Following a successful outing for Irish Cape 31 interests at the Vice Admiral's Cup on the Solent last weekend, there is confirmation this week that the 2023 Irish National Championships will be raced at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) this July.
As Afloat reported earlier this month, this is a change from the original programme, which first saw the eight-boat Cape fleet scheduled to race for National honours a week after the VDLR.
Cape 31 action comes to Dublin Bay this July when the new high speed sportsboat fleet races for Irish honours as part of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: James Tomlinson
The news comes as the defending Irish champion took fifth overall and top Corinthian boat at the class's-biggest-ever turnout of 25 boats on the Solent last weekend.
At least half that number is expected to race on Dublin Bay from July 6. Currently, five are entered. See the current VDLR entries here
Current Cape 31 entries for VDLR 2023 include Irish champion Antix from Royal Cork Yacht Club
Anthony O'Leary of Royal Cork, who won the inaugural Cape nationals in 2022 (that raced as part of Cork Week Regatta), has entered the big Dublin Bay biennial that received its official launch last week.
The Vice-Admiral's Cup winner, Michael Wilson, skipper of Shotgunn, who hails from the Isle of Man, is also entered in the VDLR.
Wilson has an extraordinary crew racing Shotgunn: Ben Batchelor, Mike Wilson, Stu Bithell, Dave Chapman, Phil Hardisty, Simon Potts, and Peter Greenhalgh. Wilson comes from a dinghy racing background, including Flying Fifteens, 505s and National 18s.
Meanwhile, the only Dun Laoghaire Cape 31 'Blast' has come up for sale, as Afloat reports here.
