Worlds Preview: Racing for the 2011 SB3 World Sailing Championships 2011 begins tomorrow and runs until Friday 20th May hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Torquay, UK. 11 Irish boats are entered. Scroll down for Video. 103 entries represent 14 nations. 2 fleets will compete in 2 days of qualifying races, before splitting into Gold and Silver Fleets for the finals races. 14 races are scheduled for the Championships. The first race will start at 1100 hrs on Monday on the beautiful waters of Torbay.

The sun has shone as measurement, registration and launching of the 103 boat fleet was undertaken. Now that this is all but complete, there is great anticipation as the fleet make their final preparations to their boats for the start of racing on Monday. The line up of Olympians (past and present), National, European and World Champions will compete for the title of Zhik SB3 World Champion and the honour of lifting the stunning Waterford Crystal World Championship Trophy and receiving a full crew compliment of Zhik ISOTAK range on Friday 20th May 2011.

There is one thing that is guaranteed at this event, competition is going to be fierce and as ever in the Laser SB3 fleet, consistency will be essential. Roger Hudson (RSA) and his crew on Musto Race Ahead will be battling to improve their three previous Laser SB3 World Championship 2nd places. Jerry Hill (GBR) will defend his 2010 Laser SB3 World Championships title with original crew member Grant Rollerson and Matt Alvarado, a new "Sad Old Bloke" for 2011.  Joe Llewellyn (GBR) middle man for Jerry Hill last year now campaigns his own boat in the Championship from his home Club, the Royal Torbay YC.

The Australians have launched an assault on the 2011 World Championship and field a team of 4 entries, 2 of which are definite contenders for the Championships title. Glenn Bourke (AUS) returns to the class after a 3 year absence and will undoubtedly return to form in no time at all. Moth World Champion and twice 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge (AUS) will sail with Olympic Medallist Ian Brown and 2010 ISAF Sailor of the Year and 2010 Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby.

Possibly considered the "wildcard entry," Robert Greenhalgh (GBR) will race Joe Wood's Laser SB3 "Red" with Shane Hughes, Jerry Eplett and Kirsty Skinner. All eyes will be on Robert to see if he can transfer his one design fleet racing and offshore experience to the Laser SB3 class. Rodion Luka (RUS) will helm Oleg Zherebtsov's Laser SB3 "Team Russia" and will be looking for an improvement on his 8th place in 2010. Team Russia have been training hard and deserve a good result.

Craig Burlton (GBR), 2009 Laser SB3 World Champion is considered by many "the boat to beat" at any Laser SB3 event. With his regular crew of Stephen "AB" White and Adam Heeley, Gill Race Team are sure to feature in the top results. Fellow Gill boat, helmed by Geoff Carveth, winner of the 2008 World Championships and  2011 Pre World Championships, seem to be in the groove for a good week of competition at the front of the fleet.

Royal Cork SB3 trio Mel Collins, Kieran Dorgan and Killian Collins are among 11 Irish boats entered in this weeks SB3 World championships on the English South coast at Torbay.  Irish crews are also coming from Howth, Dublin Bay and Belfast Lough.

Representatives from fourteen nations will compete in the World Championships. The host nation field an entry of over seventy boats. Entries come from as far afield as Australia and South Africa. Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and Russia will all be represented in Torquay for tomorrow's first race.

The relatively new keelboat class is still atttracting big numbers since the inaugural worlds event held in Ireland in 2008. The first race is tomorrow.

A full entry list is below.

