Irishsailing – After the remarkable across-the-board success of the 2014 Irish sailing season, 2015 will have to be very special indeed to be remembered with such enthusiasm. But it's a special year in any case, as two major sailing Bicentenaries – one in the Irish Sea, the other in the Solent – will have added and poignant meaning, as the Centenaries a hundred years ago could not be celebrated because of the First World War.

As for Irish sailing generally, life moves on, there are new sailors on the water, successful young sailors are graduating to the next stage of their rapidly developing careers, and established stars continue to plan fresh campaigns, for sailing is indeed a sport for life.

Then too, new fixtures successfully introduced in 2014 will require nurturing, tuning and encouragement if they are to fulfil their potential in the coming year, while at the same time there's always extra effort needed to give proper support to established fixtures, which have to live with the reality that they might wilt through being taken for granted. Both new and longer-established boat classes will need continued enthusiastic involvement, and our well-loved classics and traditional craft must be cherished and sailed, for lack of use is the real enemy of boats, whether old or new.

As for the major administrative initiatives introduced in 2014, they will need constant monitoring, but deserve full support from the sailing and boating community at large, for it was in response to a grass-roots initiative that the radical and very necessary reforms of the Irish Sailing Association were undertaken. Those appointed to undertake the root-and-branch reform of the national authority have done so with commendable dispatch, so it is now the duty of the rest of us to support their continuing efforts. And we can best do that by enjoying our boats and our sailing and time afloat in its myriad of interests, while encouraging others to do the same. W M Nixon outlines on what the coming year may bring.

One thing at least is certain for the coming season afloat during 2015 in most of Europe. It will not mark any significant sailing Centenaries. Instead, we are immersed in four years of remembering the Great War of 1914-1918 a hundred years on, with all the added twists of that period's longer historical narrative in Ireland. In such a context, it may seem frivolous to point out that sports like yachting have no great Centenaries to mark at all in 2015. But this minor off-screen fact is a reminder of the all-involving horror and obscenity of total warfare on an industrial scale. It obliterated anything like normal life.

Yet as recreational sailing had been going on in some sort of organised form for hundreds of years – albeit in a fairly rudimentary way in its earliest years in the 16th Century – there may well have been several important dates to be marked during the time of the Great War itself, but they were allowed to pass as there was no sport afloat, while civilian life ashore was very subdued.

And in Ireland, with the Troubles persisting for four years after the end of the Great War until 1922, the Bicentenary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club in 1920 was to be a muted affair – the official History of the Royal Cork Yacht Club (published 2005) tells us: "Plans for a special dinner to celebrate the club's bicentenary in 1920 had to be cancelled, probably because of the disturbed conditions in the country"

So the idea of celebrating the Centenary of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes in 1915 at the height of the international war - other than in a rather solemn shorebound way - would have been unthinkable. But that in turn fuels the celebrations when the peacefulgood times roll again. Thus the Royal Cork Yacht Club, having been unable to celebrate its Bicentenary in 1920, went on to have a fabulous two-year Quarter Millennium celebration in 1969-70. And as the RYS couldn't have a proper party in 1915, there's no doubt that the up-coming Bicentenary in 2015 will be the nucleus of international sailing's megafest-of-the-year.

There are of course several clubs which pre-dated the Squadron when it was founded in 1815. And there are many whose members outshine the small membership of the RYS in the breadth and energy of their sailing. But for 2015, let's just acknowledge that the prestigious Squadron has been at the heart of sailing history for a very long time, while their clubhouse's location right on the Solent at Cowes is so central that when any great Solent-related events are under way, the Squadron is in the middle of the story.

Thus it was on the Squadron lawn that in July that the Irish team celebrated their epic Commodore's Cup victory at the end of July 2014. And it will be towards the Squadron and its Bicentenary that the fleet will be racing in 2015's west-east Transatlantic Race. And then it will be the firing of the cannons from the historic Squadron battery which will signal the start of the 46th Fastnet Race on 16th August 2015.

Party time at the Royal Yacht Squadron – the Irish team and their management gather to celebrate victory in the Commodore's Cup at the Squadron Castle in Cowes on August 1st 2014

There'll be many Irish boats involved, and the best-placed of them at the finish will be the winner of the Gull Salver, currently held by Martin Breen's Reflex 38 Lynx from Galway Bay SC, which was skippered to success by Aodhan FitzGerald in 2013's race. It's a coveted trophy, instituted to honour the memory of Harry Donegan of Cork and his famous cutter Gull, which was one of seven boats which inaugurated the Fastnet Race in 1925, and placed third. Since then, Irish Fastneteers have frequently been in the great race's top places, and best of all was in 2007 when Ger O'Rourke's Cookson 50 Chieftain out of Kilrush, sailing under the burgee of the revived Royal Western of Ireland YC, came sweeping in to the finish line at Plymouth to win the Fastnet Race
overall.

One of the greatest moments in Irish sailing history – Ger O'Rourke's Chieftain sweeps towards the finish line to become the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2007. Photo: Rolex

Just the spot for a great Tricentenary celebration - the very complete sailing facilities provided jointly by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and Crosshaven will become a world focus in 2020 with the Club's 300th anniversary. Photo: Bob Bateman

The realisation that 2015 sees this significant RYS Bicentenary is a timely reminder that the Royal Cork's Tricentenary is only five years down the line. They're five years which will be gone in a flash, and already behind-the-scenes moves are afoot to ensure that the national sailing programme will properly facilitate the extraordinary anniversary being celebrated in Crosshaven in 2020.

But meanwhile other Irish sailing centres have their own regular programmes to operate in the intervening four years, and in terms of numbers and scale there's no doubt the top event in Ireland in 2015 will be the biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from 9th to 12th July.

Anyone – and there were many - who took part in this unique "suburban sailfest" in 2013 will know that the VDLR has come of age. It's an event which is comfortable with itself while at the same time being always in development and evolution mode. Each staging of this remarkable Dublin Bay happening sees lessons being learnt and implemented even while the multi-class racing is under way on several courses. And in the two year gap before the next staging, the experience gained is closely analysed and the programme refined to further improve the sport in every area.

You get some idea of the sheer depth of racing experience in Dun Laoghaire by noting that the Chairman of the 2015 Committee is Tim Goodbody, with Martin Byrne as Vice Chairman while the Race Director is Con Murphy. And those three sailing megastars are just the peak of a mountain of race administration experience which is being drawn in from all over Ireland to ensure that the fleet of 400-plus boats gets the best sport possible.

The first regatta in 1828 at the new harbour at Dun Laoghaire, which will be the setting for Ireland's biggest event in 2015, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from 9th to 12th July.

While there'll be keenly participating boats from all over Ireland as well as Scotland, England and Wales, the setup of Dublin Bay being right on the city's doorstep means that it's the locals who would pose an administrative problem for a less experienced team. As the dates for the VDLR approached in 2013, the weather forecast steadily improved, and thanks to the Regatta's "extra long weekend" format, the sudden arrival of summer meant that a host of boats from the greater Dublin area came in as last minute entries, their owners and crews managing to scrape the extra day-and-a-half needed off work. It's a scenario which would put an overstretched administration off course, but the VDLR team took it calmly in their stride, and the result was a successful summer festival of sunlit sails and great sport, with maybe two thousand taking part.

