This weekend in Dun Laoghaire Harbour will provide two days of colourful team racing as the Leinster Colleges and Schools League kicks off its series from the Royal St. George Yacht Club.
Seven colleges and seven school teams will take to the water to compete in a League run over three Saturdays in March and early April.
"This is a pilot scheme, but with the enthusiasm and eagerness shown by all the teams, we look forward to a brilliant event", organiser Eunice Kennedy told Afloat.
From September, it is planned to run this event from October to April, providing a significant opportunity for schools and colleges to participate in team racing.
Leinster Qualifiers
On Sunday, 18 school teams from different schools in the Leinster Province will take to the water, where ultimately, six teams will qualify to represent Leinster at the Irish Schools National Team Racing Championships, which will take place on the 29th and 30th of April.
"This is the highest list of entries we have ever had for the Leinster qualifiers", Kennedy said.
In previous years, the maximum number of teams to compete was 14, and the National Yacht Club is delighted to host this event for the first time.
Schools Team Racing across all of Ireland is expanding rapidly to the extent that next year we will be looking at increasing the number of teams that can compete.
"If you are walking Dun Laoghaire pier on Saturday or Sunday, it will be a spectacular sight to behold as the flights of boats have a selection of bright coloured sails and are accompanied by the shouts for mark, room, sail your proper course, I'm keeping clear etc., we hope will make this a worthwhile viewing experience", said Kennedy.
