Anthony O'Leary's Ker 39, Antix returns to the Solent in less than a month for the 20th edition of RORC's Easter Sailing Challenge and once again this ever-popular event has attracted a huge range of yachts writes Louay Habib. Raced on tight Solent courses over the Bank Holiday weekend, the event is an ideal way to kick-start a racing season, test new equipment and brush up on boat handling. With seven races scheduled over three days, the RORC Easter Challenge offers an intensive programme designed to blow away the winter cobwebs and get both crew and yachts up to speed.

The fundamental purpose of the regatta is to improve performance for the season ahead. Competitors benefit from complimentary world class coaching, as the rules on outside assistance are relaxed to allow the legendary Jim Saltonstall MBE and his team to provide free on-the-water advice. This year the team will include: the highly experienced Barry Dunning and RORC CEO Eddie Warden Owen. The British Keelboat Academy's Phil Johnston will be coaching the J80s. There will also be expert advice from Ultimate Sails, North Sails and Quantum Sails. After each day's racing Jim Saltonstall delivers his impressive video debriefing which is often light-hearted but always packed with knowledge and tips that give tremendous benefit to all of the competitors.

The RORC Easter Challenge provides a golden opportunity to make a great start to the season. Although the prizes are Easter eggs, the regatta is most definitely competitive. The RORC Easter Challenge is a very popular event. Already entries include 22 different types of yacht and many close battles are expected. Anthony O'Leary's Ker 39, Antix returns to the Solent after winning the Rolex Commodores' Cup for Ireland last year.

"This will be the first time that Antix has been competing this year," explained Anthony O'Leary. "We have been out over the winter in 1720s and other boats but nothing beats putting the crew back together. Having excellent coaching, right at the start of our season, is a real bonus and Jim Saltonstall and his team do an excellent job. We are expecting some great racing. There are several boats competing that should be close to Antix on the water. Easter is late this year, so we hope that we won't be getting any arctic conditions!"

Antix should have some close company on the racecourse: Mark Devereux's Swan 42, Brevity, John McLaren's Ker 39, Maridadi, and Michael Bartholomew's King 40, Tokoloshe, are already entered for the regatta.

This year, the Royal Ocean Racing Club is expecting a fleet of as many as 10 J80s which will be level rating. The J80 has become an incredibly popular class, especially with sailing academies such as the British Keelboat Academy. The inclusion of J80s allows a more youthful element to enjoy racing at the RORC Easter Challenge.

Latest RORC News from Afloat

Entries are coming in at a good pace for The Sovereign's Cup the South coast sailing event takes place from 22nd-25th June 2011 in the outer harbour of Kinsale, Co Cork.
"We are delighted with the entry level to date and are now encouraging boats to enter The Sovereign's Cup on our website www.sovereignscup.com or by calling Kinsale Yacht Club directly on (021) 4773433. Already, skippers are beginning to plan their sailing events for the year and we hope that they will favourably consider us here in Kinsale," said Gary Horgan, Regatta Director.
"Additionally, this year, the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race and ICRA Championships in Cork just before The Sovereign's Cup should act as good feeders as boats will be down south. As well as the excellent sailing conditions, race management and social programme ashore, there is a good discounted entry fee for the first 100 entries, which is already proving very attractive to entrants. Also, we are encouraging people to start thinking about their travel and accommodation plans and are delighted that the Cork Swansea ferry will enable more sailors to access Kinsale easily from the UK," he added.
The Sovereign's Cup was established in 1995 as and has been a very successful and hugely popular cruiser regatta. The biennial event attracts over 140 boats from all over Ireland and the UK who compete for the prestigious Sovereign's Cup for best all round score in IRC and The Portcullis Trophy for best progressive handicap.
There are many Classes for entry; including Class 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and two White Sails classes. Also, the Quarter Ton Class Championships will be taking place during the Sovereign's Cup, bringing many new visitors to Kinsale from the South of England and Wales in particular.

According to Ian Travers of the Sovereign's Cup Committee at KYC, interest has been phenomenal and he has received plenty of calls from UK and Irish owners expressing their interest.

"Also, I have received confirmation that a quarter tonner named 'Black Fun' is to be shipped from New Zealand to Europe this year and is intent on making it to Kinsale for the Sovereign's Cup! We are confident that there will be around 25-30 quarter tonners participating in the Sovereign's Cup this year," said Ian Travers.

