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Light winds replaced heavy for day two of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and although it has been a regatta of extremes so far it is also one that has completed the full schedule for all 25 classes.

Ireland's largest sailing event approaches the half way stage tomorrow and a number of key champions are emerging in cruiser, one design and dinghy classes.

Howth Yacht Club's Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly) leads Cruisers Zero from two Scottish visitors. Another local boat, the royal St. George's Sigma 38 Erislannan leads Class one, again from Scottish visitors.

Sligo Yacht Club's Conor Ronan has a two point lead in Class two but in the strongest regatta performance of the regatta to date the 2009 class three winner Hard on Port is in control again.

Flor O'Driscoll's J24 Hard on Port has three wins in his 38 boat fleet, the biggest fleet of the regatta.

supernova

Supernova,  (above) with three seconds, is challenging Hard on Port (below) with three first places in Cruisers III, the biggest fleet of the event

hardonport1

The one designs are lead, by fleet size at least, by the SB3s with 33 racing. The Howth trio of Ben Duncan, Brian Moran and Ric Morris are ahead but only by a point, their margin reduced by an OCS in race four.

The J109 class are also racing for national honours and after three races the early leader Pat Kelly's Storm has lost out to Joker (John Maybury) and Dermot Baker's Jalapeno in second.

The Dragon class only started racing the regatta today have now completed three races. Sir Ossis of the River sailed by Denis Bergin leads from Peter Bowring's Phantom.

Selected overall VDLR results (provisional) below:

IRC CLASS 0 (after three races) - 1. Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly), 2 Grand Cru II (Jamie McGarry) 3. Elf Too (Christina Murray)

IRC CLASS 1 (after three races) – Errislannan (Paul Kirwan), 2 Carmen II (Paul Scuff/Alan Jeffrey), 3. Animal (Debbie Aitken)

IRC CLASS 2 (after three races) - 1. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 2. Impetuous (Fergal Noonan/Robert Chambers) 3. King One (David Cullen)

IRC CLASS 3 (after three races) - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Supernova (Syd MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon), 3. Pinocchio (Noel Davidson)

J109 (after three races) - 1. Joker 2(John Maybury), 2. Jalapeno (Baker et Al), 3. Storm (Pat Kelly)

BENETEAU 31.7 (after three races) – 1. Twister(Fletcher/Byers/Fair),2. Flying Machine (Conor&Donal O'Gallagher),3.30 Something(Kavanagh/Jones/Gaffney/Lubliner)

SIGMA 33 (after three races) - 1.White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Enchantress (Bonner/Nicholl/Larkin)

RUFFIAN 23 (after three races)- 1. Ruff Nuff (Derek&Carol Mitchell), 2. Ruff n'Ready (Cullen/Brown/Kirwan) 3. Paramour (Power/Sastre/Russell)

SHIPMAN (after three races)- 1.Curraglass (John Masterson), 2. Lulu (Bob & Tom Galvin), 3. Whiterock (Henry M Robinson)
GLEN (after three races)- 1.Glenmarissa(Frank Elmes/Wilf Higgins) 2. Glenluce (Donal&Richard O'Connor), 3. Pterodactyl (Roderick & David McCaffrey)

FLYING 15 (after four races)- 1. Hy5ive(David Gorman), 2. Gruffalo (Keith Poole) 3. Final Fling (Norman Hamilton/William Rutherford)

DRAGON (after three races)- 1.Sir Ossis of the River (Burgin/Murphy/Burke), 2. Phantom (Peter Bowring/David Williams), 3. Susele(Michael Halpenny)

MERMAID (after four races) - 1. Endeavour (Roger Bannon), 2. Thumbalina (Patrick Boardman), 3. MiDi (Enda Weldon)
SQUIB (after four races) - 1. Toy for the Boys (Peter Wallace), 2. Lola (Frank Whelan), 2. Anemos (Peter & Anne Evan)

Published in Volvo Regatta

With a week to go to the biggest regatta of the season, organisers of Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta are still accepting entries in all 25 classes. There is now a likely total VDLR fleet size of 400 boats. The biggest cruiser classes are IRC 2 and IRC 3 so it is a reasonable assumption that some of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's own top performers such as Ken Lawless's Supernova or past winner O'Driscoll's J24 Hard on Port may well emerge as Volvo trophy winners. All the latest on VDLR next week here!

Published in Volvo Regatta

A double win for the Cruiser II Smile in IRC and ECHO handicap in tonight's Dublin Bay Sailing Club race will be seen as a welcome boost just two weeks before the biggest regatta of the season writes our Dublin Bay Correspondent. 

It is not the first win this season either for Barry O'Sullivan's Corby 25. The National Yacht Club entry enjoyed another fine ECHO performance in one of DBSC's biggest fleets on May 28th too. Tonight Smile beat Jim McCann's well sailed Mustang 30 Peridot for the IRC honours.

Smile is one of 25 boats in the cruisers II fleet preparing for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the country's biggest regatta that has secured 400 entries for its fourth staging from July 7th.

The rest of the DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 23 JUNE 2011 are below:

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 3. Levana (Jean Mitton)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Lady Rowena (David Bolger), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Taiscealai (Brian Richardson et al), 2. Lady Rowena (David Bolger), 3. Small Wonder (Hugh Kelly)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. Frequent Flyer (D Mulvin), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)

SB3s - 1. Flutter (Andrew Algeo), 2. Bom Chickawahwah (John O'Driscoll), 3. Defiant (R.Hudson/J.Hooper)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 3. Whiterock (Henry Robinson)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Enchantress (Michael Larkin et al), 3. Moonshine (R.Moloney/D.O'Flynn)

SQUIB - 1. Absolutely Fabulous (N Kennedy/P Reilly), 2. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 3. Glassilaun (D O'Neill)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Edenpark (Liam Farmer), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

Published in DBSC
Tagged under

Locals were to the fore at the ICRA Nationals when Antix, Allure, Tiger and Xtension were all winners in Cork Harbour this weekend. It was the same on the on the East coast – but only just  – when David Gorman and Chris Doorly lifted the Flying fifteen title at their own club. And locals too are in the top ten of the Fireball Worlds in Sligo. Click th links for our photo reviews.

Dublin Bay was the venue for the Royal Alfred's Bloomsday regatta and Colin Byrne's impressive X34 was top of IRC one. On Belfast lough, Dublin visitor Tim Goodbody won the Sigma 33 title (again), nice T-shirt Tim! The Royal St. George tried out the J80s at the club's first ever Family regatta before handing them over for Ireland's first inter county champs.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta approaches, nearly 400 are entered. Are you on the entry list HERE?

We're in the Ocean Race and we're on board with China's Team Sanya. Old friends are best!

And in Olympic Sailing Water Rat says we deserve two medals from Weymouth. Do we? Your views matter. Let us know!

Stand by for our newsletter later this morning!

Published in Racing
Tagged under

Forty entries are already in for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, a fixture widely expected to be the biggest in Ireland this season when it sets sail on Dublin Bay in July.