This year there's a more structured cross-channel involvement, as the venerable Royal Dee YC in Cheshire has leapt to life to celebrate its Bicentenary. Founded as the Dee Yacht Club in 1815 with the end of the Napoleonic Wars, it didn't get the Royal seal until 1947, but nevertheless claims to be older than the RYS. With growing fleets in North Wales and the Mersey, it has put together a Bicentennial Royal Dee Irish Sea Offshore Championship linked closely to ISORA, which will bring the fleet across to Ireland to take in four offshore day races sailed as part of VDLR 2015.

Irish National Championships which will be part of the VDLR 2015 programme include the J/109s, the RS Elites, the Beneteau First 21s, and the Wayfarers, while the Leinster GP 14 Championship is also included as an integral part of the Regatta.

Party time in Dun Laoghaire – the Royal Irish YC during VDLR 2013. Photo: W M Nixon

As for Ireland's classic clinker-built vintage classes, one of the pleasantest surprises in VDLR 2013 was the large turnout of Mermaids, which had superb racing on the course area in the northwest corner of Dublin Bay. Despite having been born as the Dublin Bay SC Mermaid in 1932, this class of 17ft super-dinghies is no longer included in the regular DBSC programme owing to shortage of numbers for weekly turnouts. But it seems that as far as the VDLR is concerned, the Mermaid is now an event boat, and the fleets still thriving at other centres, together with some of the dormant Dublin Bay craft, bestirred themselves for the four days to enjoy good sailing for more than three dozen boats, something which is highly likely to be repeated in 2015.

The even more venerable Water Wags, founded 1887 with the current boats dating from 1903, continue to thrive in Dun Laoghaire, and the word is they expect to have at least twenty boats in action, while another wooden classic, the Mylne-designed 25ft Glen keelboat, is 50 years and more in Dun Laoghaire, and looks forward to having at least twelve boats racing in 2015.

All these specialized and historic classes are in addition to the numerous cruiser-racers which continue to be the backbone of Dublin Bay sailing. And while many of them will see the VDLR 2015 as a highlight of the year, in turning to consider the overall national programme, we find a sport which is shaking off economic recession to get on with an extraordinary plethora of local, national and international sailing events.

The problem is that most events of significance hope to locate themselves in the peak sailing period from late May to early September, so clashes are almost inevitable, and if you're interested in several different kinds of sailing, the overall choices can be bewildering in their complexity and logistical challenges.

The Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival attracts an eclectic fleet – included here are a Shannon Gandelow, a West Cork Mackerel Yawl, the ketch Sile a Do, and an Heir Island Lobster Yawl (left).

For instance, the variety of events now available for the traditional and classic boats – usually but not necessarily under the Old Gaffer umbrella – would keep anyone busy for most of the summer. It starts with the Baltimore Wooden Boat & Seafood Festival from Friday 22nd May to Sunday 24th May, which you'd think very early
in the season for someone faced with fitting out an old wooden boat in Ireland's climate, but somehow they do it.

Then on the East Coast for the early summer Bank Holiday Weekend from May 29th to June 2nd, there's the Old Gaffer gathering in Dublin Bay at Poolbeg Y&BC with the annual race for the Leinster Trophy in the bay on Saturday May 30th, the event then morphs into the Dublin Port Riverfest in the Liffey on Sunday May 31st, and finally it all concludes with the race for the Asgard Trophy back in the bay on Monday June 1st.

The annual Lambay Race at Howth, a regular fixture since 1904, has seen its course becoming increasingly complex in modern times in order to satisfy the desire of modern racers for competition on every possible point of sailing. But in 2014, to celebrate the Centenary of the Lynch family's Echo, the venerable Howth Seventeens were sent on the traditional course north from Howth Harbour through the sound inside Ireland's Eye, then on round Lambay leaving it to port, and then back south inside Ireland's Eye again to the finish at Howth pierheads.

This was such an attractive proposition for Old Gaffers and Seventeens alike that on the day an extra Classics Division was added to cater for ancient craft, and it hit the spot. This option will be offered again for 2015's Lambay Race (it's on Saturday June 6th), and the word is that Dickie Gomes's 1912-built 36ft yawl Ainmara will be coming down from Strangford Lough to defend her title after 94 years. 94 years? Yes indeed - she won the Lambay Race in spectacular style in 1921 when still under the ownership of her designer-builder John B Kearney.

After 94 years, Dickie Gomes's 36ft 1912-built yawl Ainmara (seen here on her home waters of Strangford Lough) hopes to return to defend the title in Howth's Lambay Race, which Ainmara won in 1921 while still in the ownership of her designer-builder John B Kearney. Photo: W M Nixon

The Old Gaffers attention then swings north as the Tall Ships are coming to Belfast from Thursday 2nd July to Sunday 5th July. This is going to be a serious biggie with those ships already signed up including a significant turnout of Class A vessels, which are square riggers and others of more than 40 metres in length. Belfast Lough lends itself particularly well to the Parade of Sail which follows a Tall Ships gathering, and in 2009 when they were last in the port they put in in a virtuoso display with the Dutch ship Europa in particular going to the trouble of getting herself over towards Whiteabbey in the northwest corner of the lough to allow her time get every stitch of sail set before proceeding seawards down-lough in colossal style, a much more impressive display than we've become accustomed to in Dublin, where the shape of Dublin Bay is such that it doesn't really provide the space for square riggers to set all cloth before getting out to sea.

The Tall Ship Europa shows how it should be done in Belfast Lough in 2009, taking time out to set full sail before she starts to gather power to make the proper input into the Parade of Sail.

Like Dublin, Belfast has shown it can be hospitable to Old Gaffers, and it was a very welcoming main port during the OGA Golden Jubilee Cruise-in-Company in 2013, so for 2015 the OGA National President Sean Walsh hopes to up the ante by persuading his members from all round the Irish Sea to gather in Belfast, and to add spice to the mix, he hopes to persuade the Howth 17s to put in an appearance as well, to sail with local one designs like the 1903 Belfast Lough Waverley Class, which have been experiencing a revival in recent years.

Old Gaffers in Belfast for their Golden Jubilee in 2013. The Irish Sea classic and traditional fleet will return to the same venue for the Tall Ships gathering in July 2015. Photo: W M Nixon

The Belfast Lough Waverley Class Lilias (built 1903) sailing at the Titanic Centre in Belfast. In 2015, the Waverleys will be joined by some of the 117-year-old Howth 17s to participate in the visit of the Tall Ships. Photo: W M Nixon

The Seventeens have made long treks as a class before – in 1998, five of them were road-trailed to Carrickfergus to mark the class's Centenary, with the first five boats built by Hilditch of Carrickfergus. So though they'd trailed there, they then sailed the 90 miles back to Howth, just as the first boats had done a hundred years earlier. Then in July 2003, fifteen of the Seventeens took part in the Glandore Classics Regatta thanks to a brilliantly organised exercise in logistics using a flotilla of low loaders which could take three boats apiece.