Bow No	Country	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Crew	Crew
1		GBR3084	Eau No!	Mark Sotkes	Craig Watson	James Eastbury
2		FRA3609	Marcon Yachting	Louis Marcon	Regis Berenquier	Laurent Bernaz
3		GBR3074	Tonic	Douglas Paton	Rory McWhirr	Roddy Anderson
4		GBR3123	Mini Mayhem	Paul Craft	Allan Ambury	Gary Phare
5		GBR3464	Eric	Martin Wedge	Scott Allen	Alex Ried
6		GBR3088	Healthy1.co.uk	Ray Davies	Dick Stephens	Ray Newman
8		GBR3336	Uber 3	Adrian Peach	NiallMyant	Ali Sutherland	Morgan Peach
9		GBR3081	Prostate Cancer Charity	Ross Lang	Dan Challis	Mathew Thomas
11		GBR3366	Hooligan	Guy Broom	Jim Suggitt	Hugh Ray-McCann
12		GBR3319	Devils Advocate	Tony Jaffa
13		GER3600	Isabella III	Reinhard Schroeder	Sven Gauter	Benedict Spiegel
14		GBR3516	TeamB4Ego.com	Geoff Gritton	Nev Herb	Carl Outhwaite
15		GBR3058	Xcellent	John Pollard	Rob Smith	Charlie Hook
16		GBR3149	Poor Buoy	Mark Gillett	Graham Camm	Ade Layton	Fran Gifford
17		NED3441	Rivium	Paul Gast	Wouter v/d Ende	Arno Boot
19		GBR3489	Red	Robert Greenhalgh	Shane Hughes	Jerry Eplett	Kirsty Skinner
20		GBR3094	Xceptable	Ian Lievesley	James Lievesley	Andy Rowland
21		GER3402		Tobias Spaenle	Bernd Flock	Marion Rowmel
22		IRL3324	Sibelus	Mel Collins	Kieran Dorgan	Killian Collins
23		GBR3048	Control-Alt-Delete	Ann Ashworth	Finn Houlihan	Hugo Fitzjohn
24		GBR3335	Royal Signals	Stu Southan	Julian Bunce	Jane Turner	Cody Briggs
26		GBR3465	3 Sad Old Blokes	Jerry Hill	Grant Rollerson	Matt Alverado
27		GBR3379	Joyride	Nick Andrews	Michael Jones	Mike Wells
28		AUS3224	Jester 3	Dave Bull	John Crawford	Zorana Bull
29		NED3511		Marco van Driel	Martyn Worseling	Joost Assman
30		GBR3183	Respect	John Danby	Nick Jones	Andrew Baird
31		IRL3307	Bad/Kilcullen	Jerry Dowling
32		AUS3063	One Design Sailing	Nathan Outteridge	Ian Brown	Tom Slingsby
33		IRL3484	Seriously Bonkers x 3	Martin Cuppage	Peter Lee	Michael Galvin
34		IRL3033	Bluebird	Cathy MacAleavey		Con Murphy
35		BEL3472	Los Zaparteros	Alex Schoenmakers	Cedric de Bleye	Jan Decorte
36		NZL3287	Sailing West - Sharkbait	Ben Duncan	Brian Moran	Rick Morris
37		GBR3106		Tom Clay	Richard Clay	Matt Reid
39		ITA3073	Stenghele	Roberto Caresani	Pietro Negri	Enrico Fonda
40		IRL3062		Joanna Ireland	Lucy Collender
41		UKR3522	Stemcor	Valentin Klymentyev	Valentin Veytsman	Ben Sternberg
42		IRL3315	Sirius Black	Ken Hudson	Anna Leech	William Leech
43		GBR3309	Narwhal	David Bates	James George	Simon
44		GBR3029	3-SOME	Niall Peelo
45		GBR3368	Kapow	Nick Barnett	Gus Murdock	Lance Mysyrowicz
46		GBR3540	Water Music viii	Jonny Foot	Anna Woods	James Foot
47		GBR3362	Polar Bear	Tim Newton	Mary Rook	Nick
48		POR3103	Viero	Piedade Colaco	Diana Caldeira	Luisa Figueiredo	Caterina Bociro
49		RSA3469	Musto Race Ahead	Asenaithi Jim	Roger Hudson	Marlon Jones	Wamdisile Xayimpi
51		GBR3021	Here Comes Bod	Charlie Whelan	Richard McAdam	Richard Hall
52		GBR3510	Hutton's	Richard Wharram	Ben Williamson	Nick Wright
53		ITA3437	Lupi D'irlanda	Marco Sorgassi	Lisa Neary	Matteo Germano	Jacob Barnett
54		GBR3042	Gill Racing Team	Craig Burton	Adam Heeley	Stephen White
55		GBR3305	Rigging Gurus	Mark Richards	David Ellis	Mini Allison	Claire Booth
56		GBR3575	Sailboat Deliveries	Sarah Allan	Lizzie Vickers	George Kingsnorth	Ellie Draper
57		GBR3475	Perky III	Jez Entwistle	Ali Hall	Mark Greaves
58		GBR3462	Underground Toys	Andrew Oddie	Gareth Edwards	Mike Hicks
59		IRL3338	Milvus Milvus	Robert Howe	Jason Losty	Joanne Sheehy
60		GBR3468	Fully Badgered	Paul Lovejoy	Micky Schwartz	Leighton King