Organisers are expecting up to 500 boats to keep it on a par with the 2009 event. The early entries, 11 weeks ahead of the entry deadline, is being taken as a thumbs up by competitors for the fun and vlaue theme of this year's VDLR.

So far 22 different clubs have entered from six countries. The bulk of the fleet is Irish but there are early entries from France, Isle of Man, UK, Wales and Northern Ireland. Another good turnout is exepcted from Liverpool and Holyhead for boats competing in the IRC Lyver Cup Race across the Irish Sea. Ten boats from the Clyde will also compete on the Bay.

Cork's Conor Phelan the skipper of Jump Juice is one of the first Royal Cork boats confirmed.

Two handed IRC racing makes its debut in July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers have also confirmed. Click HERE.

On the dinghy front, the Fireball class has confirmed it will be running an'Open Championship' within the regatta, an event that follows the class world championships in Sligo in June.

Published in Volvo Regatta

July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta has taken in 22 entries six months ahead of the first race. It's an encouraging figure that's on a par with the 2009 VDLR, the biggest regatta in Irish sailing that year.

The positive early response is an indication, says organiser Adam Winkelmann, that the 2011 fleet, should be a bumper one too when it sets sail on July 7th for the four day event.

The emphasis is again on providing quality racing over different courses each day but organisers are also aiming to live up up to the regatta's pre-event billing as a 'Mega Party'.

The event has opened a new website, a new Facebook page (with afloat.ie, so if you're a Facebook user please show your support and 'like it'). The regatta site is also featuring the youtube clip below of events on the bay two years ago.


So far entries received are spread across nine separate classes but it's a visiting Wayfarer fleet with eight boats named already that is setting the pace. The organisers are expecting up to 50 of the two man classic design for the class National Championships that's being staged as part of the regatta.

The notice of race (NOR) was published online in October and highlighted a reduced entry fee for 'earlybird entries'. Click HERE. or scroll down to download it as a PDF. If you participated in 2009 and entered online, this year you only need to enter your email address.

Three boats are entered in the non spinnaker class and another three in the Squib keelboat. Two entries have been received in both IRC 2 and 3.  

It's still too early for a table of bands to be decided but the organisers intend to give some indication of handicap break-ups as the entries build. The IRC bands will be in line with those laid down by the Irish Cruiser Racing Association.

Despite the fact the regatta's strength since 2007 is that it draws on the capital's own fleet of 400 boats it is in fact visitors from elsewhere on the east coast that are first in. East Down Yacht Club, for example, has four entries.

But locals are signing up too. Single entries have been received in the Mermaid, Beneteau 31.7, Dragon and IRC Zero classes.

Course areas are likely to stay the same according to principal Race officer con Muphy of the National YC. Th race team is Alan Crosbie - KYC, Peter Crowley - RCYC,
David Lovegrove - HYC, Harry Gallagher - HYC, Henry Leonard - RIYC, Jack Roy - RIYC and Con Murphy  - NYC. Mike Butterfield will head up the jury.

The organisers are on the look out for volunteers to assist in the run up to and during the country's biggest sailing event. In 2009 over 300 helped to make it the biggest participant sport event in the country after the city marathon, with over 3,500 sailors afloat. More details from Ciara in the event office HERE.

Published in Volvo Regatta

 Click here for VDLR News updates

All aboard for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta!

Ireland’s largest regatta to attract thousands of sailors and spectators


Dublin, 9th July 2009- A vast armada of 450 boats from France, Spain, and the British Isles and sailing clubs all over Ireland will converge on Dun Laoghaire today for the start of Ireland’s largest regatta, the four-day 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR).

Besides having an exciting race schedule, the VDLR also includes a weekend of free, fun activities which will appeal to the whole family. A programme of all the waterfront events is available on www.dlregatta.org.

The action packed schedule of activities begins today and will continue throughout the weekend with carousels and fun fairs, street entertainment, comedic circus acts, children’s theatre, farmer’s markets, vintage car rallies, art exhibitions, live bands, and much more.  The festivities will conclude with the official homecoming of Green Dragon, Ireland’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. The VDLR and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will host the homecoming festivities on the East Pier bandstand from lunchtime on Sunday, 12th July 2009. Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Dublin’s favourite seaside town over the weekend to take part in the excitement.

The VDLR is the latest sailing event to ‘rock’ Ireland this summer. The marine leisure industry is worth an estimated €700 million each year, and €430 million of this comes from marine leisure tourism. The VDLR is expected to raise this figure further, giving rise to Ireland’s reputation abroad as a top-class sailing destination while delivering a tourism benefit and providing a great boost for local businesses.

Volvo Ireland Managing Director, David Baddeley, said “Volvo is delighted to be following the success of the Ocean Race with another key sailing event. The Ocean Race provided a great opportunity for people to watch sailing at its best. Now, the VDLR is giving people a chance not only just to watch but to get involved and enjoy every minute of the fun.” 

Following the outstanding success of the Galway stopover for the Volvo Ocean Race, Phil Smith, Chairman of the VDLR Organising Committee, said, “This is more than a sailing event, it is guaranteed fun and enjoyment for the many thousands that we are expecting to attend. Volvo’s sponsorship has added prestige and an international feeling to the event, especially after the recent public interest in their Volvo Ocean Race. We are looking forward to a very exciting weekend.”
 
Since launched in 2005, the VDLR has grown in significance each year. The Regatta is now one of Ireland’s biggest participant sports events after the city marathons. More than 3,000 sailors from Ireland and 13 other nations will compete across 21 classes in a fleet of over 450 boats. Over the course of four days, more than 250 races will take place. The regatta has nearly four times the entry of any other Irish regatta this year.  However, it is not just an event for experienced sailors- this year the VDLR wants to help people who have never sailed before to get out on the water and enjoy one of Dublin’s best amenities- the bay.  The public can take part in the regatta and may even win some races as they are taught to sail by experienced instructors. Further details are available on www.dlregatta.org.

The VDLR will host a Ladies Luncheon and Best Dressed Lady Competition, sponsored by Kildare Village Outlet Shopping, at the Royal St. George Yacht Club and The National Yacht Club, with prizes donated by the Butler’s Pantry.  Lynn McNally, Committee Organiser of the Ladies Lunch said, "Ladies, bring some glamour to the shores, gather your glad rags, handbags and some friends together for a fun and relaxing lunch in two of Dun Laoghaire's premier yacht clubs."  Booking is through the VDLR website and is essential for this popular event.

Dun Laoghaire's emergence as an Irish sea yacht racing venue continued last night when Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin TD, launched the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) 2009 at the Allianz Boat Show, running at the RDS Simmonscourt until Sunday. Billed as one of the the biggest participant sporting event in the country, after the city marathons, July's VDLR event is also the country's largest sailing regatta where organisers remain bullish that numbers will exceed 500, making it bigger than the Irish sea's Scottish series or Wales's Celtic race week.

"We've kept entry fees low, and have great new courses planned including coastal passages," says Regatta chairman Phil Smith.  Of course, Smith also knows he has something of a captive audience given at least 50% of the fleet will be mustered from the capital's biggest sailing centres at Dun Laoghaire and Howth.