For all of Ireland's classic and traditional boats in 2015, and an international fleet too, Glandore is very much up on the radar again, as a special effort is being made by a GHYC team led by Donal Lynch to encourage increased numbers in the CH Marine Glandore Classic Regatta from Saturday July 18th through Friday July 24th. It's a date which certainly allows Old Gaffers plenty of time to get down from Belfast, indeed some may even consider the option of making the voyage northabout to take in a round Ireland cruise while they're at it. And as that great magnet of the Irish Sea classic and traditional scene, the Peel Traditional Boat Weekend, isn't until Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August, it's just about possible to factor that in as well.

Everything happening at once – the famous Pilot Cutter Jolie Brise was the star of the Glandore Classics in 2013, and as it was her own Centenary she celebrated by sailing round the Fastnet Rock – she has been a successful Fastnet Race participant several times. Photo: Brian Carlin

The Glandore Classics attracts an international fleet, and 2013's regatta included a class of Fife One Designs from the Menai Straits, all of them keen to party and showing it. 2015's Glandore Classics is from July 18th to 24th. Photo: Cormac O'Carroll

All this is already happening for the oldies with August barely under way, yet for modern cruiser-racers the potential programme for any keenly-sailed Irish boat is equally complex, attractive and challenging. The season starts as usual with the Scottish Series from Friday 23rd May to Monday 26th May – there'll probably still be snow on the mountains of Arran. They've gone back to their roots by starting with a feeder race from Gourock to the main regatta centre at Tarbert on Loch Fyne. "Going back to the roots" is something of a theme for this year's staging of the Clyde Cruising Club's main racing event, as this is the 40th Scottish Series. Come to think of it, there are so many important 40th anniversaries happening in sailing these days that we have the admit that the decade which brought us the full horror of wide lapels and flared trousers also contributed some lasting elements of the international sailing scene, indeed it could be said that the modern era in sailing really began about forty years ago.

Back in Ireland, the ISORA programme will be well under way by June, while the Lambay Race on June 6th can be looked at with more interest by several boats, as the biennial National YC Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race doesn't start until Friday June 12th . Last time round, there was a total fixtures clash between the two events, but in times before that hyper-keen sailors such as the Tyrrells of Arklow with Aquelina have been able to fit in both, indeed one year they did it so well they won both too, and were rightly acclaimed as the Afloat "Sailors of the Month" for their success.

For 2015, defending champion in the Dingle Race is Brian O'Sullivan of Tralee with the veteran Oyster 37 Amazing Grace, which came good in the end in 2013 with a new breeze which knocked pending leader Antix (Anthony O'Leary) off the winning perch. But with the 2015 Dingle Race acting as a useful if rather indirect feeder for the Covestone Asset Management Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale from June 24th to 28th, there could be all sorts of sharp boats lining up to take the prize, for the Sovereigns Cup 2015 includes the all-singing all-dancing ICRA Nats 2015. 

The welcoming port – Kinsale is one of Ireland's most popular destinations, and in 2015 its hosts the combined Sovereigns /ICRA Nationals from June 24th to 28th.

Perfect sailing – racing in the Sovereigns at Kinsale in June 2013. Photo: Bob Bateman

Yet the timing of the combined Sovereigns/ICRA Nats is such that there's still plenty of time and space to get back to the Irish Sea for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2015 from July 9th to 12th, a reminder that much of the cruiser-racer programme for 2015 is in a neatly balanced and user-friendly timescale for everyone except perhaps those who wish to do either the entire ISORA or SCORA programme as well, so the problem mostly is going to be getting time off work.

And for the hyper-keen cruiser-racers, particularly those whose boats are small enough to be conveniently trailerable, further temptation looms in 2015 with the WIORA Championship at Galway Bay Sailing Club from July 22nd to 25th. For the fleets in the Shannon, on Tralee Bay, and in Clew Bay, it's a bit more than a day's sail away, but they'll be there to challenge Liam Byrne of the home club who won it in 2014 with his Corby 25 Tribal at Mayo SC in Clew Bay, while some top boats from more distant centres are expecting to trail to Galway Bay to spice up the competition.

By this stage of the season a more relaxed pace might be welcome, but the lively turnout of 80 boats in 2014 for the new-style four day Cork Dry Gin Calves Week out of Schull in early August (Tuesday 4th to Friday 7th August in 2015) suggests that for racing sailors, the best relaxation is more racing, but in a holiday setting. And yes, it has been noted that a true West Corkian sailing nut could indeed do all of Calves Week 2015, and still be on the Squadron line for the start of the Fasnet Race nine days later.

For dinghies in 2015, the big story is the debut of the newest version of the National 18, and just how popular will the Bray-bult foiling Moths become, while established classes will frame their programmes to accommodate sailors whose time is limited, also having to fit in with a national scene where the number of Race Officers with the necessary skills is inevitably a finite amount.

The big stories in Irish dinghy racing in 2015 will be the arrival of the new National 18s at Crosshaven, and the revival of Dinghy Week there in late August. Here, in the Autumn of 2013, To Dwyer and Nin O'Leary test sail the prototype of the new 18 on Cork Harbour. Photo: Bob Bateman

The new Third Generation (or maybe it's fourth or fifth generation) National 18 may have been designed in England by Phil Morrison, and is being built there too. But it was the very active Crosshaven fleet with the Royal Cork Yacht Club which led the charge towards a new boat, and when it came to stepping up to the plate to pay twelve substantial new boat deposits to move it all along after the prototype had been rigorously tested in Cork harbour last Autumn, it was the Crosshaven fleet that provided eight out of those twelve cheques.

So it's entirely appropriate that in August 2015, the dinghy focus will swing big time towards Crosshaven and a short form "Dinghy Week" from August 21st to 23rd. The old style Irish Dinghy Weeks – the last one was in 1970 – became victims of their own success, they just got too large. But the different classes became over-optimistic about their continuing individual growth prospects. Then the pendulum swung too far the other way, and dinghy classes were alone and their events shrinking. But a resurgence of club and championship dinghy sailing in Crosshaven during 2014, and a growing realization that over-reliance on single-handed dinghy classes does not necessarily produce a socially-adjusted national squad of junior sailors, resulted in some clear and creative thinking about developing two-handed boats, and reviving some old classes such as the Mirrors.

The form of this new Dinghy Week is still in the melting pot, but at least eight classes have responded with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the National 18s in Crosshaven will be such a focus of interest during 2015 with the first of the new boats making their debut that we'll have a season-long dinghy narrative developing on Cork Harbour, and the revived Dinghy Week will be just part of it.

As for inshore keelboats, the big one in terms of number is the combined British and Irish Championship Squib Championship at Howth from 27th June to 3rd July. The handy little Squibs are something of an oddity, as they serve so well as a cherished local class in so many Irish sailing centres that many owners see them as that, and nothing more – handy little club sailors to be raced on home waters a couple of times a week.