61		GBR3014	Sponge Bob	Steve McLean	Matt Waite	Tristan Hutt
63		GBR3027	Zyke Darling Associates	Chris Darling	Alastair Shaw	Sian McCleave	Margarida Paixao
64		IRL3298	Toucan 3	Ross Vaughan	Laurynas Rimsas	Andrew Vaughan
65		GBR3065	Rola-Trac	Peter Saxton	Mark Longstaff	Dave Lucas
66		GBR3069	Not just a number	Paul Hine	Thomas Campbell	Ash Holmes	Max Griggs
67		GBR3041	Robina	Dan Goodman	Patch Fillery	Martin Vinson	Jo Lloyd
68		GBR3082	Henri Lloyd/Forelle Estates	Joe Llewellyn	Nigel Wakefield	Jerry Vigus
69		GBR3566	Herbie	Phil Tilley	Steve Venables	Richard Brown
70		AUS3108	Club Marine	Glenn Bourke	Rod Jones	Greg McAllansmith
71		GBR3545	Savage Sailing Team	Chris Savage	Richard Hughes	Adam Wheeler
72		GBR3096	Red Kite	Roger Harford	Tim Bigg	Declan Clamp
73		GBR3060	Finitor 7	Stewart Reed	John Mandsley	Mathew Gray
74		GBR3104	Retail Therapy	Charles Sheppard	Andrew Roberts	Jack Norton
75		GBR3517	Doolalli	Colin Simonds	Raymond Simonds	Gavin Simonds
76		FRA3423	Morpheus	Edward Russo	Jann Chateau	Antoine Royer
77		GBR3267	Neilson Heart of Gold	Tom Hayhoe	Ben Rogers	Graham Iles
78		UKR3443	Transbunker	Polovy Valeriy	Stasyuk Volodymyr	Bosomolkin Volodymyr
79		GBR3215	Sail Navy	Darren Roach	Les Hardy	Dan Ellis
80		GBR3198	Time on the water.co.uk	Hugh Styles	Mischa Mieemskerk	Corrie Howe	Samantha Evans
82		NED3470	Cube	Martijn Buitenhuis	Chris Muilwijk	Edward Van Der Poll
84		GBR3134	Marilyn	Dom Ford	Tom Mallindine	Jeremy Fowke
85		GBR3473	Sceptre	Nathan Bailey	Tony Procter	Tony Rayer
86		GER3561	Razzmatazz	Sebstian Dohrendorf	Jon Griffiths	Frieda van Belle	Alexander Tinoco
87		GBR3531	Carnage	Nick Over	Rob Partridge	Peter Kent
88		GBR3077	Skallywag	Rob Day	Nina Day	Ian Insley
89		GBR3276	Trouble & Strife	Ian Armstrong	Mark Sherwood	Martin Wadsworth
90		IRL3297	Sunday Brunch	Richard Tate	Pat O'Brien	Eoin O'Fearghair
91		IRL3312	BomchickaWahwah	John O'Driscoll	Owen Laverty	Joe O'Reilly
92		GBR3032	Rumbleflurg	David Cummins	Guy Jackson	Chris Cousins
93		GBR3292	Chill Pill	Tich Summers	Scott Graham	Nick Elder
94		POR3203	Roff	Antonio Mello		Manuel Arriaga	Joao Mello
95		GBR3047		Rob Gullan	Pieter Heyn	Sarah Hickman	Ben Ainsworth
96		ITA3598	Alghero Giorico Hotels	Alessandro Balzani	Umberto Ferrarese	Guiseppe Sotgiu	Alessandro Nughes
98		GBR3546	Orthteam	Richard Catchpole	Adam Hoad-Reddick	Alan Woosey
99		ITA 3596	Briefing	Luca Bacci	Duccio Cowmbi	Cristian Ferro
100		GBR3056	Woohoo	Tom Davidson	Andrew Aldwinckle	Richard Hill
101		ITA3543	Bravi Thytronic	Giovanni Meloni	Jacopo Pasini	Vincenzo Graciotti
102		GBR3126	Geronimo	Simon Hume	Ian Sullivan	Billy Ayres
104		AUS3607	Wysiwyg VI	Stephen Fries	Jessica Fries	Ali Blundell	Bryce Penfold
105		GRE3251	Slippery When Wet	Ruairi Bradley	Vicky Bradley	Andy Monohan
106		RUS373	Alissa	Vladislav Ivanovski	Natalia Sukhareva	Mikhail Erokhovets	Frank Dobbels
107		GBR3519	May contain nuts	John Greenaway	Richard Taylor
108		GBR3515	The Young Pretender	Callum Calder	Callum Reid	Sam Dryden
109		RUS3554	Team Russia	Rodion Luka	Maria Rudskaia	Oleg Zherebtsov	Eugeni Didyk
111		GBR3053	Race Team Gill	Geoff Carveth	Andy Ramus	Emma Clarke	Ian Mills
112		IRL3226	Quantitative Easing	Paul McMahon	D Corr	I McSweeney
114		ITA3606	Lunatico XS	Aurelio Bini	Nicola Neri	Nicola Campus	Silvia Ciicalo
115		FRA3078	Tad Minus
116		GBR3079	Excuse Me Gents	Ann Jackson	Niki Birrell	Ally Martin	Sam Brearey
117		GBR3212	Echo3
119		GBR3038	TeamB4Ego,com2	Will Brooks	Grant Doe	Olly Poole

