Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009
White Sail Class – Non Spinnaker Class
The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is seeing a very strong interest from the ‘cruiser racers’ to enter this years Regatta and has in response reviewed the racing format to ensure all aspects of this fast growing body of sailors are fully catered for and welcomed to Dun Laoghaire in July.
The success of the original formula created in Dun Laoghaire has lead to the development of White Sail Racing at all the major keelboat centres in Ireland and overseas and almost half of the entries to date for this year’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta are from visitors outside of the bay. This welcome trend has prompted the expansion of this year’s Race Programme to cater for visitors as well as the founder Dublin Bay fleet.
The organisers are confident that this format will result in Dublin Bay playing host to the largest fleet of non-spinnaker boats ever assembled and that there will be great kudos in being the first winner of the Irish Open Championship and the coveted ISORA trophy for the best non-spinnaker boat.
The detailed race programme will be set out in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions but some preliminary information is set out below:
THE FORMAT
Eligibility: Boats shall have a current IRC or ECHO non-spinnaker handicap. The Irish Class Rules posted on www.cruiserracing.com will be amended where appropriate.
Classes: The final split of the boats into divisions will be finalised on entry cut-off but it is envisaged that the fleet may be split into three divisions (i.e. 3 starts) – Super, Division A and Division B.
Handicaps: Boats may enter either or both IRC and ECHO handicaps.
Consistent with the Regatta’s policy on handicaps ECHO handicaps will be reviewed after each day. IRC boats will not require an endorsed certificate.
Boats requiring handicaps should contact the ISA who have put in place special arrangements to accommodate visitors or boats requiring handicaps for the first time/event.
Sails Only one headsail and one mainsail may be used for the series. Sail identification number required on mainsail.Gennikers, bloopers, code zero or similar sails are prohibited. Spinnaker poles/whisker poles are allowed for poling out headsails.
Racing Thurs 15.25hrs Scotsman’s Bay start – 1 inshore race – fixed marks
Fri 11.55hrs Triangular Courses in Killiney Bay (2 races)
Sat 10.55hrs Dun Laoghaire – Howth Race (finish Howth)
Sun 10.55hrs W/L (1 race) – North Course (centre of bay)
All starts & finishes from committee vessel
Safety Boats shall comply with ISAF Category 4 regulations
Series (a) Open – There will be two open series for each division – IRC and ECHO. All visiting or local boats may enter either or both series provided they have the appropriate handicap.
(b) Dublin Bay White Sails – an additional series will be run under ECHO on behalf of the Dublin Bay Class (DBC). This series will be open only to boats that satisfy the local DBC criteria.
DBC Criteria The Dublin Bay Class captain (or his nominated deputy) will, before the start of the Regatta, identify from the list of entries the boats eligible to compete in this series. The class captain or his nominated deputy will have absolute authority to determine eligibility for this series. There is no additional entry fee.
Visitors or local boats wishing to be included in the series should contact the class via www.dbsc.org
Prizes Prizes will be awarded in line with entries as per other classes
Day and Overall Prizes will be awarded for the three series – IRC, ECHO and Dublin Bay White Sails.
The overall Irish Open Championship Trophy will be awarded to the best boat overall under IRC non–spinnaker. This to be scored on a similar basis to that used for the other overall trophies.
Social A full social programme for the white sail and non spinnakers classes will bearranged by the Dun Laoghaire fleet in co-operation with the Regatta Committee.
