In sailing, Brian C expects the 1720 sports boat class to explode again in the coming months. He says "with a lot of the top IRC boats sold and heading for foreign lands, the 1720 can be picked up easily/cheaply and coupled with only having to find 4 crew plus the skip, its easy and most of all affordable to campaign". PLUS they're great to sail in 25 knots. Join in here.

In power boating, Blimp is looking for help in running the P750 European Championships. "Could you be a marshal?"  Help him here.

On inland waters there will be a public meeting on the Newry-Portadown Canal. We're also keen to get feedback on Waterways Ireland's draft bye-laws here.

And in a new post this morning, there is a suggestion to rewrite the Rules of Sailing. We've had a message from an experienced Irish campaigner who says "there is a huge reluctance to go in to the protest room. Instead people turn a blind eye to all sorts of things on the race course. Not much honour there, really". He says "if we can't self-police what's the point in having all these rules?" He wants just three rules. They're on the forum here.

We want your contribution too! Log in, join 1,000 Irish boating fans and have your say here. Our aim is to provide Irish sailing with a more open environment for discussion than is available in the printed magazine or on the website or elsewhere. A forum for Irish boating of all types. Register and have your say. If you have a news item for us, or want so see more coverage of any particular issue, or just have something to say to Afloat, you can simply email us ([email protected]) Thanks for your interest.

Commodore's Cup Captain Anthony O'Leary led the 1720 National Championships from start to finish at Baltimore SC this weekend. He finished the seven race series with four first places. The full results are HERE. There was drama this afternoon when a competitor in the 18-boat fleet was rescued by Baltimore lifeboat. Lifeboat report of the incident HERE

A yacht suffering equipment damage and in danger of being dismasted prompted a call for assistance to the RNLI today.

The Schull based 1720 sportsboat had been participating in the Irish 1720 National Championships being run out of Baltimore Sailing Club, when the forestay snapped. According to the RNLI 'The boat with 5 persons onboard was in serious peril as the forestay is part of the rigging that holds the mast in place'.

Weather conditions at the time were challenging in the exposed waters near the Calf Islands in West Cork with force 5-6 winds and a 1.5 metre swell.

A race support boat held the stricken yacht head to wind, while the inshore lifeboat under the command of Kieran Collins made its way to the scene. The lifeboat crew of Ronan Sheehy and Micheal Cottrell then took the 1720 under tow and returned her to the safety of Schull Harbour.

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Anthony O'Leary continues to lead at the Irish 1720 National Championships hoste by Baltimore Sailing Club writes Claire Bateman. After four races sailed on Friday and one discard applied the results are: 1. Anthony O'Leary, Antix 3 pts: 2. Neil Hogan, Micam, 8 pts: 3. Ben Cooke, Smile 'n wave, 12pts: 4. Robert O'Leary, Wet 'n Ready, 15 pts: 5. Michael Wilson, Yknot 16pts.

Only a fortnight after success in the Commodore's Cup Anthony O'Leary sailing his 1720 also called Antix took the first win of the series at the 1720 National Championships yesterday in Baltimore, West Cork followed by Denis Murphy's Aquatack with Neil Hogan sailing Micam into third place writes Claire Bateman.

Peter Crowley is Principal Race Officer assisted by David O'Brien. Only one race was sailed today and this was a two mile windward/Leeward course which started close to the pier in Baltimore and brought the fleet outside the harbour in a wind which at the start of the race was 12/13kts from the south west and blew up during the race to 20kts.

19 boats took part and these included two from the UK, two from Schull Community College and a number boats from other clubs including RCYC, KYC and MBSC.

Racing will continue today with the organisers hoping to have three races and another three races on Saturday with Sunday as a spare day.

Results: 1. Anthony O'Leary, Antix: 2. Denis Murphy, Aquatack: 3. Neil Hogan, Micam: 4, Steve Forrester-Cole, Ricochet: 5, Peter O'Flynn, Two 2 Tango.