Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Irish 420 Class Association

23rd September 2009

Irish 420 Class Association

Bucking the trend of classes remaining static or with just a few additions, the 420s have seen a remarkable spurt of an extra 20 boats to bring the national fleet up to the half-century mark. Many other classes will watch this success enviously, wondering how they can match it.

Fleets at regional championships averaged around 18 while double that competed at the Irish Championships on Galway Bay. The 420 year was looking like a Stephen Tiernan benefit as the young Corkman and his crew, Rob Lehane, dominated proceedings throughout the season, winning all three regional championships at Rush, Dromineer and Kinsale.

That flawless record, however, was spoiled at the Nationals when Howth’s Tim O’Laoire and crew Brian Kelleher topped the 36-strong fleet to take the honours in a season in which they had competed well at British, European and World levels.

National Champions (as at March 2009): Tim O’Laoire and Brian Kelleher, Howth YC

Irish 420 Class Association

There is a space for Irish boating clubs and racing classes to use as their own bulletin board and forum for announcements and discussion. If you want to see a dedicated forum slot for your club or class, click here

 

Published in Classes & Assoc

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.