Since the four Dun Laoghaire Yacht Clubs joined forces to launch the first regatta in 2005, the event has grown in size each year. This year, the regatta takes place on Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12. More than 3,000 sailors from Ireland and 13 other nations are expected to compete across 25 classes. Over the course of four days, Dublin Bay, one of Ireland’s busiest commercial shipping lanes, will also see more than a thousand races take place.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, T.D., today officially announced the launch of the Regatta, saying, “The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland’s largest sailing event and the biggest participant sporting event in the country, after the city marathons. The Volvo Regatta continues to grow and build upon Ireland's international reputation as a quality sports and sailing destination and cements Ireland's reputation as a location for a major international regatta. In addition, local area businesses will benefit considerably from the influx of visitors as they enjoy the superb sailing action in Dublin Bay and a fantastic array of family oriented activities that have been set up on shore.”
 
Both professional and amateurs sailors will race in boats that cost as little as €3,000 to as much as €1 million for the ‘super zero’ class. This year’s Volvo Regatta will include a new simplified course format, including eight well designed race courses from Dun Laoghaire to Killiney Bay to Howth. Race committee organisers have also provided greater flexibility for the Regatta race officers, who, along with a small army of volunteers, held extensive practices on the water over the winter period to design and test the race courses. Those participating will also have access to a five Gold Star 850 berth Marina in Dun Laoghaire.
 
For those who prefer to keep their feet dry, there are a number of waterfront activities scheduled, including an appearance by the Jeanie Johnston, the replica 19th century vessel and famine history museum. Other activities include a farmers market, street entertainment including a carnival with face painters and balloon men, numerous ladies fashion events, a vintage car rally, live music from jazz to traditional Irish to marching bands, local area restaurant and pub events, an evening of Irish culture, music, food and dancing and a scheduled RNLI Air Sea Rescue demonstration.
 
Phil Smith, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said, “The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta owes its prominence in European sailing events to a number of factors. One of the core attributes to attracting so many entrants is that it is one of the least expensive sailing events in Europe, providing great value for money. Volvo’s sponsorship has also added prestige and an international feeling to the event, especially after the recent public interest in their other sponsored sailing event, the Volvo Ocean Race. We have more than 300 volunteers who give their time and energy to ensure the regatta runs smoothly, as well as the active cooperation of local area businesses and the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.  And of course the support from the thousands of visitors who come to watch the spectacle and take part in all the family oriented activities in and around Dun Laoghaire.”
 
Sponsors of this year’s Volvo Regatta include Dublin Port Company, Failte Ireland, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,  Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company and the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire.


Recent Afloat stories:

Afloat July/August 2009 issue

Wags lead the way on Dublin Bay

New 'Irish Sea' Cup next week

White Smoke for the White Sails

White Sail Civil War? forum posts 

White Sail fleet rallies for new trophy

IDRA Shines On  

230 boats enter VDLR

British boats face expensive hike to Ireland

Corks pop for Volvo Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire fills bay with sails

Welcome Home the Dragon at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta  

The might of combined forces (Seascapes Radio Show)

All aboard for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta!  

Sails well covered for VDLR09  

Your views on VDLR 09  

Dun Laoghaire Regatta Week pictured  

   

For more information on the Volvo Regatta, click here

  

Wishing competitors fair winds – A welcome from David Baddeley, Managing Director, Volvo Car Ireland Limited

2009 is a very significant year for sailing in Ireland, well and truly placing the country on the international sailing map. In late May the seven surviving teams competing in the 2008/ 2009 Volvo Ocean Race arrived in Galway after travelling more than 30,000 miles around the world. From the moment the boats entered Galway Bay in the early hours of Sunday 24th May, until a fortnight later when, with a 25 knot wind behind them they sped from the Bay, both the welcome and the spectacle were truly amazing. Even the weather played its part. Over two weeks more than 400,000 people came to Galway to be part of the Galway Volvo Ocean Race festival. The crew of the Green Dragon, the aptly named Irish/ Chinese entry, were welcomed as returning heroes, a reception they richly deserved.

However, the Volvo Ocean Race is for most a spectator activity and while the numbers of spectators in Galway was, well, spectacular, sailing is primarily not a spectator activity, but one for all to be involved in. From kids sailing Optimists, through the camaraderie of cruising to the competition of club racing, many thousands of people throughout Ireland are involved in sailing and that number is growing. To be able to support an activity in which so many of our customers are involved is the reason why I am delighted that Volvo Car Ireland is the title sponsor for the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

A sailing Regatta should be about safe excitement and that is exactly what we seek to deliver with our cars. Be it the exciting style of the Volvo C70 Retractable hard top convertible, or the opportunities for adventure with the brand new All Wheel Drive XC60; from the sheer comfort and style of the Volvo S80 to the class leading environmental performance of the new DRIVe range of cars, they’re all exciting in their different ways, all feature Volvo’s world-renowned safety. I hope that you will take the opportunity to take a look at the Volvo range of cars that will be on display at the Plaza during the Regatta.

The 2007 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta was a huge success, a testament to the enthusiasm and efforts of all the competitors, volunteers, organisers and sponsors, and I am certain that the 2009 event will be even more successful. The word ‘enthusiasm’ comes from Greek and means ‘to be inspired’ and it has been the enthusiasm of all involved in making the Regatta happen that inspired my colleagues and myself to ensure Volvo Car Ireland should be the title sponsor back in 2007 and to continue that involvement again this year.

It is only left for me to wish all competitors, volunteers and organisers an exciting, safe and memorable few days sailing.

David Baddeley, Managing Director, Volvo Car Ireland Limited

 

Recognise the importance of sailing – A welcome from Shaun Quinn, Failte Ireland

I am delighted to welcome you all to this year’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. This event, now in its third year, once again brings together competitive sailing, entertainment and Irish hospitality. Over 3,000 competitors and 450 boats from domestic shores and overseas will take part. This Regatta follows closely on the heels of the recent very successful staging of a Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. It provides an excellent opportunity to continue to showcase the quality of Ireland’s sailing product.

As an island, we are blessed with excellent year-round natural sailing conditions, over 5,600 km of beautiful scenic coastline and hundreds of lakes and rivers, making Ireland an ideal location for sailing and water sports of all types. Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, recognises the importance of sailing to our tourism industry and has identified water sports in general as a key tourism area for Ireland with considerable potential for growth. This Regatta provides a window onto this attractive tourism product.  

This year’s racing will involve both professional and amateur sailors racing in boats that cost as little as €3,000 to as much as €1 million for the ‘zero’ class. The Regatta will include a new simplified course format, including eight well designed race courses from Dun Laoghaire to Killiney Bay to Howth. Race committee organisers have also provided greater flexibility for the Regatta race officers who, along with a small army of volunteers, held extensive practices on the water over the winter period to design and test the race courses. Those participating will also have access to a Five Gold Star 850-berth Marina in Dun Laoghaire.
 
I am very happy to see that the organisers are also catering for those who prefer to keep their feet dry. There are a number of waterfront activities scheduled including a farmers market, street entertainment including a carnival with face painters and balloon men, numerous ladies fashion events, a vintage car rally, live music from jazz to traditional Irish to marching bands, local area restaurant and pub events, an evening of Irish culture, music, food and dancing.