The SB3s have given a thumbs up to the introdution of the new Thursday night Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) courses and who wouldn't with such a thrilling downwind leg last week? 'So many marks, loads of decisions and loads of mistakes.What fun' is the verdict of Dublin Bay class captain Justin Burke.

The class has regular turnouts of between 9 and 12 boats for the regular one hour evening race. Last Thursday featured a race with gusts up to 25 knots.

It is probably why Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has had such an enthusiastic reception from the sportsboat class. 28 SB3s are entered already and the view is there could be as many as 40, a number big enough for the class to host a pre-regatta reception on July 7th.

So far there has not been the same take up for next weekend's Royal Alfred YC Baily Bowl but Burke remains hopeful the class will enbrace the long standing fixture. The enthusiastic captain is also putting Howth Yacht Club's Lambay Race on 11th. June out as another option.

Although the next big Irish fixture is the southern championships at Tralee Bay Sailing Club in Fenit, Co. Kerry on June 4th and 5th there will be interest in the Irish team results at this weeks's World championships in Torbay in the UK. There are 11 Irish entries in this week's 119-boat championship fleet.

Jay Bourke's Etchell, Northside Dragon was the winner of tonight's Howth Yacht Club scratch race for the keelboat class. Second was Fetching, Quinn/O'Flaherty and third Simon Knowles' Jabberwocky. In the SB3s Gareth May's Investwise was first, Shane Murphy's Dinghy Supplies sceond and third was Shockwave (E.Quinlan).

