Boyle/Barry Hurley),

IDRA 14- 1. Delos II (Patrick O Neill) 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Chaos (Julie Ascoop/Heather Keenan)

HOWTH 17- 1. Oona (Peter Courtney) 2. Aura (Ian Malcolm) 3. Leila (Roddy Cooper)

LASER RADIAL - 1. Pump It (Luke Murphy) 2. No Name (Declan Kickham), 3. No Name (Eoin Foley)

LASER STANDARD - 1. Fossa Too (Will Nesbitt), 2. No Name (Francis Barry) 3. Buster 3 (Garry O'Hare)

KITE BOARDERS 1. Francios Colussi 2. Jade O'Connor 3. Colm Murphy

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta showcased the dynamic new sport of Kiteboarding off Seapoint on Saturday.

This year's regatta sees the launch of a brand new class, Kiteboard Course Racing. Many of you will be familiar with the mutlicoloured spectacle of kiteboarding, or as its sometimes called kitesurfing. Its not unusual to see 100+ kites in the air as you cruise or race pass Clontarf's Dollymount Strand. The sport has moved rapidly over the past 10 years with a vibrant community in Ireland, and is probably one of the most affordable sail sports available today. Now with a budding race scene, you can expect to see kites in large numbers vying for podiums all around the country.

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has a history of being at the forefront of sail racing, and is proud to showcase this new dynamic class. Kite Course Racing was held this morning (first Start 10.15am) and depending on the wind will race again tomorrow Sunday 10th July.

The latest technology drive in kiteboarding has been towards course racing. Kiteboarders on race specific equipment fly upwind as quickly as an AC45, and achieve fully powered up racing from 8kts upwards. As you would expect, it has all of the hallmarks of high octane sailboat racing, as riders fight tooth and nail for every boat/board length, screaming for water at the mark, while searching for wind shifts and the fastest route around the cans, all this is done with breathtaking speed and agility. Heres an example of kiteboards pitted against hydrofoiling Moths, and 49er's ( http://www.pureracing.ie/ikite​r-tv/ )

Among the many hopefuls on the starting line, you can expect to see Francois Colussi, owner of Clontarf based kiteboard store & school Puremagic. Look out for Francois riding Cabrinha, he has been at the top of the sport for many years, competing at international level before settling in Ireland to open Puremagic Dublin & Achill. Jade O'Connor also on Cabrinha is no stranger to finishing line honours, a stalwart competitor in dinghy classes and catamaran's for many years.

The format is olympic / triangle courses, and ISAF rules under appendix BB, races are about 25 minutes long, raced back to back, with an event carrying the usual discard rules. A strict box rule governs the boards, keeping costs down and competition up. Kite size's range from 6m to 16m, as you can imagine the power to weight ratio is quite phenomenal. The class has a professional tour and recent world championships in Sylt, Germany, which was attended by over 70 competitors. Recent showcases have included the Rolex Miami OCR, the class is also in the mix for inclusion at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

2011 VDLR Kite Boarding Race 1 (Saturday 9th July)
Full Results as follows;
1. Francios Colussi
2. Jade O'Connor
3. Colm Murphy
...4. James Hayden
5 Eoin O'Connell
6 Melissa Evans, Carl Jordan, Catherine Etienne, Ross Harte, Charlie.

With marginal conditions the kiteboard course racing completed two races on Saturday. Enjoying cross onshore conditions at the required minimum 8kts limit at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

A hard fought contest saw the PureMagic Team take first and second. Francois Colussi in first place on a 13m Cabrinha Crossbow, followed by Jade O'Connor also riding Cabrinha. In third place was Colm Murphy riding Nobile. A short but fantastic day's racing in Dublin Bay

Light winds replaced heavy for day two of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and although it has been a regatta of extremes so far it is also one that has completed the full schedule for all 25 classes.

Ireland's largest sailing event approaches the half way stage tomorrow and a number of key champions are emerging in cruiser, one design and dinghy classes.

Howth Yacht Club's Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly) leads Cruisers Zero from two Scottish visitors. Another local boat, the royal St. George's Sigma 38 Erislannan leads Class one, again from Scottish visitors.