We in Fáilte Ireland are supporting this event through our International Sports Tourism Initiative and welcome the opportunity to showcase Ireland’s top class sailing facilities on a world stage. The International Sports Tourism Initiative targets and sponsors major sporting events which enjoy a high-profile position in their own sporting calendar and which also offer an opportunity to present Ireland as a major sports tourist destination. Since its inception in 2000, some 155 international sporting events have been successfully staged here in Ireland.

The Regatta generates huge tourism dividends for Dun Laoghaire and Dublin’s East Coast region and I would like to commend the four associated clubs, the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club for their management and promotion of the event. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome the participants, officials, and supporters from home and abroad to this wonderful event and hope you enjoy both challenging and rewarding sailing as well as a festival atmosphere amongst the welcoming community of Dun Laoghaire.

Shaun Quinn, Failte Ireland

 

Welcome to Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 – Philip Smith, Chairman, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

I welcome you all to Dun Laoghaire for our now well-established biennial ‘VDLR’. I trust that our months of preparation, both on the water and on land, will live up to your expectations. Brian Craig and his racing committee have spent long hours redesigning the sailing courses, and putting new courses into Killiney Bay and Howth Peninsula. They have given the Race Officers the option of having fixed mark navigational courses or windward leeward courses. The fleets will move around different courses each day and all these changes should make for better and more enjoyable sailing.

On land the four waterside Clubs: Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, and National Yacht Club; have been putting together an exciting and entertaining programme covering the four days of the Regatta. The popular Harbour Hopper Bus will be once again in operation and please do use it to visit all of the Clubs.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company have created an excellent programme of street events which, in a real way, links the town to the Regatta in a positive fashion. The wonderful variety of bars and restaurants in the town are planning an truly exceptional welcome for all the sailors and their friends.

A particular welcome to all of you who have come to the Regatta from outside the Harbour. Nearly one-hundred-and-fifty boats – an impressive figure – have travelled a considerable distance to be with us. We all want you to join in the fun and have a most enjoyable stay in Dun Laoghaire. Your participation adds greatly to the event.

Our army of 300 volunteers are working hard to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. They are good people and without them there would be no Regatta. Their positive attitude makes a huge contribution to the overall success of the event. Volunteerism is alive and well in Dun Laoghaire.

A very special mention must be made of Volvo Car Ireland and all our sponsors for their wonderful support and the new ideas they bring to the Regatta. Their commitment during the current difficult time is simply tremendous. They all deserve our fullest support.
To all the local and national organisations that have come on board – sincere thanks.

On behalf of the four Clubs, the Commodores, Committees, Members, Management and Staff, I extend a warm welcome to all.

Philip Smith, Chairman, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

 

View the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Programme for 2009 here

The complete entry list for the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is...

Beneteau 31.7

C’est La Vie (Flannelly, Spain, Staines) Howth YC; The Flying Machine (Conor O’Gallagher; Prospect (Chris Johnston) National YC; Levante (Brian Leyden,Michael Leahy) National YC; Kernach (Eoin O’Driscoll) National YC; Avalon (Conan & Fox) Royal St George YC; Bluefin Two (Michael & Bernie Bryson) Susan & Brian O’Callaghan) National YC; Magic (Donal O’Sullivan, David Espey) Royal Irish YC; Dies Irae (Patrick D Rowan) Royal Irish YC; Extreme Reality (Patrick McSwiney, Emmet O’Rafferty) Royal Irish YC; Prima Nocte (Patrick Burke, PJ Kennedy) Royal Irish YC; Attitude (Sugars, Owens,Branigan) Royal Irish YC; 30 Something (Kavanagh,Jones,Gaffney,Lubliner) Royal St George YC; Extremity (Paul Dalton) Royal St George YC; Fiddly Bits (Kevin Byrne) Royal St George YC; Levana (Jean E Mitton) Royal St George YC; After You Too (Michael Blaney) Royal St George YC; Polly (John Pollard) DL Marina

Colleens

Colleen Bawn (TBA) Royal Irish YC; Colleen Eile (TBA) Royal Irish YC; Colleen Deas (TBA) Royal Irish YC

Dragon

Decision (Chris Fleming) Royal St George YC; Tarasque (Mark Brien) Royal North of Ireland YC; Diva (Richard Goodbody,Rick Johnson) Royal Irish YC; Susele (Michael Halpenny) Royal Irish YC; Jaguar (Martin Byrne) Royal St George YC; Zu (Peter Dee,Matt Minch,Tim Pearson) Royal St George YC; Phantom (Peter Bowring,David Williams) Royal St George YC; Eve (Ean Pugh) Yacht Club de Cannes; Whisper (Michael Cotter) Royal St George YC; Hy Brasil (Peter O Reilly, Francis Rhatigan) Royal St George YC

Etchell

Fetching (Stephen Quinn, Stephen O’Flaherty) Howth YC; Crop Duster (Dan O’Grady, Paul Reilly) Howth YC; Matatu Dubh (Richard & David Burrows) Howth YC; Ladies Who Launch (Mary O’ Loughlin) Howth YC; White Pointer (Richard Grey) Royal St George YC; Etchells) Eccentric) Royal Mersey YC; Northside Dragon (Jay Bourke) Howth YC; Gelert (John Flynn) Howth YC; Jabberwocky (Simon Knowles) Howth YC

Fireball

No Name (Andy Scott) Chew Valley Lake SC; License to Thrill (Louis Smyth) Coal Harbour DL; Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Elevation (Neil Colin, Margaret Casey) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Incubus (Stephen Oram) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Zara (Noel Butler) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; El Rey Del Fuego (Francis Rowan) National YC; Johnny Logan (Siobhan Hayes) Royal St George YC; No Name (Owen Laverty) Royal St George YC; No Name (Brian O’Hara) Skerries SC; Simon Mc Grotty (Simon Mc Grotty) Skerries SC; Niall Mc Grotty (Niall Mc Grotty) Skerries SC; No Name (Andrew Pearce & Adam Broughton) Portishead Yacht & SC; All Balls No Fire (Tim Rush) Staunton Harold SC; No Name) Peter Gray) Staunton Harold SC; Emerald 2 (Conor O’Toole) Skerries SC; Cuddlebug (Brenda O’Connell) Coal Harbour DL; Reality Check (Marie Barry) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna) Royal St George YC; No Name (Dave Coleman) Coal Harbour; Not Again (Suzie Mulligan) Royal St George YC

Flying 15

Fflogger II (Alan Dooley) National YC; A Mere Triffle (Peter Sherry) National YC; Fidus Achates (Joseph Coughlan) National YC; Fifty Somethings (David Mulvin) National YC; HY5ive (David Gorman) National YC; Scandal (John Fitzgerald-Brennan,Frank O’Sullivan) National YC; Snow White (Francis Burgess) National YC; Out of the Blue) Fraser Mitchell) National YC; No Name (Ben Mulligan) National YC; Rollercoaster (Thomas Murphy) National YC; The Big Bow Wow (Niall Meagher,Nicki Matthews) National YC; Ffangs (Lorcan Balfe) National YC; Flyer (Niall Coleman) National YC; Gekko (Sean & Paul Nolan) National YC; As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe) National YC; Fandango (Frances & Clive Brandon) Royal St George YC; The Gruffalo (Keith Poole) National YC; No Name) John Lavery) National YC; Kooigjug (Ken Dumpleton) National YC; Hi Fibre (Peter Murphy) National YC

