Over 200 sailors from nine countries will compete in the BMW J24 European Championships which start at Howth Yacht Club next Monday (12^th), hard on the heels of the Star Europeans in Dublin Bay.

Measurement and registration take place between this Friday and the practice race on Sunday, with the 10-race series concluding on Thursday 15^th. Forty-two boats have entered the championship, with Irish and British entries accounting for 14 and 13 boats respectively, eight from Germany, two from Italy and one each from the USA, Holland, France, Greece and Hungary.

Six of the top eight finishers in the recent UK Championships at Weymouth will be in action, with the winner (and defending European Champion) ‘Serco’ (Bob Turner), helmed by Nathan Batchelor, and 3^rd-placed ‘Stouche’ (class veteran Stuart Jardine) leading the charge.

Second at Weymouth was ‘Reloaded’ which a multi-national crew will sail under US colours. American sailmaker Mike Ingham will helm the boat owned by Englishman Mark Penfold (trimmer) with a Swedish bowman, Scottish tactician and a Danish cockpit man! Ingham is a former North American champion and was runner-up in the Worlds four years ago.

Leading the Irish challenge will be Flor O’Driscoll and the crew of ‘Hard On Port’ (RStGYC/HYC) who recently retained their national crown at Lough Erne and also won the season’s two regionals at Lough Ree and Malahide. Other local contenders will include ‘Murder Picture’ (Mickey McCaldin, LEYC), ‘Jamais Encore’ (JP McCaldin, LEYC), ‘Jibberish’ (Fergus O’Kelly & Others, HYC), ‘Carrabeg 2’ (Stefan Hyde, RCYC) and ‘Sayonara’ (Murphy/Darrer, HYC).

“We are pleased with the entry,” said Organising Committee Chairman Derek Bothwell, “as it will provide good competitive racing afloat and at the same time act as a welcome boost to the local economy with so many overseas visitors.”

PRO for the BMW J24 Championships is the highly experienced IRO David Lovegrove and the schedule starts with three back-to-back races next Monday.