Sligo Yacht Club's Conor Ronan has a two point lead in Class two but in the strongest regatta performance of the regatta to date the 2009 class three winner Hard on Port is in control again.

Flor O'Driscoll's J24 Hard on Port has three wins in his 38 boat fleet, the biggest fleet of the regatta.

Supernova,  (above) with three seconds, is challenging Hard on Port (below) with three first places in Cruisers III, the biggest fleet of the event

The one designs are lead, by fleet size at least, by the SB3s with 33 racing. The Howth trio of Ben Duncan, Brian Moran and Ric Morris are ahead but only by a point, their margin reduced by an OCS in race four.

The J109 class are also racing for national honours and after three races the early leader Pat Kelly's Storm has lost out to Joker (John Maybury) and Dermot Baker's Jalapeno in second.

The Dragon class only started racing the regatta today have now completed three races. Sir Ossis of the River sailed by Denis Bergin leads from Peter Bowring's Phantom.

Selected overall VDLR results (provisional) below:

IRC CLASS 0 (after three races) - 1. Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly), 2 Grand Cru II (Jamie McGarry) 3. Elf Too (Christina Murray)

IRC CLASS 1 (after three races) – Errislannan (Paul Kirwan), 2 Carmen II (Paul Scuff/Alan Jeffrey), 3. Animal (Debbie Aitken)

IRC CLASS 2 (after three races) - 1. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 2. Impetuous (Fergal Noonan/Robert Chambers) 3. King One (David Cullen)

IRC CLASS 3 (after three races) - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Supernova (Syd MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon), 3. Pinocchio (Noel Davidson)

J109 (after three races) - 1. Joker 2(John Maybury), 2. Jalapeno (Baker et Al), 3. Storm (Pat Kelly)

BENETEAU 31.7 (after three races) – 1. Twister(Fletcher/Byers/Fair),2. Flying Machine (Conor&Donal O'Gallagher),3.30 Something(Kavanagh/Jones/Gaffney/Lubliner)

SIGMA 33 (after three races) - 1.White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Enchantress (Bonner/Nicholl/Larkin)

RUFFIAN 23 (after three races)- 1. Ruff Nuff (Derek&Carol Mitchell), 2. Ruff n'Ready (Cullen/Brown/Kirwan) 3. Paramour (Power/Sastre/Russell)

SHIPMAN (after three races)- 1.Curraglass (John Masterson), 2. Lulu (Bob & Tom Galvin), 3. Whiterock (Henry M Robinson)
GLEN (after three races)- 1.Glenmarissa(Frank Elmes/Wilf Higgins) 2. Glenluce (Donal&Richard O'Connor), 3. Pterodactyl (Roderick & David McCaffrey)

FLYING 15 (after four races)- 1. Hy5ive(David Gorman), 2. Gruffalo (Keith Poole) 3. Final Fling (Norman Hamilton/William Rutherford)

DRAGON (after three races)- 1.Sir Ossis of the River (Burgin/Murphy/Burke), 2. Phantom (Peter Bowring/David Williams), 3. Susele(Michael Halpenny)

MERMAID (after four races) - 1. Endeavour (Roger Bannon), 2. Thumbalina (Patrick Boardman), 3. MiDi (Enda Weldon)
SQUIB (after four races) - 1. Toy for the Boys (Peter Wallace), 2. Lola (Frank Whelan), 2. Anemos (Peter & Anne Evan)

Organisers of the Focus Ireland Triathlon in Dun Laoghaire on Sunday 31 July have announced a list of road closures in the area, and have also put out a call for volunteers to assist on the day.

Full road closures will be necessary from 7.45am to 11am in the Blackrock, Monkstown and Dun Laoghaire areas. A complete list plus a map of road closures and diversions are available to download below.

Meanwhile, volunteers are required to assist in all aspects of the event. Canoeists and kayakers are especially needed for safety support during the swimming section of the race. 

Anyone who has some time to help out on the day, or who can supply canoes or kayaks for the event, is urged to contact events assistant Anne Griffin at [email protected].

Entries are still open for the Focus Ireland Triathlon, which comprises a 750m/350m swim, a 20k cycle and a 5k run. Registration is €80 for individuals/€240 for teams and entries can be made at www.focusireland.ie. For more details call 1850 204 205 or e-mail [email protected].

