Howth Yacht Club's Autumn league will run for six Saturdays and commences September 10th (with a break for one week on Oct 1st), this will be the 37th year of Howth's end-of-season premier keelboat racing event. The racing is expected to cater for ten classes of yachts, varying in size from the 6-metre 'Squibs' to 'Class 1' cruiser-racing yachts may of which are more than 12 metres in length.
In advance of taking entries, event chairman Feargal Kinsella explained: 'It is expected that this year's event will attract more than 100 keelboats, the majority from North Dublin clubs and marinas and some welcome additional entries from south of the Liffey'.
MSL Park Motors Mercedes-Benz are once again to be event partners and principal sponsors of this year's Autumn League, the same sponsor as Olympic silver medal winner Annalise Murphy.
Commenting on the event partnership Dean Fullston, Brand Manager at MSL Park Motors said that he and his team were 'looking forward to the event immensely and that as part of our multi-year sponsorship arrangement with Howth Yacht Club, this was a great opportunity for our Navan Road dealership to showcase the progressive Mercedes- Benz brand and link in with the club's recent successes and world class event facilities.'
Anticipating another successful Autumn League, Commodore Berchmans Gannon said 'we hope that this event will be the culmination of another record-breaking year in terms of the success of Howth sailors on the national and international circuit. Our partnership with MSL Park Motors and their Mercedes Benz brand reflects our ambition to excel at the highest level and to provide the very best facilities, service and opportunities for our members and visitors.'
This year's format provides for the inclusion of a 'Taste of Racing' class, designed to help develop Howth Yacht Club's adult sail training programme and utilising the ISA Sailfleet J80s.
Visiting boats taking part in the event will also qualify for a special 'winter berthing' deal in Howth Yacht Club's marina. See here for race documents and online entry.