For more information on The Sovereign's Cup, contact Kinsale Yacht Club on (021) 4773433 www.kyc.ie or www.sovereignscup.com

Take a look back at Bob Bateman's photos from Sovereigns Cup 2003, Sovereigns Cup 2005 and Sovereigns Cup 2007 in our photo reviews

Click this link for all the lastest Sovereigns Cup news from Afloat.ie

The 42 Trofeo Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, third event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup, started on Monday in Palma with gruelling conditions, sun and clear blue sky. The 49ers and Star races were delayed waiting for the wind to ease. In the end a thousand sailors took the start and filled the bay of Palma with sails. The breeze lovers made the most of the day with many teams taking it all!

Ireland is off to a blistering start in the Laser Radial and is now place second overall. Annalise is the sole Irish competitor in the radial.

Ireland's Peter O'Leary and David Burrows are not competing this week in the Star class.

Rob Lehane and Tom Mapplebeck from Kinsale Yacht Club are 53rd in the 470 class.

The 2.4 paralympic fleet, sailing out of Calanova Yacht Club, was the first to complete two races. Thierry Schmitter (NED) enjoyed the strong winds to win both races and take the lead from German Heiko Kroger and Megan Pascoe (GBR).

Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata (JAP) took a convincing lead in the 470 women fleet with two victories. Gil Cohen and Bouskila Vered (ISR) and the British team of Penny Clark / Katrina Hughes (GBR) placed in second and third overall. "It is good to have a bit of breeze" says Cohen. "It was good fun! We are having a good start in the regatta so let's see how we go."

Renowned to master these demanding conditions, Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) took a clean sweep in the RS:X fleet with two bullets, leaving his closest rivals, 2009 World Champion Nick Dempsey (GBR) and German Tony Wilhelm, in second and third with a six points margin. The Dutch continues on his good form after claiming victory at the second SWC event in Miami.

Same scenario for Rolex Miami OCR winner, Giles Scott (GBR), who enjoyed the strong wind in Palma and won today's both races in his group. In the other group, races went to Finnish sailor Tapio Nirkko and Pieter-Jan Postma (NED). They place second and third respectively in the general results, only a few points behind Scott.

The young New-Zealanders, Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (NZL) take the races and the lead, in the 470 class. The twenty years old have won Sail Auckland in February and will represent New-Zealand at the Olympic Test event next August in Weymouth.

Second and third are the British teams of Nick Rogers / Chris Grube (GBR) and Nic Asher / Elliot Willis (GBR). "We had a solid day in tricky conditions. The wind was strong and gusty;" explains Asher. "It is a long regatta but if we keep sailing like that we can come up in the medals."

Tom Slingsby (AUS), crowned ISAF sailor of the year in 2010 for a double world title in the Laser and the Etchell (with John Bertrand and Andrew Palfrey), along with several SWC victories, enjoyed his most favoured conditions by claiming both races. Simon Grotelueschen from Germany and Belgium sailor Van Laer Wannes take second and third overall. The Lasers are divided in three groups.

In the Radial division, Evi van Acker (BEL) claimed the day in her group and lead the overall standings with a narrow margin over Annalise Murphy (IRL) and 2010 SWC winner, Marit Bouwmeester (NED). They both won a race today and placed second and third respectively in the other. Paige Railey (USA) is in fourth overall with two second.

After a postponement, the Star fleet completed the two scheduled races in challenging conditions. Double Gold medallists and current World Champions, Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR) are making a successful come back to the competition after a long break with two bullets claimed in a fleet packed with medallists and world champions. The top five share a total of 15 Olympic medals including seven Gold collected in the Star and Finn classes. Second to fifth place are taken by Kusznierewicz and Zycki (POL), Scheidt and Prada (BRA), Grael and Ferreira (BRA) and Loof with Salminen (SWE)!

Last of the water today, the 49ers waited for the wind to decrease before heading to sea. Dylan Fletcher and Alan Sign (GBR) took the honours with two bullets. In the Yellow group, German team of Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel placed second and first, a small point from the top of the rankings.

Alessandra Sensini, who is racing in Palma to qualify for the Olympic Games and defend her title, has given the pace to the strong RS:X women fleet with top placing. "I have a lot at stake here and I will give my maximum!" One of the most experienced sailor in the whole event, Sensini won the first race and placed second in the next. In second overall is Lee el Korsiz from Israel who placed third in the first and went on winning the second, Chan Wai Kei from Hong-Kong ranks third.