Glen

Glen Luce (Donal & Richard O’Connor) Royal St George YC; Glenariff (Adrian Lee) Royal St George YC; Glencoe (RM Craig, P&FSheehan, J Murphy,B Scott) Royal St George YC; Glenshane (Peter Hogan) Royal St George YC; Glencree (John Bligh,Henry Roche) Royal St George YC; Glendun (Brian Denham,Derek Freedman) Royal St George YC; Glenmarissa (Frank Elmes, Wilf Higgins ) Royal St George YC; Pterodactyl (Roderick McCaffrey,David McCaffrey) Royal St George YC; Glenshesk (G Walker,L Faulkner,M Reid,A Henderson) Royal St George YC; Glen Miller (Dr Conor O’Hanlon ) Royal St George YC

Howth 17

Oona (Peter Courtney) Howth YC Royal St George YC; Isobel (Brian & Conor Turvey) Howth YC; Echo (Bryan Lynch) Howth YC; Leila (Roddy Cooper) Howth YC; Sheila (Derek Bothwell) Howth YC; Pauline (Shane O’Doherty Eoghan Ryan) Howth YC; Gladys (Cronin) Jones) Howth YC; Zaida (Tom Houlihan) Howth YC

IDRA 14

Chaos (Julie Ascoop, Heather Keenan) Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club; Chimaera (Killian Sargent) Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club; Sea Urchin IV (Padraig O’Donoghue) Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club; Shearwater (Ciaran Browne) Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club; Starfish (Alan Carr) Sutton Dinghy Club; Smurfette (Charles Sargent) Sutton Dinghy Club; Siobhan) Gordon Kelly) Sutton DC; Charmian (Gerard O’Hanlon) Sutton Dinghy Club; Diane (Fergal & Max O’Flaherty) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Doody (John Fitzgerald, Jennifer Byrne) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; ISqualls (Stephen Harrison) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Shadowfax (Tony Doody) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Spray (Joanne Sheehan) Royal St George YC; Sapphire (Lorcan O’Sulivan) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Dart (Pierre Long) Coal Harbour DL

IRC 0

Tanit (Paul & Richard Harris) Clyde CC; Quokka 7 (Peter Rutter) Royal Ocean Racing Club; Mighty Max 2 (Neil Thomas) Liverpool YC; Rosie (Roy & Vera Dickson) Howth YC; Antix Dubh (Anthony O’ Leary) Royal Cork YC; Blondie IV (Eamonn Rohan) Royal Cork YC; Tiamat (Tim Costello) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Tsunami (Vincent Farrell) National YC; Lively Lady (Derek Martin) Royal Irish YC; Wow (George Sisk) Royal Irish YC; Argie Bargie (Allan Hogg ) Royal Western YC; Legally Brunette (Cathal Drohan,Paul Egan) Royal St George YC; Crazy Horse (Chambers,Reilly) Howth YC; Impetuous (Richard Fildes) South Caernarvonshire YC

IRC 1

Rebel (Stan Edge) Liverpool YC; Antix Beag) Robert O Leary) Royal Cork YC) Baltimore YC; D-tox (D-tox) Royal Cork YC; Acrewed Interest (Keith Lord) Douglas Bay YC IOM; Carmen II (Beneteau First 36.7) Paul Scutt,Alan Jeffrey) Helensburgh SC; Gwawr (Dennis Williams) Pwllheli SC; Animal (Debbie Aitken) Royal Northern & Clyde YC; Flashback (Paddy Gregory, Don Breen) Howth YC; Just enough (Stephen Tudor) Pwllheli SC; One Life (Sailing West.ie ) Sailing West; Phoenix (Richard Dalton) DL Marina; Xtravagance (Colin Byrne) Royal Irish YC; Lula Belle (Liam Coyne) National YC; Errislannan (P Kirwan) Royal St George YC; In Correct (John Roberts) National YC; About2ba (Brian RMMackle) Royal St George YC; Another Adventure) Daragh Cafferky) Royal Irish YC; Humdinger) Donal Dempsey) Royal Irish YC; Daydream Believer (Jim Cartwright) Liverpool YC; Hi-Time (Peter and Bill Crowley) Royal Cork YC; X-Posure (Lorcan O’Toole) Arklow SC; J’zus Outhaul (Brian Dempsey) Arklow SC; Checkmate (Mike Mac Carthy) Royal Cork YC; Waterjet (SE Northmore,CR Arscott.) Royal Western YC; Off The Wall (Conor Walls) Howth YC; VaVavoom (Richard Calveley) Holyhead; Relentless (Guy Cowper,Charlie Jones) Royal Dee YC; Rocket (Michael Mc Cabe) Carlingford SC; Adrenalin (McDonald,Wright,Balfe,O’Malley) National YC; Axiom) Michael O’Neill) National YC; Gringo) Tony Fox) National YC; Something Else) J.Hall,S.McDonnell,B.Hall) National YC; Black Velvet) Parnell Family) Royal Irish YC; Aztec 3 (Peter Beamish) Royal Irish YC; Contango (Barry Cunningham) Royal Irish YC; Raptor (Denis Hewitt & Others) Royal Irish YC; Rockabill V (Paul O’Higgins) National YC) Royal Irish YC

IRC 2

The “F” Word (Andy Farrell) Liverpool YC; Formula 28) Jon Oliver, A Kyffin) Liverpool YC; Xcalibur (Alan Waugh) Holy Loch SC; Jokers Wild (Gordon Knaggs) Howth YC; Kinetic (Richard Colwell,John Murphy) Howth YC; Voyager (Joe Carton) Howth YC; Papillion (Brendan O’ Halloran) Howth YC; Impetuous (Fergal Noonan,Robert Chambers) Howth YC; Joslim (John Connolly) Howth YC; Bushwakka (Vincent O Shea,James O Brien) Malahide YC; Ruthless (Conor Ronan) Sligo YC; Dux (Anthony Gore-Grimes) Howth YC; King One (David Cullen) Howth YC; Freebird For Sale (Charlie Gourley) Helensburgh SC; Free Spirit (Doherty,Gilsenan,Hannigan, O’Reilly, Ryan) Royal St George YC; Diamond (Kyran McStay) Royal Irish YC; Dick Dastardly (Brian Cusack & Others) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Rattler II (Austin Whelan) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Kit Off (Eoin Gallagher) National YC; Jester (Declan Curtin) National YC; Cor Baby (Lattimore,Kiernan,Ryan) Royal Irish YC; Jawesome II (Mervyn Dyke, Basil Darcy, Simon Pizzoli, V. Kennedy) Royal Irish YC; Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella) Royal St George YC; Kamikaze (Peter Nash) Royal St George YC; Red Rhum (Jonathan Nicholson, Christopher Nicholson) Royal St George YC; Hot Chocolate (Philip Lee) Royal St George YC; Helter Skelter (Adrienne Jermyn) Royal St George YC; Funny Business (Mark Johnston