Unexpected strong winds got the fourth Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta off to a stunning start on Dublin Bay yesterday even though a number of boats in the massive 420-boat fleet got into difficulties as the southerly breeze hit 25 knots. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO AND PICTURES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY.

Nearly 3,000 sailors and 420 boats are afloat for the four day regatta that is the biggest sailing event in the Irish Sea area.

An impressive line up of 14 Class Zero boats has made Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta the biggest turnout this year for the 40-footers and it was appropriate that Howth's well campaigned Crazy Horse should make the running in the big sea conditions.

Mighty Max, a Prima 38, a visitor to Dublin Bay from Liverpool

The Chambers/Reilly skippered Mills 36 beat Fairlie visitor Christine Murray's Elf too, a Beneteau First 40 on the windward leeward course. Third was another visitor Grand Cru (Jamie McGarry) from the Clyde.

Crazy Horse takes a wave in the first race. Photo: Gareth Craig

Anthony O'Leary put on a David vs Goliath performance in the dramatic opener. Surfing conditions gave his modified 1720 a real chance to show her speed downwind against some boats seemingly twice the size in IRC One.

The gutsy performance would have put the Royal Cork yacht 'Antix Beag' top of the 19-boat fleet except the Cork crew lost their rig. It is still unofficial but Debbie Aitken's Elan 380 Animal from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club is the probable winner. Second is the locally based Sigma 38 Errislannan skippered by Paul Kirwan.

Late last night O'Leary got a new mast through one of the local sailing school's 1720 fleet and thanks to school principal Alistair Rumball the customised 1720 hopes to be back on the water  this morning.

A Mermaid dinghy is dismasted in the strong winds

In class two Sligo visitor Ruthless, a Corby 26, sailed by Conor Ronan beat the locally based half tonner Dick Dastardly from the DMYC. Another vintage half tonner, King one, from Howth and skippered by Dave Cullen was third.

Last year's winner of the overall Volvo trophy Flor O'Driscoll is back in contention again. His J24 Hard on Port was the winner of the regatta's biggest fleet taking a win from Ken Lawless's Supernova in the 38-boat class three division.

In the one design divisions there were plenty of familiar names at the top top of the fleets given the testing southerlies that prevailed.

Sigma Supreme - White Mischief prepares for a hoist

Tim Goodbody leads the Sigma 33s, David Gorman the Flying fifteens, Patrick Boardman the Mermaids, Colin Galavan the SB3s, first race winner Ben Duncan did not sail the second race. Pat Kelly's Storm leads the 10 boat J109s who are also racing for national championship honours.

Supernova takes a tack in Class Three

 

Today's Irish Times editorial raises questions over the new 'masterplan' for Dun Laoghaire harbour.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the plan is intended to position Dun Laoghaire "as a marine, leisure and tourism destination of international calibre".

But The Irish Times says: "[The] company needs to reassure the public that all of the proposed uses can be safely accommodated within the granite enclosing arms of this great harbour, without conflicting with each other.

"Is it realistic, for example, to have greatly expanded facilities for sailing and at the same time provide berthing for very large 'next generation' cruise liners? How realistic is the plan to develop 300 apartments within the harbour area in the current market?"

Doubts are also raised about the feasibility of Dublin hosting two cruise liner facilities if plans to expand Dublin Port get the go-ahead.

The Irish Times website has more on the story HERE. The Dun Laoghaire Yacht Club's joint response to the masterplan is HERE

UK sailor Nigel King who recently finished a creditable second place overall in the Transmanche Race sailing his Figaro class yacht – E-line Orthodontics – is currently competing in the Transatlantic Race aboard Chris Bull's Cookson 50, Jazz writes Sue Pelling.

King's recent success in the highly competitive Figaro class, was just the sort of result he was looking for in the run up to the Solitaire du Figaro – the key event on the Figaro circuit – which starts in less than a month's time (29 July).

King will be sailing into Dun Laoghaire when the Figaro race stops here in August.

As a passionate, and particularly versatile sailor who manages to compete equally well solo or in a team, King's aim as skipper of Jazz in the Transatlantic Race is to ensure the yacht obtains the best possible result for owner Chris Bull, who had to pull out the race to attend his son's wedding.