The women's match racing teams completed their full schedule of matches today with 10 of the 21 flights sailed in Stage One.  The 24 teams are divided into 3 groups for the Stage One round robins. In Group A, Claire Leroy (FRA) and Silja Lehtinen (FIN) are undefeated with scores of 3-0.  In Group B, four teams are undefeated and leading the way with scores of 3-0: Nicky Souter (AUS), Renee Groeneveld (NED), Sally Barkow (USA), and Silke Hahlbrock (GER).  Group C completed four flights and two teams are undefeated with scores of 4-0: Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA).  Stage One will continue tomorrow.  The top two teams from each group will move into the Gold Group and the next two will move into the Repechage Group.  The Repechage Group will sail a round robin to determine who will join the Gold Group in the knock-out quarter-finals.

Racing will continue on Tuesday 5th with starts scheduled at 11am and 10am for the Women Match racing.

Results here

Sailing offshore? The National Yacht Club is staging an 'Introduction to Offshore Racing' evening next Saturday 7th April 2011 at 19.30 and a line up of speakers inlcudes Maurice 'Prof' O’Connell on winning the 2009 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. Mick Liddy on how to prepare for offshore sailing. Former National Yacht Club commodore Peter Ryan will give tips on ISORA racing in the Irish Sea.

Whether you are a Round Ireland expert or an offshore newbie the Dun Laoghaire club stresses it is an informal night but a 'unique one' both for offshore sailing fans and those who might be considering going offshore for the first time this season.

 

All the latest ISORA News

All the latest ICRA News

All the latest La Solitaire du Figaro News

All the latest Round Ireland News

 

Ireland's Sailor of the Year Anthony O'Leary will be sailing in the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup as the skipper of the Irish team.

The biennial event, which puts its primary focus on Corinthian competition by virtue of allowing only non-professional sailors to compete, made its debut in 2009 to widely acclaimed success and returns to Newport this September 10-17. After a qualifying event for 24 of America's foremost yacht clubs was run during its off-year, a firm roster of 19 participating clubs was announced and it is now expected that additional entries will bring the event close to its maximum number of 24.

While several participating yacht clubs will hold a sail-off to determine their 2011 team rosters, two clubs have set the standard by confirming their team captains. Royal Cork Yacht Club will return to the event with Anthony O'Leary who led the Irish entry to a fifth-place finish in 2009; and first-time participant Clube Naval de Cascais will have Patrick Monteiro de Barros at the helm of the Portuguese team.

O'Leary made sporting headlines in February when he was awarded the Afloat/Irish Independent Sailor of the Year award in recognition of his on-the-water accomplishments during 2010, the highlight of which was his performance at the helm of his Ker 39 ANTIX in the Rolex Commodore's Cup that allowed Ireland to take a commanding overall win.
O'Leary is the head of a well-known sailing family from Cork that includes sons Peter, a 2008 Olympian in the Star class, and Nicholas, who was tactician for the 2009 Invitational Cup and is the only three consecutive times ISA All-Ireland Sailing Champion. Yet to set his crew list for the Invitational Cup, O'Leary has confirmed that he will draw from the crew that sailed together in the Rolex Commodores Cup which included Peter, as well as his youngest son Robert.

'We will continue to sail Antix up to mid-season in handicap fleets, as our boat is similar in characteristics to the Swan 42,' said O'Leary of his preparations for the Invitational Cup while also noting that he and his crew had not been on a Swan 42 prior to the 2009 event, or since. 'Closer to September we will focus more on one-design sailing which is really the ultimate challenge as shown in the Invitational Cup.

Apart from our not finishing on the podium, there was not a single disappointing aspect of the 2009 regatta! The entire event was a great experience - strict one-design sailing in a truly international event, superbly organized by a wonderful club.'

With a lengthy and varied sailing resume, Patrick Monteiro de Barros is a legend in sailing circles. Representing Portugal at the Olympic Games, twice in the Finn (1968, '72) and twice in the Star ('84 and '88), de Barros was awarded the Medal for Fair Play by Juan Antonio Samaranch at the 1988 Olympics in Korea after he rescued a drowning woman while on the way to a team dinner. He has twice circumnavigated the globe, dipped his toe in the America's Cup arena and was instrumental in bringing the 2007 ISAF World Sailing Championship to his homeport of Cascais, a coastal town similar in size to Newport, R.I.

To determine who will compete on the Portuguese team de Barros has established a comprehensive sailing program with some 15 days of sailing planned. In addition to chartering a 40' yacht which has features similar to the Swan 42, de Barros has also arranged to practice on a Swan 42 in France before leaving for Newport in late August. 'Our program is essentially aimed at boat handling, tactics and physical condition,' said de Barros, adding that only one of the team has previous experience on a Swan 42.