IRC 3

Lady Rowena) David Bolger) None; Peridot (Mc Cann,Charrier,O,Donnell,Cadden) Royal Irish YC; TBC (Nick Stephens ); Di-Rich (Andrew Napper, Annie Ward) Liverpool YC

Tango (Andy Dunn) Douglas Bay YC IOM; Alliance (Vince Gaffney ) Howth YC; Checkmate (John Faller) Howth YC; Goyave (Camier,Fitzpatrick) Malahide YC; HyFlyer (John Barnard) Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club; Hydrogin (Pascal Moran) Wicklow SC; Holly (Basil Mac Mahon) Howth YC; Challenger (Boland, Breathnach, Rossiter) Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club; Scandal (Brian McDowell) Malahide YC; Chouskikou (Ronnie Sheehan) DL Marina; Jammie Dodger) JH & D O’Neill) National YC; Wanderlust (Melvin Bros.) DL Marina; Jabiru (Martin & Saundra Renwick) DL Marina; Snow bird (A Baird, A McCormick) DL Marina; Asterix (Caufield,Counihan,Meredith) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Caveat (Dermot Boyle) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Sasori (Michael O’Meara) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Grasshopper II (Kevin & John Glynn) National YC; Two Step (Ross Doyle) National YC; Jiminy Cricket (Mona Tyndall) National YC; Chinook (Andrew Bradley) Royal Irish YC; Lindos (Clive C Martin) Royal Irish YC; Saki (Paget McCormack, Ben,Michael Ryan) Royal Irish YC; Small Wonder (Hugh C Kelly) Royal Irish YC; Supernova (Ken Lawless,Syb McCormack,Pat Shannon) Royal Irish YC; Taiscealai (Richardson,Lawless,Lindberg) Royal Irish YC; Wynward (W McCormack) Royal Irish YC; Whisling Dixie (TandP Keelan and D and F O Sullivan) Royal St George YC; Gold Dust (A.E.(Freddie) Wood) Royal St George YC; Pamafe (Michael Costello) Royal Irish YC; Borraine (Ean Pugh) Yacht Club de Cannes; Carrabeg (D L Martin and R Deasy) Royal St George YC; Hard on Port (Flor O’Driscoll) Royal St George YC; Thyemeoff (Rowan Fogarty) Royal St George YC

J109

Sleeper (Alasdair Davidson, John Carrier) Liverpool YC; Aquelina (Sheila & James Tyrrell) Arklow SC; Tigh Soluis II (Dr Ken Grant) Clyde CC; Juniper (Kenneth Hunter) Royal Ulster YC; Storm (Pat Kelly) Rush SC; Juke Box (Brian Moreton) South Caernarvonshire YC; Jalapeño (Baker & Partners) National YC; Powder Monkey (Chris Moore,Mark Byrne & Others) National YC; Jetstream (Peter Redden) Royal Irish YC; Indecision (Declan Hayes) Royal Irish YC; Joker 2 (John Maybury) Royal Irish YC; Jump the Gun (Michael Monaghan, John Kelly) Royal Irish YC; Jura (Barry McCabe) Royal Irish YC; Team Windmill (Sarratt) Austin) Royal St George YC; Christie Cancer Care (Tino Hyland,Nigel Biggs) RstGYC ) RSYC

J80 Welsh Ireland Cup

Ireland (Andrew Fowler) Royal St George YC; Ireland (Laura Dillon) Howth YC; Ireland (Geoff O’Donoghue) Lough Derg YC; Wales (Callum Edge) Royal Dee YC; Wales (Wil Partington) Pwllheli SC; Wales (Paul Kearns) South Caernarvonshire YC; Wales (Owen Matthews) Royal Dee YC; Ireland (Alistair Kissane) National YC

Laser SB3

Boomsticks (Brian Reilly) Sligo YC; Investwise.ie (David Quinn) Howth YC; Lia (Dave Barry) Howth YC; Quantative Easing (Paul McMahon) Howth YC; Sharkbait (Ben Duncan,Brian Moran) Howth YC; Sin a Bhuifl (Gillian Guinness) Howth YC; SplashGordon (Gordon Patterson Royal North of Ireland YC; Snuggles (Roger Little) Western YC; Marthas (Fury) Martin Breen) Galway Bay SC; Profile Park (Ronan Downing) Kinsale YC; Sonic Zoom (Emmet Ryan) Howth YC; Shockwave (Eoin Quinlan) Howth YC; Smoke (Bob Hobb) ISA; Artful Dodger (W P Roger Bannon) National YC; Bumble B (Fionnuala Loughrey) National YC; Tewfrydegz II (Liam Shanahan) National YC Mandarin (Rory Byrne) National YC; Bluebird (Cathy MacAleavey) National YC; Sea Breeze (David & Sean Cahil) National YC; No Name (Nick Doherty) National YC; Superbug (N.O’Rourke,G.O’Carroll,P.Mangan) Royal Irish YC; Bád-Kilcullen (Jerry Dowling) Royal Irish YC; Mephisto (Stephanie Bourke) Royal St George YC; Seriously Bonkers 3 (Martin Cuppage, Peter Lee) Royal St George YC; Shambolic 3 (Ciaran Ramsay) Royal St George YC; Sidewinder (Declan Keogh) Royal St George YC; Sin Bin (Barry O’Neill) Royal St George YC; Squalo Bianco (Sean Craig) Royal St George YC; No Name (Gordon Judge) Royal St George YC; Sunday Brunch (Richard Tate, David Dwyer) Royal St George YC; BomChickaWahWah (John O’Driscoll) Royal St George YC; Lupi D’Irlanda (Sorgassi,Salvatori,Ratto,Germano) Royal St George YC; SBODIKINS (Rob Cahill,Denis O’Sulivan) Royal St George YC; Flutter (Andrew Algeo) Royal St George YC; Trade Credit Brokers (Aidan O’Connell) Royal St George YC; Milvus (Robert Howe) Royal Cork YC; Sailing West (Audrey Adamson) National YC; SacreBleu (Doug Smith) Royal Irish YC; Odin (James Gorman) National YC; Still Beating (Aidrian Walters) Royal st George YC; Tiger lite (Marty O’Leary) Royal St. George

Mermaid

The Message (Ross Galbraith) Skerries SC; Ferga (Martin Reilly) Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club; Clare (Paddy Archer) Rush SC; Argo (Darragh McCormack) Foynes YC; Bean Adhmaid (Martin O’Toole) Skerries SC; Una C (Liam Cremin) Foynes YC; Dolphin (Shay O Toole) National YC; Aideen (Dan Brennan & Brendan Martin) National YC; Tiller Girl (Jonathan O’Rourke) National YC; Jill (Paul Smith, Pat Mangan) Royal Irish YC; Nora (Don Cromer) Royal St George YC; Oonagh (Marilyn Griffith) Royal St George YC; Lively Lady (Geraldine O’Neill,Mick Hanney) National YC; MyDi (Enda Weldon) Rush SC

