The European Speedsailing Championships will take place in Dungarvan, County Waterford with windsurfers and kite-boarders due on October 17-23. The event is being arranged on a rollover basis with a week in November also allocated should suitable wind conditions not be available in October. A prize fund of €10,000 is up for grabs with a number of additional prizes on offer.
The final stage of the World Speedsailing Championships hit Dungarvan harbour last year. Video footage of the venue was viewed by the international windsurfing community after it was sailed for the first time by Irish speedsailor Martin Waldron and it was very quickly acknowledged as a potential championship venue.
Commenting on the launch of the championships event, Martin Waldron said: “Dungarvan Harbour offers one of the best speed venues in Europe, and with a strong prevailing westerly wind top speeds are easy to achieve. We are very much looking forward to the event and it has a broader aspect to last year’s event with the inclusion of kite-surfing this year.
“These are not only spectacular sports to participate in but also very entertaining to watch so we hope everyone will come out to enjoy the spectacle and join in the fun and activities on offer.”
A host of international sailors are registered to attend the event next month. In the men’s fleet, the 2008 World Champion Cyril Moussilmani will be keenly watched. Windsurfing legend Anders Bringdal who recently crewed on the boat Hydroptere which broke the speedsailing world record will be a strong contender. Previous Speedsailing world record holder and the current kite-surfing world record holder Alex Caizergues will be in attendance.
Also attending will be Finian Maynard, the man who took the speedsailing record back to windsurfers after a long break where it was held by a sailing craft and was recently crowned World Champion in the last event in Karpathos, Greece. Also attending and competing will be Monty Spindler, the legendary sail designer with whose sails many world records have been broken.
A very strong international women’s fleet is expected to participate. These include Jemma Grobbelaar, a previous women’s world record holder.
In addition to speed-sailing and kite-surfing, Martin Waldron says there are many events for the public and family entertainment. “There are a host of fun activities open to all over the course of the championships in Dungarvan, including, introductory lessons to kite-surfing, introductory lessons to windsurfing, wakeboarding demos and lessons and water-sport exhibitions by Surf Dock, Wind & Wave, Pure Magic, Big Surf and many more.
“The social side of the championships is also open to the public to come along and join in the fun. A live DJ will perform each day and the championship will have opening and closing parties,” he added.
The European Speedsailing Championships are kindly supported by Fáilte Ireland, Waterford County Council, Irish Windsurfing Association, Red Bull and LOCOSYS. The event is being hosted and organised by Waldron Event Management, ISWC, Pure Magic Kitesurfing, Irish Speedsailing Series, Irish Slalom Series and the Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club.
Further information on the Championships can be found here.