HOWTH YACHT CLUB.  TUE + SAT  SERIES 1  10/05/2011   17 Footer  SCRATCH:  1, Deilginis Deilginis Group;  2, Leila R Cooper;  3, Isobel B & C Turvey  TUESDAY SERIES 1   Puppeteer  SCRATCH:  1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne;  2, Mojo Stanley/Callen;  3, Enigma D Butler;  Puppeteer  HPH: 1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne;  2, Flycatcher D Wright;  3, Enigma D Butler; Squib  SCRATCH:  1, Shadowfax P Merry;  2, Puffin E Harte;  3, Wasabi C & N Penlerick;  Squib  HPH:  1, Pegasus Smyth+Friends;  2, Shadowfax P Merry;  3, Puffin E Harte;  Etchells  SCRATCH:  1, Northside Dragon J Bourke;  2, Fetching Quinn/O"Flaherty;  3, Jabberwocky S Knowles;  SB3  SCRATCH:  1, Investwise G May;  2, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy;  3, Shockwave E Quinlan

Four points separate the top four boats going into today's second day of sailing in the SB3 Eastern Championship at Howth Yacht Club. Yesterday's opening races were sailed in fresh (but later moderating) north-easterlies, big swells and lumpy seas which contributed to several retirals during the three-race schedule writes Graham Smith.

The conditions didn't seem to bother the 30-strong fleet in Race 1 with all bar one boat crossing the finishing line, the honours going to Andrew Algeo's 'Flutter' from the Royal St.George YC. Another visitor, 'Sibelius' (K.Dorgan) from Carrickfergus took second ahead of another northerner, former Olympian Peter Kennedy of RNIYC in 'Ridgefence.com'. Local interest was maintained by 'Sharkbait' (Duncan/Moran/Morris) by finishing 4th, a promising start for what would become an even better day.

Heavy going at the SB3 Easterns. More photos on the gallery here. Photo: Brian Carlin

Race 2 saw HYC's 'Sharkbait' take line honours ahead of Sean Craig's 'Yeti' (RSt.GYC) while 'Sibelius' came home third to keep the pressure on the leader. 'No Name' (Darren Martin of Strangford Lough) took 4th and Andrew Algeo's 5th kept him in touch after two races. Kennedy in 'Ridgefence.com', however, was one of six boats forced to retire but unlike four boats which could not continue racing, he was able to return to the action for the third race.

In fact, he bounced back rather well with a 5th in that last race so he is not out of contention yet. Sean Craig's 'Yeti' went one better than in Race 2 with a bullet, this time changing places with Howth's leading contender 'Sharkbait'. 'Sibelius' and 'Flutter' continued to demonstrate admirable consistency, finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

It doesn't get much closer at the top of the leaderboard after PRO Harry Gallagher and his team got the three races completed and as the Championship reaches its half-way stage, HYC's 'Sharkbait' (Duncan/Moran/Morris) has the narrowest of margins over 'Sibelius' (K.Dorgan), with 'Flutter' (A.Algeo) two points adrift and 'Yeti' (S.Craig) another point behind, the reward for consistency so far.

