We are three weeks away from the Kish Race, weather permitting, with this summer season close-out scheduled for Sunday, 28th September. Hosted, again, by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, and sponsored by Leinster Boats, the race will have a new feature and, consequently, a new name.
On the basis of a well-placed enquiry, asking if we could "make a plan" for boats who are not insured to race, but are capable of a passage to the Kish and back and are insured to do so, we have considered and acceded to the request and we will now have a two-division event – a race to the Kish and back and a cruise in company to the Kish and back. With this change, we have amended the event name to the Kish Challenge, to accommodate both divisions -those who would like to "sail in company" around the iconic light and back and those who wish to race around the Kish.
The plan is to allow the racing boats to start first, conventionally, with a warning signal at 10:55 on the Sunday morning. Those cruising to the Kish will have a window in which to start from 11:15 to 11:30. This is to afford the racing boats a "blank canvass" for their outward leg and while they may meet the cruisers on their way back, they will have to negotiate their way round them. The time limit for all boats to finish is 17:00, with the intention of having a prize-giving in the DMYC clubhouse after the event.
The race will take place in the vicinity of Dublin Bay, extending east to the vicinity of the Kish light and possibly south into Killiney Bay. Start and finish will be in the vicinity of Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
The course will be to the Kish light and back, weather permitting. The direct course to the Kish is not permitted for this event, as it crosses a Traffic Separation Scheme for Dublin Port. To comply with Dublin Port Company requirements, boats will be required to pass South of an inflatable mark on the way to and from the Kish Light.
If necessary, an alternative destination point may be used, either to provide a shorter course in light winds or to provide an inshore race in strong winds. Full details will be in the Sailing Instructions.
The racing fleet will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), Irish Sailing's prescriptions to same, Class Rules and the Notice of Regatta. The cruising fleet will be subject to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS or COLREGs). Where boats operating under these different sets of rules meet, the IRPCAS (or COLREGs) will apply to both boats. [See RRS Part 2.]
Further details are available on the DMYC website where the Notice of Race and the Entry Form are now posted.
As ever, the race is only possible with the cooperation of Dublin Port Company and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council without whom access to the sailing area and the Kish Light would not be possible. And, we are deeply indebted to our sponsor, Leinster Boats for their ongoing support.
The race will be managed under current handicap rules and ratings for the summer DBSC season. Where necessary, the Organising Authority reserve the right to fix handicap ratings where the need arises.
Naturally, the Challenge is subject to weather conditions, but as with last year when the fleet raced to Shanganagh Buoy and back, there are suitable alternatives if the Kish becomes "out of bounds".
Early entry is encouraged to give the organisers a feel for the numbers.