This means that when a major regional or national event is held, the number taking part will often only be a fraction of the total Irish Squib fleet. But for those who do make the trek, the competition is fierce and the racing great – in Howth, the high point was in 1996, when this "Nationals" event attracted a fleet of exactly a hundred boats, and on one never-to-be-forgotten morning, there they were, every last one of them on the starting line.

A hundred Squibs all in a row at Howth on Tuesday July 25th 1996. Photo: Mandy Murnane

The most recent Squib event of national stature was the Freshwater Keelboat Regatta at Dromineer on Lough Derg on the weekend of October 18th-19th, and the battle for the top places was between the Kinsale and Belfast Lough fleets, with James Matthews and Rob Jacob of Kinsale rounding out their year in style with a good win.

But with the Squibs in England undergoing a revival – they were the second-biggest One Design fleet in Cowes Week 2014, bested only by the legendary XODs – there's no doubt there's a strong challenge coming across channel, and any Irish boat getting into the top ten will be doing well.

As for that annual Autumn Freshwater Keelboat Regatta at Dromineer, while it may have been much hampered by the spinoff from some ferocious weather out in the Atlantic with frustration for some of the sixty boats hoping to take part, it's an event of enormous potential, and the many who wish it well and have enjoyed it in the past will be ready and willing to do their part to make 2015's regatta a success.

The Squibs enjoying a lull in the strong winds during the Lough Derg Freshwater Regatta 2014. Overall winner was Mucky Duck (no 51, James Matthews & Rob Jacob, Kinsale YC). Photo: Gareth Craig

All these specialised and localized events planned for 2015 will be the continuing background music to the usual events of national sailing focus, everything from the selection of the Irish team for the Student Yachting Worlds to the Helmsmans Championships to the steady increase in pace while 2015 develops as the pre-Olympic year. As the year rolls along, other stories will develop too. So perhaps it's appropriate that we exit this review as we entered it. Just pause to remember now and again that, a hundred years ago, you simply couldn't have gone freely afloat like this for sport and recreation at all.

But we can't close on such a solemn note. Seasoned Solent sailors may have noted our header photo from Guido Cantini at the Panerai Classics Regatta was looking just slightly odd, for some reason difficult to pin down. Well, as it happens, the photo was sent to us back in September just as we were contemplating the excellent cleanup up done by Jason Hurley of Jason Hurley Design on the Mercedes-sponsored billboard photo of Howth 17s on the end wall of Howth Yacht Club. As with many photos taken over the RYS starting cannons, the Cantini pic included an obtrusive part of the Fawley Oil Refinery across on what Isle of Wight people call "the north island". Though Fawley has been there for yonks, it still has the look of a temporary structure. So we got Jason to treat as just that. But here for your edification is the true picture. You could get a taste for this sort of thing. What about brushing out Whitegate, lads? And as for Milford Haven.........

The unvarnished truth. In real life, the view from the RYS battery at Cowes can be slightly marred by the clutter of Fawley Refinery across the Solent on "the north island". Photo: Guido Cantini/Panerai

Read also: 2015 Irish Sailing Fixtures List (provisional)

#vdlr2013– The Irish Fireball fleet faces into seven days of intense racing with the advent of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and their Nationals on successive weekends. In a year when numbers at regattas have been under pressure, there is a (relatively) healthy entry of 10 boats for the biennial regatta in Dun Laoghaire which had its first hosting in 2005. The Irish Fireball class has been ever-present at the regatta and in times past we have used the Saturday and Sunday racing as one of our own regattas. This year, the event is an "extra" on our regatta schedule, and we have managed to get enough boats to warrant our own start. For those who are unfamiliar with the Dun Laoghaire event it provides racing for everything from Class 0 IRC to the locally designed Waterwags who race inside the harbour. A visit to the website this morning indicates that the entry is close to 400 boats. The picture above shows a portion of the Dun Laoghaire amphitheatre, with the Fireballs racing alongside the other dinghies classes in the area to the right of the harbour – the Salthill Course.

A ten race programme has been scheduled with two races down for Thursday afternoon, with a 15:25 kick-off, followed by a three-race programme for both Friday and Saturday, with two races to close on Sunday. Race Officer for the Salthill Course is Harry Gallagher, National Race Officer, who is one of the Fireball Class' favoured Race Officers. Harry has been Race Officer for two of our recent Nationals, both in Westport and is the regular Race Officer for the dinghies at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Four days after the close of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the Fireball fleet will reassemble a little bit further up the coast, to the north of Dun Laoghaire, in Skerries, hosts of the 2000 Fireball Europeans. The Skerries club has long been a base for the Fireball fleet but like everywhere, the numbers of the fleet have ebbed and flowed over the years. In recent years they had a very active fleet of five to six Fireballs, with the McGrottys and O'Tooles the names most synonymous with the Class. Numbers are on the low side at present, but the Class has adopted the policy of taking Fireball regattas to venues where the fleet is established.

Skerries provides very easy access to the Dun Laoghaire based fleet and they have been a very welcoming club whenever we have sailed there – most often with the Fireball Leinster Provincial Championships. Access from Northern Ireland is also easy with the travel time from Belfast of the order of 2hrs, or slightly less.

A nine race series is scheduled for the Nationals with racing due to start at 12 noon on the Friday afternoon. Race times thereafter will be determined by the weather conditions.

An 'educated guess" is that our Race Officer might be Liam Dineen, another National Race Officer with whom the Class is very familiar. Like Harry Gallagher, Liam is sensitive to the needs of the competitor and runs his racing accordingly.

Defending Champions Noel Butler & Stephen Oram will doubtless be there and I am aware of at least one combination that we haven't seen this year so far getting together for the event. This combination could well give the defending champions a run for their money but assuming that the regulars we have seen this season are all present, there should be good racing. Names that immediately come to mind to challenge Butler & Oram are Kenny Rumball & Dave Moran, Connor & James Clancy. Based on our recent Ulsters, the likes of Gavin Doyle and Dave Sweeney and Frank Miller & Grattan Donnelly have the capacity to upset the established order. And on home waters, it would be churlish to ignore the aspirations of Team McGrotty – Niall certainly and Simon, if studies allow!

While we are all enjoying great weather here on Ireland's east coast (like much of the UK), a victim of the sunshine has been the wind. XCWeather is forecasting a range of 2-9knots from a variety of directions for the duration of the Dun Laoghaire event

Thus a busy period for the Fireball fleet, theoretically 19 races in six and a half days of racing (Volvo Dun Laoghaire Thursday is a half day!).

#vdlr – Over a third of entries for July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2013 are coming from outside Dublin Bay. See entry list below. The buoyant statistic for Dun Laoghaire's combined clubs regatta was revealed yesterday as a current entry tot of 310 boats received to date was announced.

The organisers of Ireland's biggest sailing event look set to top 400 boats with three months to the first gun on Dublin Bay.