Ruffian 23

Siamsa (Robert Keys) Skerries SC; Papillon (Paul Cassidy) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Ruff Rider (Ronan Lee) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Carmen (Brendan Duffy) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Ripples (Frank Bradley) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Paramour (Larry Power, Roberto Sastre, Neil O’Donovan) National YC; Golden Girl (Hugh O Donnell) Royal St George YC; Ruff n’ Ready (B Cullen) C Brown) A Kirwan) National YC; Riff Raff (Paul Fagan) National YC; Alias (Andrew Moore) National YC; Icicle (Colm T Murray) National YC; Ruff ‘Nuff (Derek Mitchell) Royal St George YC; Diane 2 (Alan Claffey) Royal St George YC; Ruff Diamond (Sailing In Dublin Club,Peter McIntyre) Sailing in Dublin; Bluemoon (Caoive Collins,Brendan McCormack) National YC

Shipman

Invader (Gerard Glynn) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Just Good Friends (Micheal Carroll) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Blue Fin (Brendan Finucane) National YC; Malindi (Andrew Gray) National YC; Curraglas (John Masterson) National YC; Therapi (Alan McCarthy & Others) Royal Irish YC; Whiterock (Henry M. Robinson) Royal Irish YC; Macro One (J Murray) Royal) Irish YC; Phoenix (Terry Brien et al) Royal Irish YC; Euphanzel 3 (John Simington) Royal St George YC; Hobo Six (Bourke Byrne Hooper Montgomery) Royal St George YC; Jo Slim (John Clarke, BJ Maher, Gerard Maher) Royal St George YC; Poppy (Peter Wallis) Royal St George YC; Twocan (F. David Freeman) Royal St George YC; Viking (Dr Fergus Mason, Dr Monica McWeeney, Brian J Glynn) Royal St George YC; Gusto (Christine Heath) Royal St George YC; The Den (Aisling Costello,George Miller) Royal St George YC; Kelena (Noel Blake, Rita Grace) Royal St George YC; Fifi (Paul O’Callaghan,Nessa Coffey) Royal St George YC

Sigma 33

Sigmatic (Donald McLaren) Helensburgh SC; Archatron (J.Godfrey, R Taylor) South Caernarvonshire YC; White Mischief (Roy Summers) Royal Northern & Clyde YC; Flyover (Tadhg O’Toole, Marcus,Richard Brennan) DL Marina; Elandra (Aubrey Leggett, John Malloy, Ralph Hanse) National YC; Miss Behavin (A Bell,K Robertson,M Byrne,D O’Reilly,B Keane,D Bell) National YC; Pippa IV (Kevin Blake,Ml. O’Brien,Grant Kinsman) National YC; Popje (Ted Mc Court) National YC; Enchantress (M Larkin,K Bonner, L Nicholl) National YC; September Song (Conor Colleary) Royal Irish YC; Pastiche (Thomas J O Neill) Royal Irish YC; Gwili Two (Dermot Clarke and Patrick Maguire) Royal St George YC; Moonshine (Ronnie Moloney , David O’Flynn) Royal St George YC; Rupert (Patrick T Varian, Richard V Lovegrove) Royal St George YC; Leeuwin (Bobbie Kerr) Royal Irish Yacht Club; Springer (Ian Bowring) Royal St George YC

Squib

Kerfuffle (Jonathan Craig) Howth YC; Klipbok (Emmet Dalton) Howth YC; 4sail (Noel Conlon) Mayo SC; Toy for the boys (Peter Wallace) Royal North of Ireland YC; Femme Fatale (Vincent Delany) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Ladybird (Malachi Muldoon, Brenda Stevens) National YC; Tais (Michael O’Connell) Royal Irish YC ; Sidewinder (David Croke,Rupert Bowen) Royal St George YC; Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago) Royal St George YC; Chillax (Mary McLoughlin) Royal St George YC; Anemos (Pete & Anne Evans) Royal St George YC; Waverider (Fergal Gaynor, Trevor Bryan) Royal St George YC; Little Demon (Marie Dee,Sheila Power,Deirdre McDermott) Royal St George YC; Aquabats (B Fogarty, F Harrington) Royal St George YC; Perfection (Jill Fleming) Royal St George YC; Fox (Michael Moran,Ronan Browne) Royal St George YC; Nimble (Brian O’Hare) Royal St George YC; Deadly Buzz (Frank Whelan) Royal St George YC; Periquin (Noel Colclough,John Redahan) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Coorse and Fine (Wendy Goodbody) Royal St George YC; Free Trader (Margaret Hannan) Royal Irish YC; Where’s Woolly (Conor O’Leary) Royal St George YC

Water Wag

Moosmie (David McFarlane) Royal Irish YC; Swallow (Denis & Margaret Woods) Royal Irish YC; Tortoise (William Prentice) Royal Irish YC; Shindilla (Philip Mahony) Royal Irish YC; Coquette) Seymour Cresswell) Royal Irish YC; Freddie (David Corcoran, Bairbre Stewart) Royal Irish YC; Little Tern (J.Ross-Murphy) Royal St George YC; Polly (Geoffrey Sarratt) Royal St George YC; Alfa (Michael & Jenny Donohoe) Royal St George YC ; Pansy (Julie Delany) Waterwag Club; Eva (Edward Sarratt) Royal St George YC; Eros (Gail Varian) Royal St George YC; Good Hope (Hal Sisk) Royal Irish YC; Marcia (Jonathan O’Rourke, Carol Cronin) National YC; Mollie II (Cathy MacAleavey) National YC; Skee (David W Duffy) National YC

White Sail

Saoirse (Barry Vaughan) Howth YC; Savarna (Ken Burke, Brian Curtis) Howth YC; Empress III (Tom Fitzpatrick, Des Glennon) Howth YC; Pretty Polly (Christopher Horrigan) National YC; Grand Cru (Peter Curphey) Douglas Bay YC IOM; Gannet (Brian McCann) Carlingford Lough YC; Sandpiper of Howth (Andrew Knowles) Howth YC; Mojito (Peter Dunlop) Pwllheli SC; Satisfaction (John Collins) Pwllheli SC; Gums n Roses (John Rose) South Caernarvonshire YC; Rebellion (Hughes,O’Mahony,Hanlon) National YC; Orna (Philip Dilworth) National YC; Act 2 (M O’Leary,D.Andrews,T.Roche, T. Power) Royal Irish YC; Hypertension (William Rickard) Royal Irish YC; Misty (Trevor Wood) Royal St George YC; Dreamcatcher (Martin Bates) Royal Irish YC; Saint Fereol (Tony Mullett) DL Marina; Just Jasmin (Philip Smith) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Finnigans Wake (F Cooney,G Pierse,T Rowlands) National YC; Eden Park (Liam Farmer) Royal Irish YC; Persistance (Charles Broadhead, Jerry Collins, Ian Stuart) Royal Irish YC; Sea Safari (Jacqueline Smith) Royal Irish YC; Xerxes (Dan O’Neill) Royal Irish YC; Spirit (Colin O’Brien et al) Royal St George YC; Albireo (michael murphy and david simpson) Royal Irish YC; Lisa Ann (Steve Hayes) Bray SC; Syledis in Blue (John Hayes) Bray SC; Cal (Michael O’Farrell) Carlingford Lough YC; Bite the Bullet (Colm Bermingham) Howth YC; Brazen Hussy (John Barry,Micheal Stirling) Howth YC; Mac Magic (Peter and Declan McCabe) Howth YC; Sunrunner (Paul Marland) Pwllheli SC; Chimaera (George Baird) Royal Ulster YC; Poppy (John Roberts) Liverpool YC; San Remo -Reg Friday (Niall Lemasney) DL Marina; Vespucci (Sean and Kristina O’Regan) Royal St George YC; White Lotus (Paul Tully) Dun Laoghaire Motor YC; Windermere (Joe Taylor) Greystones YC; Afternoon Delight (M.Bennett; M. Brennan; G.Begley; J.P.Mackay) Royal Irish YC; Arwen (Philip O’Dwyer) Royal Irish YC; Katanca (Barry O’Connor,Catharine Ennis) Royal Irish YC; The Great Escape (Patrick and Denise Rigney) Royal Irish YC; Toroa (John Hickson) Royal Irish YC; Harlequin (Enda Kenny) Royal Irish YC; Calypso (Howard Knott) Royal St George YC; Katie (Conorv McGuinness & Others) Royal St George YC; Nirvana (Bernard Neeson) Royal St George YC; Lucyo (P Aonghus O’Heocha) Royal St George YC; Nauti-Gal (Jason Crawford) Royal St George YC

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle
Page 3 of 3

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

From the Baily lighthouse to Dalkey island, the bay accommodates six separate courses for 21 different classes racing every two years for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

In assembling its record-breaking armada, Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta (VDLR) became, at its second staging, not only the country's biggest sailing event, with 3,500 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events.

One of the reasons for this, ironically, is that competitors across Europe have become jaded by well-worn venue claims attempting to replicate Cowes and Cork Week.'Never mind the quality, feel the width' has been a criticism of modern-day regattas where organisers mistakenly focus on being the biggest to be the best. Dun Laoghaire, with its local fleet of 300 boats, never set out to be the biggest. Its priority focussed instead on quality racing even after it got off to a spectacularly wrong start when the event was becalmed for four days at its first attempt.

The idea to rekindle a combined Dublin bay event resurfaced after an absence of almost 40 years, mostly because of the persistence of a passionate race officer Brian Craig who believed that Dun Laoghaire could become the Cowes of the Irish Sea if the town and the local clubs worked together. Although fickle winds conspired against him in 2005, the support of all four Dun Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs since then (made up of Dun Laoghaire Motor YC, National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St GYC), in association with the two racing clubs of Dublin Bay SC and Royal Alfred YC, gave him the momentum to carry on.

There is no doubt that sailors have also responded with their support from all four coasts. Running for four days, the regatta is (after the large mini-marathons) the single most significant participant sports event in the country, requiring the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury, to resolve racing disputes representing five countries. A flotilla of 25 boats regularly races from the Royal Dee near Liverpool to Dublin for the Lyver Trophy to coincide with the event. The race also doubles as a RORC qualifying race for the Fastnet.

Sailors from the Ribble, Mersey, the Menai Straits, Anglesey, Cardigan Bay and the Isle of Man have to travel three times the distance to the Solent as they do to Dublin Bay. This, claims Craig, is one of the major selling points of the Irish event and explains the range of entries from marinas as far away as Yorkshire's Whitby YC and the Isle of Wight.

No other regatta in the Irish Sea area can claim to have such a reach. Dublin Bay Weeks such as this petered out in the 1960s, and it has taken almost four decades for the waterfront clubs to come together to produce a spectacle on and off the water to rival Cowes."The fact that we are getting such numbers means it is inevitable that it is compared with Cowes," said Craig. However, there the comparison ends."We're doing our own thing here. Dun Laoghaire is unique, and we are making an extraordinary effort to welcome visitors from abroad," he added. The busiest shipping lane in the country – across the bay to Dublin port – closes temporarily to facilitate the regatta and the placing of six separate courses each day.

A fleet total of this size represents something of an unknown quantity on the bay as it is more than double the size of any other regatta ever held there.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta FAQs

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland's biggest sailing event. It is held every second Summer at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is held every two years, typically in the first weekend of July.

As its name suggests, the event is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing is held on Dublin Bay over as many as six different courses with a coastal route that extends out into the Irish Sea. Ashore, the festivities are held across the town but mostly in the four organising yacht clubs.

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the largest sailing regatta in Ireland and on the Irish Sea and the second largest in the British Isles. It has a fleet of 500 competing boats and up to 3,000 sailors. Scotland's biggest regatta on the Clyde is less than half the size of the Dun Laoghaire event. After the Dublin city marathon, the regatta is one of the most significant single participant sporting events in the country in terms of Irish sporting events.

The modern Dublin Bay Regatta began in 2005, but it owes its roots to earlier combined Dublin Bay Regattas of the 1960s.

Up to 500 boats regularly compete.

Up to 70 different yacht clubs are represented.

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland countrywide, and Dublin clubs.

Nearly half the sailors, over 1,000, travel to participate from outside of Dun Laoghaire and from overseas to race and socialise in Dun Laoghaire.

21 different classes are competing at Dun Laoghaire Regatta. As well as four IRC Divisions from 50-footers down to 20-foot day boats and White Sails, there are also extensive one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets to include all the fleets that regularly race on the Bay such as Beneteau 31.7s, Ruffian 23s, Sigma 33s as well as Flying Fifteens, Laser SB20s plus some visiting fleets such as the RS Elites from Belfast Lough to name by one.

 

Some sailing household names are regular competitors at the biennial Dun Laoghaire event including Dun Laoghaire Olympic silver medalist, Annalise Murphy. International sailing stars are competing too such as Mike McIntyre, a British Olympic Gold medalist and a raft of World and European class champions.

There are different entry fees for different size boats. A 40-foot yacht will pay up to €550, but a 14-foot dinghy such as Laser will pay €95. Full entry fee details are contained in the Regatta Notice of Race document.

Spectators can see the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it is also possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

Very favourably. It is often compared to Cowes, Britain's biggest regatta on the Isle of Wight that has 1,000 entries. However, sailors based in the north of England have to travel three times the distance to get to Cowes as they do to Dun Laoghaire.

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. International sailors also speak of its international travel connections and being so close to Dublin city. The regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

The Organising Authority (OA) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Dublin Bay Regattas Ltd, a not-for-profit company, beneficially owned by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC), National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) and Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC).

The Irish Marine Federation launched a case study on the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's socio-economic significance. Over four days, the study (carried out by Irish Sea Marine Leisure Knowledge Network) found the event was worth nearly €3million to the local economy over the four days of the event. Typically the Royal Marine Hotel and Haddington Hotel and other local providers are fully booked for the event.

©Afloat 2020