'We will have a team of 15 candidates, and we rotate some sailors in different positions. Final selection will be made in late July based on performance.'

The NYYC Swan 42 – the eighth one-design class created by NYYC since 1900 – is the competitive vehicle for the NYYC Invitational Cup. The result of a 2005 design contest with a goal of creating a Corinthian class of racer/cruiser, the NYYC Swan 42, unlike previous NYYC one-design classes, was developed to be a global class with fleets run and organized outside NYYC.

Known abroad as the Club Swan 42, today there are 50 of the keelboats globally with active one-design racing in the USA and Europe, as well as participation worldwide in IRC events. For the NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex most competitors are sailing chartered boats, while several are bringing their own. Sails are supplied by NYYC, and rigs tuned and then locked down, making the boats as one-design as possible and putting a premium on the sailors' skills.

'From its inception, it was envisioned that the NYYC Swan 42 would be used to encourage 'friendly competition' between world-class yacht clubs,' said Dr. Paul Zabetakis, president of the NYYC Swan 42 Class.

'In part due to the success of the first NYYC Invitational Cup, the class has indeed experienced a healthy growth beyond the enthusiastic support of NYYC members. That growth led to the ability of NYYC to host an Invitational Cup in 2009 that witnessed two yacht clubs bringing their own Swan 42s. This year about 19 yacht club teams will compete, and of those, five will be sailing their own boats. Clearly, the boat has exceeded the growth expectations and vision as outlined in 2005.'

By country, the current roster of participating teams are:

Yacht Club Argentino (ARG); Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (AUS); Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (BER); Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN); Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (ESP); Nyländska Jaktklubben (FIN); Itchenor Sailing Club and Royal Yacht Squadron (GBR); Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL); Yacht Club Capri , Yacht Club Italiano and Yacht Club Punta Ala (ITA); Japan Sailing Federation (JPN); Clube Naval de Cascais (POR); Royal Cape Yacht Club (RSA); and Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead, Mass.); Annapolis Yacht Club (Annapolis, Md.); Newport Harbor Yacht Club (Newport Beach, Calif.); and New York Yacht Club (Newport, R.I.) from the USA.

From September 10-17, 2011, the biennial event returns to NYYC's Harbour Court where at least 19 yacht club teams – representing 13 nations from six different continents – will race NYYC Swan 42s on Rhode Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. Taking cues from the halcyon days of the America's Cup, competitors must be non-professional (Corinthian) sailors; members of the yacht clubs they represent; and also be nationals of their country.

In addition to Rolex, which for 2011 and 2013 is the presenting sponsor, Sperry Top-Sider and Nautor's Swan have also returned as sponsors to enhance the experience of competitors as well as those who will be following the races.

Olympic Sailing fans here are waking up to the fact that the International Sailing Federation is planning to scrap the Star keelboat from the 2016 Olympic regatta. It is a decision that has been greeted with dismay around the world by Star sailors where the class has a strong following, especially in the United States and a proud Olympic history. The subject was discussed in yesterday's Irish Times Sailing Column. There is comment about the Olympic sailing classes on the Afloat forum. In Ireland although the boat is not sailed here as a class it has been campaigned by Irish crews since the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. This month's winner of the Afloat.ie Sailor of the Month award are Ireland's top Star pairing who were second at a massive Star event in Miami. In a first for Ireland the Star European championships come to Ireland in September.

The sailing season is starting and selecting the Afloat.ie/Irish Independent "Sailors of the Month" for March has been a swift business, with the remarkable performance by Peter O'Leary of Cork and David Burrows of Malahide in the Olympic Star Class's legendary annual Bacardi Cup series in Miami emerging as the clear winner.

Admittedly the Irish duo only managed the runner-up slot in Florida. But in a fleet of 93 boats rampaging around in wildly varying conditions, it was an achievement to be at the top of the frame at all. And they were beaten by only one point, even if it was lost in the final race, which they'd started leading overall by a point.

Because the Stars are under a death sentence in the Olympic scene, with next year's Olympiad their final appearance in the five ring circus, the class has acquired an extra slightly morbid interest. And the boat tuning and tweaking knowledge acquired during their long Olympic career will see the class's measurement and equipment rules pushed to the uttermost for this last hurrah.