Earlier this month Afloat.ie reported eight of nine of the IRC zero entries for July's competition are overseas entries. The exception is the defending IRC champion, the Howth based Mills 36, Crazy Horse skippered by Norbert Reilly.

Entries received to date are spread across a good mix of visiting clubs from Ireland and overseas with all of the visiting clubs represented bringing additional boats who have yet to enter so the estimation would be that VDLR numbers of visiting big boats will be up from 2011.

A breakdown of entries received to date is below.

VDLR 2013 Entries to date:

 

 

Class	Boat Name	Club
IRC 0	Aquelina	Arklow SC
IRC 0	Eos	Clyde CC
IRC 0	Roxstar	Clyde CC
IRC 0	Grand Cru	Clyde CC
IRC 0	African Challenge	National YC
IRC 0	Jezebel	Royal Dee YC
IRC 0	Loose Change	Royal Irish YC
IRC 0	Wow	Royal Irish YC
IRC 0	Impetuous	South Caernarvonshire YC
IRC 0	Dark Angel	Swansea Yacht & Sub Aqua Club
IRC 0	Elf too	Clyde CC
IRC 0	Crazy Horse	Howth YC
IRC 1	Whats the Rush 2	Ballyhenry Boat club
IRC 1	Animal	Clyde CC
IRC 1	Now or Never 3	Fairlie YC
IRC 1	Carmen2	Helensburgh SC
IRC 1	Flashback -	Howth YC
IRC 1	Bada Bing	Liverpool YC
IRC 1	Mighty Max 2	Liverpool YC
IRC 1	Adrenalin-	National YC
IRC 1	Axiom	Royal Irish YC
IRC 1	Rockabill V	Royal Irish YC
IRC 1	Black Velvet	Royal Irish YC
IRC 1	Raptor -	Royal Irish YC
IRC 1	Boomerang	Royal St George YC
IRC 1	TBA	Royal St George YC
IRC 1	Megalopolis	Royal St George YC
IRC 1	Injenious	South Caernarvonshire YC
IRC 1	Eazi Tiger	Liverpool YC
IRC 2	Scenario Encore	Blackpool and Fleetwood YC
IRC 2	Cherubino	Carlingford SC
IRC 2	Dick Dastardly	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
IRC 2	Tribal	Galway Bay SC
IRC 2	King One	Howth YC
IRC 2	Viking	Howth YC
IRC 2	MiniMumm	Howth YC
IRC 2	The Big Picture	Howth YC
IRC 2	Maximus	Howth YC
IRC 2	Impetuous	Howth YC
IRC 2	Sara Sarema-	Howth YC
IRC 2	Dux	Howth YC
IRC 2	Movistar Bleu	Killyleagh YC
IRC 2	Jester	National YC
IRC 2	Cor Baby	Royal Irish YC
IRC 2	Graduate	Royal Irish YC
IRC 2	Peridot	Royal Irish YC
IRC 2	Witzend 2	Royal St George YC
IRC 2	Helter Skelter	Royal St George YC
IRC 2	Kamikaze	Royal St George YC
IRC 2	Bendemeer	Royal St George YC
IRC 2	Checkmate XV	Royal St George YC/Visiting Cowes
IRC 2	Fifty shades	Strangford lough yc
IRC 2	Sunburn	Howth YC
IRC 2	Red Rhum	Royal St George YC
IRC 3	Excalibur	Bray SC
IRC 3	Chouskikou	DL Marina
IRC 3	Asterix	DL Marina
IRC 3	Tango	Douglas Bay YC IOM
IRC 3	Jaws - Seachange Now	Dublin Bay SC
IRC 3	Triple Seven	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
IRC 3	Triple Seven	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
IRC 3	Alliance II	Howth YC
IRC 3	Hard on Port	Howth YC
IRC 3	Challenger	Howth YC
IRC 3	Pio Degli Ulivi	Howth YC
IRC 3	Jamais Encore	Lough Erne Yacht Club
IRC 3	Jelignite	Lough Ree YC
IRC 3	Goyave	Malahide YC
IRC 3	Cacciatore	National YC
IRC 3	Grasshopper 2	National YC
IRC 3	HyFlyer	Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club
IRC 3	Apache	Quoile YC
IRC 3	NYAH	Royal Cork YC
IRC 3	She Too	Royal Dee YC
IRC 3	Wynward	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Supernova	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Pamafe	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	CriCri	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Gossip	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Saki	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Taiscealai	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Gung-Ho	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Cartoon	Royal Irish YC
IRC 3	Carrabeg	Royal St George YC
IRC 3	Flash	Wicklow SC
IRC 3	Borraine	Royal Irish YC
IRC Coastal	Ulula	Liverpool YC
IRC Coastal	Lula Belle	National YC
IRC Coastal	Adelie	National YC
IRC Coastal	Tsunami	National YC
IRC Coastal	Lively Lady	Royal Irish YC
IRC Coastal	Lady Rowena	Royal St George YC
IRC Coastal	Polished Manx	Douglas Bay YC IOM
IRC Coastal	Rebellion	National YC
J109	Sleeper	Liverpool YC
J109	Ruth	National YC
J109	Powder Monkey	National YC
J109	Something Else	National YC
J109	Jalapeno	National YC
J109	Mojito	Pwllheli SC
J109	Sgrech	Pwllheli SC
J109	Indecision	Royal Irish YC
J109	Jump The Gun	Royal Irish YC
J109	Joker 2	Royal Irish YC
J109	Storm	Rush SC
J109	Jeepster	South Caernarvonshire YC
Beneteau 31.7	Levante	National YC
Beneteau 31.7	Prospect	National YC
Beneteau 31.7	Kernach	National YC
Beneteau 31.7	Bluefin Two	National YC
Beneteau 31.7	Extreme Reality	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau 31.7	Dies Irae	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau 31.7	Magic	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau 31.7	Prima Nocte	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau 31.7	After You Too	Royal St George YC
Beneteau 31.7	Fiddly Bits	Royal St George YC
Beneteau 31.7	Avalon	Royal St George YC
Beneteau 31.7	30 Something	Royal St George YC
Beneteau 31.7	Levana	Royal St George YC
Beneteau 31.7	Twister	Royal Ulster YC
Beneteau 31.7	Eauvation	Douglas Bay YC
Beneteau 31.7	Attitude	Royal Irish YC/Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Syledis in Blue	Bray SC
Non Spinnaker	Chase Me	Bray SC
Non Spinnaker	Gannet	Carlingford Lough YC
Non Spinnaker	Humdinger	Carlingford SC
Non Spinnaker	More Mischief	DL Marina
Non Spinnaker	White Lotus	DL Marina
Non Spinnaker	Just Jasmin	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Non Spinnaker	Demelza	Howth YC
Non Spinnaker	Brazen Hussy	Howth YC
Non Spinnaker	Bite the Bullet	Howth YC
Non Spinnaker	Jokers Wild	Howth YC
Non Spinnaker	Orna	National YC
Non Spinnaker	Aurora	National YC
Non Spinnaker	Setanta	National YC
Non Spinnaker	Zephyr	National YC
Non Spinnaker	Emir Herr	National YC
Non Spinnaker	Dragonfly	Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club
Non Spinnaker	Persistance	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Sea Safari	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Afternoon Delight	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Act Two	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Eden Park	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	The Great Escape	Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Spirit	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Calypso	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Juniper	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Katie	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Nirvana	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	To Infinity and Beyond	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Nauti-Gal	Royal St George YC
Non Spinnaker	Vespucci	Royal St George YC/Royal Irish YC
Non Spinnaker	Pure Magic	Bray SC
Non Spinnaker	Windermere	Greystones SC
Sigma 33	Leaky Roof 2	Cove SC
Sigma 33	Pippa IV	DL Marina
Sigma 33	Saphoenix	Liverpool YC
Sigma 33	Popje	National YC
