Howth Yacht Club has announced that BMW Ireland is to be the title sponsor of the J/24 European Championship at Howth next September when up to forty boats from six countries are expected to compete.

One of the major regattas in Ireland this year, the BMW J/24 Europeans has already attracted interest from J/24 sailors in the UK, Holland, Sweden, Monaco, Italy, Germany and Greece. Racing will take place over four days (Sept.12^th-15^th), and will be preceded by registration, measurement and practice from the 9^th. The Principal Race Officer will be ISAF International Race Officer David Lovegrove while Bob Milner (UK) will chair the International Jury.

The J/24 is the biggest and most widespread one-design keelboat class in the world with fleets in 32 countries and is sailed in half a dozen bases in Ireland.

“We are delighted that a brand of the stature of BMW has agreed to support what is one of the most prestigious events on Irish waters in recent years,” said Derek Bothwell, Chairman of the organising committee.

John Ives, Managing Director of BMW Ireland, added: “Sailing is a sport which combines dynamics, competitiveness and the ‘joy of freedom’ in the most beautiful way. We at BMW associate our brand with these attributes and are thus proud to support major sailing events all over the world. In Ireland, we are now also particularly happy to be associated with the J/24 European Championships.”

Howth Yacht Club has previously hosted six World and European Championships in the past, testimony to its ability to host major regattas. The BMW J/24 Europeans is the biggest event in a programme of 22 local, national and international events being staged by the club in 2011.