In fact, some Star fans have become emotional and compared the showdown to a combination of the OK Corral, the Alamo, and Custer's Last Stand in light of the Star's American origins, while the more internationally and nautically minded have invoked memories of Trafalgar and Lepanto.

And all this for one of the oddest looking and most demanding boats on the planet. The Olympic glow does that to people. This time round, we happily glow ourselves, as the O'Leary-Burrows team (each has figured as Sailor of the Month before, but this is their first time together) and the combinations shows every promise of having what it takes.

Sail Training Ireland, the new body established by Cosite an Asgard and the Irish Sailing Association is looking to appoint a part-time manager to help with the development of a business plan for the new sailing organisation that will be officially launched in Dublin Port in a fortnight.

The appointment is offered on a self-employed basis for an initial period until 31 December 2011 after which this new position in Irish sailing may be reviewed subject to funds available. The deadline for receipt of applications is in three weeks time.

The role is on a part time basis of the equivalent of 1.5 days per week. A degree of flexibility is required.

Remuneration will be at a rate of €200 pw.

The full text of the advert publisherd today reads:

STIYD Manager

Sail Training Ireland is looking to appoint a part-time manager to help with the development of a business plan and the day to day running of the organisations affaires. 

Background

Since the Department of Defence declared they no longer had an interest in sponsoring the continuation of the Asgard Sail Training Programme, and the subsequent decision of the Board of Asgard to wind up the Company, a working group supported by the ISA has been working to establish a National Sail training Association.

Sail Training Ireland for Youth Development Ltd. has been established as a limited company recognised by Sail Training International as the representative body for Sail Training activities in Ireland.

The aims and objectives of the organisation are:

• To promote the development and Education of young Men and Women on the Island of Ireland in and through the Sail Training Experience regardless of Nationality, Culture, Religion, Gender or Social Background
• To promote Sail Training in the Island of Ireland and Worldwide having special regard to the promotion of and  support for Sail training Vessels and their Training programmes
• To promote and encourage knowledge of all subjects associated with the sea and matters Maritime
• To sponsor and support sea-going Trainees
• To co-operate and engage with other Sail Training Associations and Organisations on the Ireland of Ireland and Internationally
• To work with Sail Training International to establish a recurring STI endorsed Tall Ships Maritime Festival every 3/5 Years.

Membership/Affiliation

Membership if STI will be open to:

• Irish Sail Training Operators

Organisations that may already exist and/or may be set up in the future.

• Supporting Organisations

Organisations that do not operate a vessel, and who support the aims and objectives of STI.

• Port Authorities and/or Harbour Companies

That have an interest in the development of sail training in Ireland

• Personal Members

Who would like to support the development of sail training in Ireland.

Business & Development Plan

In order to ensure the sustainability of STI, it is important that a credible plan and feasibility study is developed. This will require professional/contracted resource - funds for which may be raised through the existing goodwill and support for Ireland’s Sail Training Programme.

Key Responsibilities

1.    Administrating the STI Bursary Scheme for 2011

a.    Managing the payment of bursaries

b.    Liaising with bursary recipients

c.     Collating Reports from recipients

2.    Developing a set of Rules for the Association

a.    Membership/affiliation Structures

b.    Procedures at meetings

c.     Election of the board etc

3.    Managing the accounts of the Association

a.    Keep records

b.    Processing of payments/income

4.    Charitable Status

a.    Apply for charitable status

5.    Management of the Website/ liaising with the webmaster

a.    Maintenance and management of content

6.    Board Meetings

a.    Organise meetings (venues dates etc)

b.    Send out agenda

c.     Take minutes

7.    Business & Development Plan

a.    Source/research required information

b.    Draft plan

8.    Membership/Affiliation

a.    Develop membership/affiliation application system

b.    Develop membership benefits

c.     Administrate applications

d.    Maintain database

9.    Funding

a.    Identify sources of funding, revenue generating opportunities

10. PR and Media

a.    Develop media plan for STI to raise the profile

11. Queries

a.    Respond to queries relating to Sail Training in Ireland

Terms and Conditions

The appointment will be offered on a self-employed basis for an initial period until 31 December 2011after which the position may be reviewed subject to funds available.

The role is on a part time basis of the equivalent of 1.5 days per week. A degree of flexibility is required.

Remuneration will be at a rate of €200 pw.

Applications

A letter of application and CV should be sent by email to:

Harry Hermon, [email protected], titled: “STIYD Application”

Closing date for applications is: Friday 22^nd April. It is anticipated interviews will be held on Thursday 5^th May.