Sigma 33	Miss Behavin	National YC
Sigma 33	Leeuwin	Royal Irish YC
Sigma 33	Pastiche	Royal Irish YC
Sigma 33	Gwili Two	Royal St George YC
Sigma 33	Springer	Royal St George YC
Sigma 33	Marauder	South Caernarvonshire YC
Sigma 33	White Mischief	Royal Irish YC
RS Elite	Fullmarks	Royal North of Ireland YC
RS Elite	Toucan	Royal North of Ireland YC
RS Elite	Storm	Royal Ulster YC
RS Elite	No Angel	Royal Ulster YC
RS Elite	Momentary Laps...	Royal Ulster YC
Ruffian 23	Carmen	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Ruffian 23	Ripples	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Ruffian 23	Ruff Rider	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Ruffian 23	Paramour	National YC
Ruffian 23	Different Drummer	National YC
Ruffian 23	Icicle	National YC
Ruffian 23	Bandit	National YC
Ruffian 23	Riff Raff	National YC
Ruffian 23	Ruf Nuff	Royal St George YC
Ruffian 23	Diane 2	Royal St George YC
Ruffian 23	Ruff Diamond	Sailing in Dublin Club
Shipman	Invader	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Shipman	Bluefin	National YC
Shipman	Curaglas	National YC
Shipman	Malindi	National YC
Shipman	Whiterock	Royal Irish YC
Shipman	The Den	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Poppy	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Jo Slim	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Viking	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Twocan	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Juniper	Royal St George YC
Shipman	Euphanzel 3	Royal St George YC
J80 Bay Challenge- Northside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Northside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Northside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Northside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Southside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Southside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Southside	Team to be Confirmed
J80 Bay Challenge- Southside	Team to be Confirmed
SB20	Sin a Bhuifl -	Howth YC
SB20	Sharkbait	Irish Sailing Association
SB20	Venuesworld.com	Royal Irish YC
SB20	Bad-Kilcullen	Royal Irish YC
SB20	Sunday Brunch	Royal St George YC
SB20	Smoke on the Water	Royal St George YC
SB20	Should Be…	Royal St George YC
SB20	Sin Bin	Royal St George YC
SB20	TBC	Kinsale YC
SB20	Rubadubdub	National YC
SB20	Seriously Bonkers 3	Royal St George YC
SB20	BomChickaWahWah	Royal St George YC
Beneteau First 21	Backchat	DL Marina
Beneteau First 21	Frutti di Mare	DL Marina
Beneteau First 21	Mon Reve	Malahide YC
Beneteau First 21	eeZee Tiger	National YC
Beneteau First 21	Capilano	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau First 21	Small Wonder	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau First 21	Isolde	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau First 21	Yikes!	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau First 21	Chinook	Royal Irish YC
Beneteau First 21	Syzrgy	Royal St George YC
Beneteau First 21	Plan B	Royal St George YC
Beneteau First 21	Carna	Scotland
Beneteau First 21	Wild Thing	Tralee Bay SC
Beneteau First 21	Double Dutch	UK
Dragon	ZinZan	Royal Irish YC
Dragon	Phantom	Royal St George YC
Dragon	Jaguar	Royal St George YC
Flying Fifteen	The Gruffalo	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Deranged	National YC
Flying Fifteen	A Mere Triffle	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Flyer	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Ash	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Out of the Blue	National YC
Flying Fifteen	The Big Bow Wow	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Fflogger	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Kooigjug	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Snow White	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Perfect ten	National YC
Flying Fifteen	HiFibre	National YC
Flying Fifteen	As Good as it Gets-	National YC
Flying Fifteen	Melliffluence -	National YC
Glen	Glengesh	Royal Irish YC
Glen	Glencoe	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glendun	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glencree	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glenmarissa	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glenshane	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glen Miller	Royal St George YC
Glen	Glenshesk	Royal St George YC
Squib	Periquin	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Squib	Chatterbox	Howth YC
Squib	Black Amour	Howth YC
Squib	Pintail	National YC
Squib	Contender	Royal North of Ireland YC
Squib	Toy for the Boys	Royal North of Ireland YC
Squib	Perfection	Royal St George YC
Squib	Anemos	Royal St George YC
Squib	Why Not	Royal St George YC
Squib	lola	Royal St George YC
Squib	Kookaburra	Royal St George YC
Squib	BuzzLite	Royal St George YC
Squib	Nimble	Royal St George YC
Squib	Little Demon	Royal St George YC
Squib	Fox	Royal St George YC
Mermaid	Tiller Girl	National YC
Mermaid	Lively Lady	National YC
Mermaid	Aideen	National YC
Mermaid	Endeavour	National YC
Mermaid	Jill	Royal Irish YC
Mermaid	The Message	Skerries SC
Mermaid	Gentoo	Skerries SC
Mermaid	Bean Adhmaid	Skerries SC
Mermaid	Dolphin	Skerries SC
Mermaid	Azeezy	Skerries SC
Mermaid	Helen -	Skerries SC
Fireball	License to Thrill	Coal Harbour DL
Fireball	Blue Eyes	Coal Harbour DL
Fireball	Elevation	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Fireball	Tipsey McStagger	Royal St George YC
Howth 17	Oona	Howth YC
Howth 17	Isobel	Howth YC
Howth 17	Sheila	Howth YC
IDRA 14	Shearwater	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club
IDRA 14	Chimaera	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club
IDRA 14	Chaos	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club
IDRA 14	Delos ii	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club
IDRA 14	Diane	Coal Harbour DL
IDRA 14	Dart	Coal Harbour DL
IDRA 14	Doody	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
IDRA 14	Dunmoanin	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC
Laser Std	Sailplan	Royal Irish YC
RS400	888	Coleraine Yacht Club
PY Double Handed	Laser Vago	Sailing in Dublin
PY Double Handed	Laser Vago	Sailing in Dublin
PY Double Handed	Laser Vago	Sailing in Dublin
PY Single Handed	Mach 2	Coal Harbour DL
PY Single Handed	Mach 2	National YC
PY Single Handed	Rihanna	None
Water Wag	Mollie	National YC
Water Wag	Good Hope	Royal Irish YC
Water Wag	Swift	Royal Irish YC
Water Wag	Marie Louise	Royal Irish YC
Water Wag	Chloe	Royal Irish YC
Water Wag	Eros	Royal St George YC
Water Wag	Little Tern	Royal St George YC
Water Wag	Pansy	The Water Wag Club

#vdlr – Eight of nine of the IRC zero entries for July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta on Dublin Bay are overseas entries. The exception is the defending IRC champion, the Howth based Mills 36, Crazy Horse skippered by Norbert Reilly. 

