#ISA ALL IRELAND - Howth Yacht Club will be rallying behind Robin Hegarty as he represents the Puppeteer class as the club's 2012 champion at the ISA Senior All Ireland Sailing Championship in Tipperary this weekend.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Ireland’s 'most prestigious' annual national sailing event will take place from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 October at Lough Derg Yacht Club in Nenagh.

The invitational championship, which began in 1947, will see 21 of Ireland’s leading sailors compete over the three days in the ISA’s fleet of J80 keelboats for the title of 2012 champion and the ISA Helmsman’s Trophy.   

Following a review of the event earlier this year, the championship qualification process has undergone some changes. A total of 16 boats will compete across two fleets of eight on Saturday. 13 of these places are allocated prior to the event; one to the reigning champion, two wild cards and 10 to particular classes based on their attendance figures at national championships.

The remaining places will be filled following an eight boat qualifier on the Friday. There the top three boats will earn their place in Saturday racing. And the top three boats from each fleet on Saturday will progress to Sunday’s final fleet with two places remaining for the top two boats from a two race repechage on Sunday morning.

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 2 (RACE) 28/06/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Deilginis Deilginis Group; 2, Isobel B & C Turvey; 3, Aura I Malcolm; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Deilginis Deilginis Group; 2, Isobel B & C Turvey; 3, Echo B & H Lynch TUESDAY SERIES 2 1 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne; 2, Ibis S Sheridan; 3, Trick or Treat A Pearson; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Arctic Fox G Barry; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Puffin E Harte; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Jabberwocky S Knowles; 2, Kootamundra D O'Grady; 3, Northside Dragon J Bourke; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Shockwave E Quinlan; 2, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Gannet T Chillingworth; 2, Cloud 9 C Feeley; 3, Geppetto O'Reilly/McDyer; Squib HPH: 1, Arctic Fox G Barry; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Puffin E Harte

The cruiser racers might be shattered after a two week stint down South but the Fireballers are already back on the water after ten days in Sligo. While they were away they've been eclipsed on Dublin Bay by the Lasers. DBSC Results here. Gold Dust Won last night's Howth Puppeteer Race. Results here.

An Irish debutant leads the fleet after four days of competition in the Three Peaks Yacht Race. Last night Glen Ward's crew were climbing Ben Nevis.

Half the country is heading for the Tall Ships.

400 are now expected for next week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

There's only a month to Calves week in West Cork. The race programme (plus a sponsor) has been unveiled.

One year to go to the finish of the Volvo Ocean race. Galway gets serious.

Who should be June's Sailor of the Month? Water Rat asks are two medals a realistic expectation from London?

And finally, a German Honour on an Irish Lifesaver. Well done Frank Nolan.

All these stories – and more – on our home page this morning!

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 1 (RACE) 31/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Rita Curley/Lynch; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Echo B & H Lynch; 2, Oona P Courtney; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 31/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy; 3, Gold Dust Walls/Browne; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Geppetto O'Reilly/McDyer; 2, Nefertari Morgan/Murray; 3, Yellow Peril N Murphy; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Fantome N McDonnell; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Pot Black I & R McMurtry; Squib HPH: 1, Pegasus Smyth+Friends; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Pot Black I & R McMurtry; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Shockwave E Quinlan; 2, Investwise G May; 3, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy

Howth Yacht Club TUE + SAT SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Rita Curley/Lynch; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Leila R CooperTUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy; 3, Gold Dust Walls/Browne; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Geppetto O'Reilly/McDyer; 2, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 3, Haemoglobin Mullen/O'Dea; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; 2, Puffin E Harte; Squib HPH: 1, Puffin E Harte; 2, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy; 2, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan

Jay Bourke's Etchell, Northside Dragon was the winner of tonight's Howth Yacht Club scratch race for the keelboat class. Second was Fetching, Quinn/O'Flaherty and third Simon Knowles' Jabberwocky. In the SB3s Gareth May's Investwise was first, Shane Murphy's Dinghy Supplies sceond and third was Shockwave (E.Quinlan).