Looking for further reading on Tall Ships in Ireland? Click the links below:

Click this link to read all our Tall Ships Stories on one handy page

Previewing Ireland's Tall Ships 2011 Season

Can Ireland Get a New Tall Ship?

There's a real sailing buzz around Tall Ships these days, even though Ireland does not currently have one to sail. There's less than 100 days to the Tall Ships visit to Waterford, last weekend saw a ground breaking Tall Ships Conference, a sailing School has offered a Sloop as a temporary replacement and this morning the Irish Sailing Association has announced 1000 Euro bursaries to get young people involved in Tall Ship sailing.

Last weekend's workshop in Dublin Port was a great success with Tall Ship Chairmen from Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway all in attendance. Now the ISA is going on further with the immediate announcement of the launch of Sail Training Ireland, again in Dublin Port in two weeks time.

Following the sinking of the Asgard II and the decision to wind up Coiste An Asgard, the ISA (Irish Sailing Association) has facilitated a steering group with the establishment of 'Sail Training Ireland', an umbrella organisation developing a national sail training programme in Ireland. Sail Training Ireland, now incorporated as a limited company, is to be launched on Thursday the 14th of April 2011 in Dublin Port offices at 12:30pm. All those with an interest in Sail Training activities are very welcome to attend.

Sail Training International has awarded a bursary to Sail Training Ireland which will provide funding to support the participation of young people in The Tall Ships Races 2011 and 2012. Sheila Tyrrell, Chair of the steering group, who has a long history with sail training and in particular the Asgard remarked "We are delighted that we are in a position to formally launch the association, we are now taking applications for bursaries to allow young people to participate in the Tall Ships Race visiting Waterford later this year, and are also recruiting a manager to help manage the affairs of the association."

The aims and objectives of Sail Training Ireland are to promote the development and education of young men and women through the Sail Training experience regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background as well as to sponsor and support sea-going trainees. Sail Training Ireland will also engage with Sail Training International to establish a recurring Sail Training Ireland endorsed Tall Ships Maritime Festival every three to five years.

There will be a number of bursaries of up to a maximum of €1,000 available, towards the cost of the voyage. Each bursary shall not be more than 50% of the total cost of participation i.e. cost of the berth plus any travel expenses. Applicants should apply in writing using the application form published on www.irishsailtraining.com . Applications must be received by 30 April 2011.

Sail Training Ireland is also seeking to appoint a part-time manager to help with the development of a business plan and the day to day running of the organisations affairs. Further information on the position and a full job description can be found on the STI website www.irishsailtraining.com. Closing date for applications is Friday 22nd April, just three weeks away.

The launch, sponsored by Arklow Shipping, is to be hosted by Dublin Port who are one of a number of ports supportive of the project.

Looking for further reading on Tall Ships in Ireland? Click the links below:

Click this link to read all our Tall Ships Stories on one handy page

Previewing Ireland's Tall Ships 2011 Season

Can Ireland Get a New Tall Ship?

A European Sailing Championship, four national championships, four regional championships and a dozen local regattas/events are the central features of a hectic year afloat being organised by Howth Yacht Club in 2011 which will bring thousands of sailors and their families to the town and contribute significantly to the local economy.

At a launch reception in the club on Thursday 31st March attended by representatives of local commerce, tourism and community bodies, HYC Commodore Roger Cagney announced that in addition to junior and adult sail training courses and club racing four days a week in the summer months, the Club would host over 20 open events during the year.

"We are used to sailing being a year-round activity," he said, "but even by our standards this will be an exceptionally busy year for Howth Yacht Club. We are fortunate in the number of talented volunteers we can call upon to help make these events successful and we have an enviable track record in this regard. We are also extremely grateful for the sponsorship of individual events from commercial concerns, details of which will be released in due course."

The major event on the 2011 calendar is undoubtedly the European Championship of the J24 Class, the world's most popular racing keelboat, when over 200 sailors from six or more countries will compete in the four-day regatta in September.

Howth will also host the Irish Championships of four classes – Puppeteer, Squib, Howth 17 and Optimist – between July 1st and late-August, with the latter attracting up to 200 competitors, together with their families, coaches and supporters. In addition, HYC will run the SB3 Eastern Championships (end April), the RS Feva Leinsters (late May) and the Dublin Match Racing Open (in J80s in early September).

The club's programme also comprises the Spring Warmer series in April, the annual Lambay Races on June 11th, the Dinghy Regatta a week later and the ever-popular Autumn League over five weekends in September/October.