Placings after 3 races at Howth Yacht Club

SB3	Easterns
Plc.	Boat	Owner	Club	Gross	Disc	Nett
1	Sharkbait	Duncan/Moran	HYC	7.00
2	Sibeluis	K Dorgan	CSC	8.00
3	Flutter	A Algeo	RStGYC	10.00
4	Yeti	S Craig	RStGYC	11.00
5	Pattersonlifts	G Patterson	RNIYC	28.00
6	Seriously Bonkers	Cuppage/Lee	RStGYC	29.00
7	Bad	G Dowling	RIYC	31.00
8	Bluebird	C MacAleavey	NYC	31.00
9	No Name	D Martin	SLYC	32.00
10	Shockwave	E Quinlan	HYC	32.00
11	Toucan 3	A Vaughan	RNIYC	33.00
12	Dinghy Supplies	S Murphy	HYC	36.00
13	Ridgefence.com	P Kennedy	RNIYC	39.00
14	Investwise	May/Quinn	HYC	41.00
15	Sin A Bhuifl	Guinness/Costigan	HYC	43.00
16	Lupi D'Irlanda	M Sorgassi	RStGYC	47.00
17	Monkey	Cassidy/Others	HYC	53.00
18	Mr Bump	D Taylor	CSC	60.00
19	Ruby Blue	A O'Connell	RStGYC	61.00
20	Quantitative Easing	P McMahon	HYC	62.00
21	Kick'er Off	Cook/Dicker	RStGYC	62.00
22	No Name	D MacCauley	CSC	66.00
23	Sunday Brunch	R Tate	RStGYC	67.00
24	Smoke on the Water	B Hobby	GISC	70.00
25	Bomchickawahwah	J O'Dricsoll	RStGYC	72.00
26	Seriously Blonde	J Toettcher	RStGYC	72.00
27	Mahanama	R Downing	KYC	75.00
28	Sirius Black	Hudson/Leech	ASC/LRYC	77.00
29	Rubadubdub	N Doherty	NYC	90.00
30	Sandy Bottom	G Judge	RStGYC	93.00

Typically the start of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) is a traditional season highlight on the capital's waters but there's so much sailing slated for Dublin Bay the weekend it's hard to know where to start.

There could be anything up to 500-boats afloat for events right across the bay and out in to the Irish Sea.

Joining the 390 boat DBSC fleet for its 128th season is a gathering of over 300 dinghies in Dun Laoghaire for the Mitsubishi Youth National Championships at the Royal St. George and National Yacht Clubs. It's an important event because it is a dry run for next year's ISAF Youth Worlds on Dublin Bay.

The National Yacht Club is also host for the first race of the 2011 ISORA offshore season. Up to 17 starters from a possible ISORA entry list of 40 are confirmed for the first race to Holyhead. First gun for ISORA is at 0755. An Early one!

Across the bay in Howth there is a competitive fleet assembled for the SB3 Eastern Championships. A notable feature of the event is the inclusion of Olympic campaigner Annalise Murphy.

Ashore, Réalt na Mara Dun Laoghaire RNLI's new D-class lifeboat is to be officially named during a ceremony on the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire this Saturday at 12 noon. The lifeboat is to be named by Mr and Mrs Pat and Kathy Kenny. RTE presenter Pat Kenny and his wife Kathy have been long-standing supporters of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats.

Mid week forecasts show good sailing winds for the weekend. Met Eireann is forecasting Southeast to east force 2 to 4 breezes, light enough for a gentle start to the season but there's still a chance of stronger for Saturday afternoon. Listen to Eddie English's weather prediction from Cork Harbour.

 

Although the sailing numbers entered to date are smaller than usual for the SB3 fleet, what it lacks in quantity it will more than up for in quality when racing starts off Howth next Saturday (April 30th).

Unless last year's champion Gareth Flanigan and his crew can beg, steal or borrow a boat, they won't be able to defend their title and a new winner will be crowned on May 1st. The recent Spring Warmer Series saw some boats post inconsistent results while two teams in particular stepped up from last year to place themselves in the running.

Eoin Quinlan's decision to team up with Mike Evans and Peter Frane with 'Shockwave' looked like a smart one, with consistent results putting them on top of that series, and giving them the confidence to make the top 3 or 4 places at the Easterns.

John O'Driscoll of the Royal St.George is another skipper in flying form and will be hopeful of a good overall result next weekend. HYC's own 'Sharkbait' (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran/Rick Morris) can never be under-estimated and will be tipped to be among the prime contenders.

A feature of the event is the entry of several women helms, the most notable being Olympic hopeful Annalise Murphy of the National YC with her mother (and former Olympian) Cathy MacAleavey crewing.

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.

