The Irish National Optimist Championships starting on Thursday 11th August at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay is expected to attract 200 entries but it is understood only four of these are from Northern Ireland.
They are, from East Antrim BC on Larne Lough, three siblings from the Doig family, George, Freddie and Penny who will be racing in the Irish Championship fleet, as will be Matthew Holden from Ballyholme Yacht Club. George (12) is in the Junior fleet, Freddie (13) in the Senior fleet and Penny who is 9 will race in the Regatta Racing division. Matthew will also race in the Senior fleet.
(From l to r) George, Penny and Freddie Doig
There used to be a few Optimist strongholds in the North, one of which was on the relatively sheltered waters at Strangford Lough Yacht Club at Whiterock but now the two main dinghy fleets are Toppers and Lasers. The East Antrim Boat Club has had something of an Optimist revival, as the original fleet dwindled and Toppers became popular but now the Optimists are growing in number.
Chief race officers David Lovegrove and David Bolger will be keeping the huge fleets in order over the four-day event which is sponsored by Avolon, Grant Thornton and Seachange Now.