Speaking from the dockside in Newport Rhode Island just before he started the Transatlantic Race earlier today King said: "Chris is a very active sailing owner, so for him not to be here for this race is a big thing. What is even more significant is the fact that he is allowing us to race his boat without him. We as a team all recognise we are pretty fortunate to have an owner who puts his trust in us entirely, so we really need to make sure we deliver on results, and getting the boat across the Atlantic safely."

King, who is skippering Jazz, will be working closely alongside Mike Broughton (navigator) and Christian Rippard (principal helmsman) during the 2,975-nautical mile race from Newport Rhode Island to Lizard Point, England. Other members of the team include Anthony (Ski) Haines (boat captain), and a selection of Australians who, according to King, are a great bunch of guys. "They are really hardworking and into their sailing and ultra competitive. They all work well together which means we have a really good team onboard."

The Transatlantic Race is a key event in the seven-race Atlantic Ocean Racing Series, which means to qualify for the series; at least three races must be completed including the Transatlantic Race. Having completed two races already this season – the RORC Caribbean 600, and the Annapolis to Newport Race – Team Jazz is looking forward to a respectable result in her third, qualifying race. Speaking realistically about what lies ahead, King said: "I am not a great believer in saying 'we are going out there to win'. If you go out there with nothing but a win as your goal, you focus so much on that you forget to sail properly. We've talked about how we want to perform and that is to sail to the highest level we can and hope that, if we make all the right choices and minimise our mistakes, the result will come."

King estimates a 14-day crossing depending on the conditions. According to the forecast the first few days could bring a light to moderate south-westerly breeze. King added: "There's a bit of a front coming through which is kind of messing the picture up a bit but we could have a few days of potentially 10-15kts, maybe slightly more spinnaker running as we go up the coast to Nova Scotia depending on whether we take a southern or northern route."

Once they cross the finish line at the Lizard, the team will have a 24-hour delivery trip back to Cowes for the prizegiving event at the Royal Yacht Squadron. For King however, it will be a case of jumping ship again, this time back onboard his Figaro – E-line Orthodontics – where he'll sail back to his home in Lymington before heading straight across the Channel to Perros-Guirec, France for the start of the Solitaire du Figaro.

You could be in the hot seat at next month's International Match Racing Challenge - provided you'e got €200 to spend.

The top-level entertainment package for the Royal St George Yacht Club's second annual event, set for the weekend of 23-24 July, will put yacht racing fans on board with a team "experiencing the thrills and tension of the race as it happens along with the competitors".

A spectator package - which will set fans back €100 - gives a bird's-eye view of all the racing in Scotsman's Bay "as well as the added bonus of firing the starting gun", according to the RSGYC.

The second International Match Race Challenge will see Ireland’s top six match racing teams go head to head against a world team consisting of six international crews from France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Ireland will be hoping to avenge their 36-29 loss to the world at last year's inaugural event.

Match racing involves head-to-head racing between two identical boats over short 20 minute courses, with each boat having four crew members. At the end of the competition and after approximately 90 races, there will be an overall individual winner. In addition, the combined scores of the six Irish teams and the six international teams will deliver an overall team winner.

Package One
THE HOT SEAT
€200 per person
Experience the thrills and tension of the race as it happens aboard!

 

12:00 Meet and Greet in Club
12:30 Race Briefing and Intro to the Event
12:45 Light Lunch
13:30 Trip on Yacht around Dublin Bay
14:30 Arrive at Spectator area to watch racing
15:00 Hot Seat Race
16:15 Return to shore
16:30 BBQ and Drinks
Hot Seaters need to be prepared to get wet and be active!

Package Two
PURE SPECTATOR
€100 per person
Get a Bird's Eye view of all the action!

12:00 Meet and Greet in Club
12:30 Race Briefing and Intro to the Event
12:45 Light Lunch
13:30 Trip on Yacht around Dublin Bay
14:30 Arrive at Spectator area to watch racing
15:00 Step on Board the Starter's Boat and fire the Starting Gun
16:00 Return to shore
16:30 BBQ and Drinks