Ten Irish boats are among 120 entered so far in the 2011 SB3 World Championships in Torbay that will be the largest keelboat world championship in the UK this season.

But top ranked Irish performer Ben Duncan, who races from Howth Yacht Club is entered under his native New Zealand flag.

Seriously Bonkers (Martin Cuppage), Bad Kilcullen (Jerry Dowling) and Cathy MacAleavey's Bluebird are among Dun Laoghaire boats to enter so far. The full entry list is here.

The event will be hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, UK from 16 – 20 May 2011.

Representatives from fourteen nations will compete in the World Championships. The host nation field an entry of over seventy boats. Entries come from as far afield as Australia and South Africa. Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and Russia will all be represented in Torquay in May.

The three Laser SB3 World Champions, Geoff Carveth (2008 Champion, Dun Laoghaire), Craig Burlton (2009 Champion, Cascais) and Jerry Hill (2010 Champion, Torbole) will all compete for the 2011 Championship title.

Carveth, Burlton and Hill are all British and so far the Laser SB3 World Championship has not been won by another nation. Will 2011 see the trophy slip from the Brits grip?

Australian sailing man of the moment, Nathan Outteridge, will compete with Laser SB3 Class President, Dave Cheyne in Torquay in May. Outteridge is twice 49er World Champion, current Moth World Champion and recent winner of the Audi King of Docklands and Audi Victoria Week in the Laser SB3. Fellow Australian Glenn Bourke returns to the class for the Championship.

South Africa’s Roger Hudson will compete in his fourth Laser SB3 World Championship and will no doubt be determined to better his current hatric of second places. Hudson has sailed each of the previous World Championships with a different helm; 2008 David Hudson (father), 2009 Taariq Jacobs and 2010 Iain Ainslie. It is yet to be announced which members of the Race Ahead Foundation will sail with Hudson in 2011. 

In preparation for the World Championships, the Royal Torbay Yacht Club will host the Torbay Open, 30 April – 2 May and the Pre World Championship 12 – 13 May. These two events will provide a great opportunity for a number of keen teams from across Europe to travel to the UK and sail on the waters of Tor Bay prior to the World Championships.

“We’re really looking forward to hosting the event at the Club, I sail in the fleet so it’s great to be involved in delivering this event. We’re delighted with the size and quality of the entry list and look forward to extending the entry if necessary,” explained Event Organiser Adrian Peach.

The Laser SB3 Class is proud to be one of the most tightly restricted one design keelboat classes in the world with little variation from the builder’s final product permitted. With minimal maintenance, easy to trail and low campaign costs, the class thrives on its philosophy of providing inclusive, high intensity, great fun and easily attainable, quality racing for its members.

Further news and developments can be followed HERE.

Dissatisfaction is growing among SB3 sailors regarding the cost of parking and membership at Dun Laoghaire's top yacht clubs.

In correspondence seen by Afloat.ie, one leading sailor said that clubs "need to carefully consider their pricing policies or otherwise we are going to experience a more widespread abandonment of club sailing of SB3s".

Parking and racing fees that can top more than €2,000 per year are no longer "value for money", it is claimed, and have been blamed for membership drains as well as an increase in boat sales.

Yacht club parking fees cover the mooring and security of boats on the club's property.

Unequal treatment of boat classes has also been highlighed as an issue. One sailor said: "It strikes me as being ludicrous that we pay three times what a Flying Fifteen pays to take up not much more space."

Membership fees at Irish yacht clubs were the topic of much debate on the Afloat.ie forums last year and morte on this story HERE.

Click HERE to register and have your own say.

A leading bay sailor makes the following comment. "This is a very slanted article ignoring the fact that the SB3' s in the Royal Irish for example are dry-sailed so their costs includes craneage in and out for all their racing days. Also their fees for DBSC includes dedicated SB3 racing on Sundays. If the SB3s want to moan, let them put out the whole picture and not be selective. We consider it good value, not a rip-off. The clubs have to survive and are not out to reef sailors".