HOWTH YACHT CLUB.  TUE + SAT  SERIES 1  10/05/2011   17 Footer  SCRATCH:  1, Deilginis Deilginis Group;  2, Leila R Cooper;  3, Isobel B & C Turvey  TUESDAY SERIES 1   Puppeteer  SCRATCH:  1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne;  2, Mojo Stanley/Callen;  3, Enigma D Butler;  Puppeteer  HPH: 1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne;  2, Flycatcher D Wright;  3, Enigma D Butler; Squib  SCRATCH:  1, Shadowfax P Merry;  2, Puffin E Harte;  3, Wasabi C & N Penlerick;  Squib  HPH:  1, Pegasus Smyth+Friends;  2, Shadowfax P Merry;  3, Puffin E Harte;  Etchells  SCRATCH:  1, Northside Dragon J Bourke;  2, Fetching Quinn/O"Flaherty;  3, Jabberwocky S Knowles;  SB3  SCRATCH:  1, Investwise G May;  2, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy;  3, Shockwave E Quinlan

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 1 (RACE) 03/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Deilginis Deilginis Group; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 03/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 2, Ibis S Sheridan; 3, Eclipse A & R Hegarty; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 2, Arcturus McAuliffe/McDermott; 3, Cloud 9 C Feeley; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Klipbok E Dalton; 2, Wasabi C & N Penerick; 3, Astrix M McCaughey; Squib HPH: 1, Pegasus Smyth+Friends; 2, Klipbok E Dalton; 3, Wasabi C & N Penerick; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Fetching Quinn/O"Flaherty; 2, Kootamundra D O'Grady; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy; 2, Shockwave E Quinlan

A European Sailing Championship, four national championships, four regional championships and a dozen local regattas/events are the central features of a hectic year afloat being organised by Howth Yacht Club in 2011 which will bring thousands of sailors and their families to the town and contribute significantly to the local economy.

At a launch reception in the club on Thursday 31st March attended by representatives of local commerce, tourism and community bodies, HYC Commodore Roger Cagney announced that in addition to junior and adult sail training courses and club racing four days a week in the summer months, the Club would host over 20 open events during the year.

"We are used to sailing being a year-round activity," he said, "but even by our standards this will be an exceptionally busy year for Howth Yacht Club. We are fortunate in the number of talented volunteers we can call upon to help make these events successful and we have an enviable track record in this regard. We are also extremely grateful for the sponsorship of individual events from commercial concerns, details of which will be released in due course."

The major event on the 2011 calendar is undoubtedly the European Championship of the J24 Class, the world's most popular racing keelboat, when over 200 sailors from six or more countries will compete in the four-day regatta in September.

Howth will also host the Irish Championships of four classes – Puppeteer, Squib, Howth 17 and Optimist – between July 1st and late-August, with the latter attracting up to 200 competitors, together with their families, coaches and supporters. In addition, HYC will run the SB3 Eastern Championships (end April), the RS Feva Leinsters (late May) and the Dublin Match Racing Open (in J80s in early September).

The club's programme also comprises the Spring Warmer series in April, the annual Lambay Races on June 11th, the Dinghy Regatta a week later and the ever-popular Autumn League over five weekends in September/October.

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 3 (RACE) 10/08/2010 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Rita Lynch/Curley; 3, Aura I Malcolm; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Rita Lynch/Curley; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 3 (RACE) 10/08/2010 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 2, Ibis G May; 3, Mojo Stanley/Callen; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Mr. Punch NiBhraonain/Wilson; 2, Cloud 9 C Feeley; 3, Nefertari Morgan/Murray; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Roxanne J Flynn; 2, Pegasus K T & K Smyth; 3, Astrix M McGaughey; Squib HPH: 1, Pegasus K T & K Smyth; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Roxanne J Flynn; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 2, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 3, Kootamundra Wattle O'Grady/Reilly; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Investwise D Quinn; 2, Lia D Barry; 3, Sharkbait Duncan/Moran

HOWTH YACHT CLUB.  TUE + SAT SERIES 3 (RACE) 20/07/2010   17 Footer  SCRATCH:  1, Rita Lynch/Curley;  2=, Aura I Malcolm;  2=, Leila R Cooper;  17 Footer  HCAP:  1, Echo B & H Lynch;  2, Rosemary Curley/Jones; 3=, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 3 (RACE) 20/07/2010   Puppeteer  SCRATCH:  1, Blue Velvet C & K Kavanagh;  2, Yellow Peril N Murphy;  3, Enigma D Butler;  Puppeteer  HPH:  1, Apollo M & D Patton;  2, Nefertari Morgan/Murray;  3, Mr. Punch NiBhraonain/Wilson;  Squib  SCRATCH:  1, Chatterbox J Kay;  2, Arctic Fox G Barry;  3, Kerfuffle J & H Craig;  Squib  HPH:  1, Arctic Fox G Barry;  2, Chatterbox J Kay;  3, Shadowfax P Merry;  Etchells SCRATCH:  1, Kootamundra Wattle O'Grady/Reilly;  2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles;  SB3  SCRATCH:  1, Investwise D Quinn;  2, Einstein's Nightmare J Wenski;  3, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan