The International Match Racing Challenge, taking place this weekend in Dublin Bay, has been profiling their twelve teams, six from Ireland and six from around the world, on their site over the last few days. The event is shaping up to be the match racing spectacle of the year, with mixed breeze and flat water anticipated in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday as a low pressure moves in.
The event will take place close to shore in Scotsmans Bay, with racing visible from land, where the Festival of World Cultures will be taking place.
Irish eyes wil be watching top-ranked helm John Sheehy and Andrew Fowler, who has stolen a march on Sheehy in this year's circuit. Marty O'Leary's team, recently returned from the Student Match Racing Worlds, will also be keen to maintain their good form, having mixed it with several professional teams in Crete.
The line-up of skippers is featured below, with individual team profiles are included on the event website, HERE.
Ireland
John Sheehy World Ranking 70
Andrew Fowler World Ranking 163
Maurice O'Connell World Ranking 192
Marty O'Leary World Ranking 815
Graham Elmes World Ranking 1163
Sam Hunt World Ranking Unranked
The World
Keith Swinton (AUS) World Ranking 17
Pete Nicholas (AUS) World Ranking 90
Romain Baggio (FRA) World Ranking 107
Ben Duncan (NZL) World Ranking 194
Lars Hueckstaedt (GER) World Ranking 217
Andrew Cornah (GBR) World Ranking Unranked