In IRC one fity percent of entries received are visitors to Dublin Bay and in another boost for bay racing, 25 boats in the overall fleet are overseas entries with a good number still to enter, it is estimated.

29 clubs are currently represented with boats coming from Scotland, Wales, UK, Ireland and the North of Ireland.

The VDLR organisers have extended the early bird discount to the biennial regatta until the 22 April but already 250 entries have been received for an event still three months away.

The country's biggest club is leading the local waterfront club entries. The RStGYC has 53 entries, the Royal Irish YC has 42, the National YC has 26 and the DMYC 4 entries to date.

There is also steady growth in participation from across Dublin Bay with Howth YC sending 24 entries.

Current entries here

 

#vdlr – With a week still to go on its early bird entry and over three months to the close of entry, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) has received over 120 entries for what is expected again to be Ireland's biggest regatta again in 2013.

Entries received to date are spread across a good mix of visiting clubs from Ireland and overseas with all of the visiting clubs represented bringing additional boats who have yet to enter so the estimation would be that VDLR numbers of visiting big boats will be up from 2011.

In another boost for regatta chairman Adam Winkelmann the entries received so far (see below for full list) are up at least 30% on this time two years ago.

The J24's will be holding their Eastern championships and will be racing within IRC 3 division. The hope is is that it will attract additional J24's in advance of the Nationals and Worlds later in the summer at Howth YC.

VDLR 2013 Entries to date:

Class	Club	Boat Name	Boat Make	Owner
IRC 0	Clyde CC	Eos	Elan 410	Rod Stuart
IRC 0	Clyde CC	Elf too	Beneteau First 40	Christine Murray
IRC 0	Howth YC	Crazy Horse	Mill 36	Chambers/Reilly
IRC 0	Royal Dee YC	Jezebel	J 111	Guy Cowper
IRC 0	South Caernarvonshire YC	Impetuous	Corby 37	Richard Fildes
IRC 0	Swansea Yacht & Sub Aqua Club	Dark Angel	Dubois 37	Anthony Ackland
IRC 1	Fairlie YC	Now or Never 3	Mat 1010	Neill Sandford
IRC 1	Helensburgh SC	Carmen2	First 36.7	Alan Jeffrey and Paul Scutt
IRC 1	Howth YC	Flashback	Beneteau 34.7	Paddy Gregory, Don Breen
IRC 1	Royal Irish YC	Raptor	Mills 30CR	Denis Hewitt & Ors
IRC 1	Royal St George YC	Megalopolis	Rob Humphries 36	Peter Allman
IRC 1	South Caernarvonshire YC	Injenious	J97	MG SAILING [Crompton/Hallworth]
IRC 2	Howth YC	King One	Modified Half Ton	David Cullen
IRC 2	Howth YC	Viking	X-302	Kevin Darmody/Mark Patterson
IRC 2	Howth YC	Sunburn	Sunfast 32	Ian Byrne
IRC 2	Killyleagh YC	Movistar Bleu	ELAN 333	Raymond Killops
IRC 2	National YC	Jester	J Boats	Declan Curtin
IRC 2	Royal Irish YC	Cor Baby	Corby 26	Ryan, Lattimore and Kiernan
IRC 2	Royal Irish YC	Graduate	J 80	Barron, Dunne, Merrigan O Keeffe
IRC 2	Royal St George YC	Witzend 2	Beneteau	Peter Conlon
IRC 2	Royal St George YC	Kamikaze	Jeanneau Sunfast 32	Peter Nash
IRC 3	DL Marina	Chouskikou	Beneteau First 28	Declan Ward
IRC 3	DL Marina	Asterix	Hunter Sonata	Boushell/Counihan/Meredith
IRC 3	Douglas Bay YC IOM	Tango	Bolero 26	Andy Dunn
IRC 3	Dublin Bay SC	Jaws - Seachange Now	J24	Jaime Bergin, Brendan Foley, Others
IRC 3	Howth YC	Alliance II	Laser 28	Vincent Gaffney
IRC 3	Howth YC	Hard on Port	J24	Flor ODriscoll
IRC 3	National YC	Cacciatore	Hunter Sonata	Mairead Ni Cheallachain
IRC 3	National YC	Grasshopper 2	hanse 301	Kevin and John Glynn
IRC 3	Royal Cork YC	NYAH	J24	Stefan Hyde
IRC 3	Royal Dee YC	She Too	She 31B	David & Jonathan Fawcett
IRC 3	Royal Irish YC	Borraine	Aphrodite101	Ean Pugh
IRC 3	Royal Irish YC	Wynward	Beneteau First 27	Wyn McCormack
IRC 3	Royal Irish YC	Supernova	Quarter Tonner	Joe Timbs
IRC 3	Royal Irish YC	Pamafe	Beneteau First 285	Michael Costello
IRC 3	Royal Irish YC	CriCri	Jezequel Quarter Tonner	Paul Colton
IRC Coastal	Douglas Bay YC IOM	Polished Manx	Sigma 33 OOD	Kuba Szymanski
IRC Coastal	Liverpool YC	Ulula	Corby	Nick Ogden
IRC Coastal	National YC	Adelie	Beneteau First 34.7	Peter Hall
IRC Coastal	National YC	Rebellion	Nicholson 58	Hughes/Hanlon/O'Mahony
IRC Coastal	National YC	Lula Belle	Beneteau First 36.7	Liam Coyne
IRC Coastal	National YC	Tsunami	Beneteau First 40.7	Vincent Farrell
J109	National YC	Ruth	One Design	Liam Shanahan
J109	Royal Irish YC	Indecision	One Design	Declan Hayes
J109	Royal Irish YC	Joker 2	One Design	John Maybury
Non Spinnaker	Bray SC	Chase Me	westerly fulmar	John Raughter
Non Spinnaker	Bray SC	Syledis in Blue	Beneteau Clipper 323	John & Brenda Hayes
Non Spinnaker	Carlingford Lough YC	Gannet	Westerly Typhoon	Brian McCann
Non Spinnaker	Carlingford SC	Humdinger	Jeanneau Sunfast 37	Michael Mc Cabe
Non Spinnaker	DL Marina	White Lotus	Elan 333	Paul Tully
Non Spinnaker	DL Marina	More Mischief	First 310	Eamonn Doyle
Non Spinnaker	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC	Just Jasmin	Bavaria Match 35	Philip Smith
Non Spinnaker	Howth YC	Demelza	Club Shamrock	Stephanie Ennis
Non Spinnaker	Howth YC	Bite the Bullet	Elan 333	Colm Bermingham
Non Spinnaker	Howth YC	Jokers Wild	Beneteau 32S5	Gordon Knaggs
Non Spinnaker	Royal Irish YC	Persistance	Sigma 38	Charles Broadhead, Ian Stuart, Jerry Collins
Non Spinnaker	Royal Irish YC	Eden Park	Jeanneau Sun Oddessy	Liam Farmer
Non Spinnaker	Royal Irish YC	The Great Escape	Bavaria 33	Patrick & Denise Rigney
Non Spinnaker	Royal St George YC	Spirit	Jeanneau 39 DS	Colin OBrien et al
Non Spinnaker	Royal St George YC/Royal Irish YC	Vespucci	Dehler 31	Sean & Kristina ORegan
Sigma 33	Cove SC	Leaky Roof 2	One Design	A.Harper/EandK Robertson
Sigma 33	Liverpool YC	Saphoenix	One Design	Ken Roberts
Sigma 33	National YC	Popje	One Design	Ted mcCourt
Sigma 33	Royal St George YC	Gwili Two	One Design	Dermot Clarke/Paddy Maguire
Sigma 33	South Caernarvonshire YC	Marauder	One Design	Dr P Milner/Dr T Saunders
Beneteau 31.7	National YC	Levante	One Design	Michael Leahy/John POwer
Beneteau 31.7	National YC	Prospect	One Design	Chris Johnston
Beneteau 31.7	National YC	Kernach	One Design	Eoin ODriscoll
Beneteau 31.7	Royal Irish YC	Extreme Reality	One Design	P McSwiney/ E ORafferty
Beneteau 31.7	Royal Irish YC	Dies Irae	One Design	Patrick D Rowan
Beneteau 31.7	Royal Irish YC	Prima Nocte	One Design	Deirdre Kennedy/Patrick Burke
Beneteau 31.7	Royal St George YC	After You Too	One Design	Michael Blaney
Beneteau 31.7	Royal St George YC	Levana	One Design	Jean Mitton
Ruffian 23	National YC	Paramour	One Design	Larry Power
Ruffian 23	Sailing in Dublin Club	Ruff Diamond	One Design	Regina Regan
Shipman	National YC	Bluefin	One Design	B Finucane
Shipman	National YC	Curaglas	One Design	John Masterson
Shipman	National YC	Malindi	One Design	Andrew Gray/Bernard Smith
Shipman	Royal Irish YC	Whiterock	One Design	Henry M. Robinson
Shipman	Royal St George YC	The Den	One Design	George Miller/Aisling Costello
Shipman	Royal St George YC	Poppy	One Design	Peter Beamish and others
Beneteau First 21	Malahide YC	Mon Reve	One Design	Brian Stewart
Beneteau First 21	National YC	eeZee Tiger	One Design	Paraic Bourke
Beneteau First 21	Royal Irish YC	Capilano	One Design	Séamus Storan
Beneteau First 21	Royal Irish YC	Small Wonder	One Design	Hugh Kelly
Beneteau First 21	Royal Irish YC	Isolde	One Design	Peter Carroll
Beneteau First 21	Royal Irish YC	Yikes!	One Design	Joe Conway
Beneteau First 21	Royal Irish YC	Chinook	One Design	Andrew Bradley and Paul Morgan
Beneteau First 21	Royal St George YC	Syzrgy	One Design	Rowan Fogarty
Beneteau First 21	TBC	Carna	One Design	Stuart Spence
Beneteau First 21	Tralee Bay SC	Wild Thing	One Design	Louis Byrne/Declan Costello
SB20	Irish Sailing Association	Sharkbait	One Design	Ben Duncan/Brian Moran
SB20	Kinsale YC	TBC	One Design	Ronan Downing
SB20	Royal Irish YC	Venuesworld.com	One Design	Ger Dempsey
RS Elite	Royal Ulster YC	Storm	One Design	John Gunning/Stephen Polly/ David Kelso
Dragon	Royal St George YC	Phantom	One Design	Peter Bowring/David Williams
Dragon	Royal St George YC	Jaguar	One Design	Martin Byrne
Fireball	Coal Harbour DL	License to Thrill	One Design	Louis Smyth
Fireball	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC	Elevation	One Design	Neil Colin/Margaret Casey
Fireball	Royal St George YC	Tipsey McStagger	One Design	Conor and James Clancy
Flying Fifteen	National YC	The Gruffalo	One Design	Ian Mathews
Flying Fifteen	National YC	Deranged	One Design	Alan Green
Flying Fifteen	National YC	A Mere Triffle	One Design	Peter Sherry/Karl Ruddy
Flying Fifteen	National YC	Flyer	One Design	Niall Coleman
Glen	Royal St George YC	Glencoe	One Design	RM Craig/P&F Sheehan/J Murphy/ B Cotter
Glen	Royal St George YC	Glendun	One Design	Brian Denham
IDRA 14	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club	Shearwater	One Design	Ciaran Browne
IDRA 14	Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club	Chimaera	One Design	Killian Sargent/Yvonne Murray
IDRA 14	Dun Laoghaire Motor YC	Doody	One Design	John Fitzgerald/Jennifer Byrne
Mermaid	Skerries SC	Helen	One Design	Therese McHugh
Mermaid	Skerries SC	The Message	One Design	Ross Galbraith
Squib	Royal St George YC	Perfection	One Design	Jill Fleming
Squib	Royal St George YC	Anemos	One Design	Pete and Anne Evans
Squib	Royal St George YC	Fox	One Design	Michael Moran/Michael Shiel
Squib	TBC	Pintail	One Design	M.Muldoon/B.Stevens
Water Wag	National YC	Mollie	One Design	Cathy Mac Aleavey
Water Wag	Royal Irish YC	Swift	One Design	Guy Kilroy
Water Wag	Royal Irish YC	Good Hope	One Design	Hal Sisk
Water Wag	Royal St George YC	Little Tern	One Design	John Ross-Murphy

#VDLR – There's still six months to go to the first gun of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2013 (VDLR) but already the country's biggest sailing event is clocking up the entries and many are return visitors, a heartening prospect for regatta organiser Adam Winkelmann.

The fifth staging of the event starts on July 11 and with an estimated 400 entries in 28 classes the Dublin Bay regatta is attracting entries from across the Irish Sea including two entries in January from the Isle of Man and one from Fairlie Yacht Club in Ayrshire.

Liverpool Yacht Club's J109 Sleeper skippered by Alasdair Davidson has confirmed and is expected to head a number of boats from the Mersey.

Club mates Andy Dunn sailing a Bolero 26 and ISORA regular Kuba Szymanski in the Sigma 33 Polished Manx from Douglas Bay Yacht Club are already signed in for Ireland's biggest sailing event in 2013.

An expected fleet of eight boats including IRC 1 Animal, Debbie & Kevin Aitken are returning once again to the event from Clyde Cruising Club. VDLR 2013 has also attracted back Scotland's Neil Sandford sailing a Mat 1010 from Fairlie Yacht Club.

The RS Elite sportsboat fleet (approximately 20 boats) have four events in the UK and Ireland this season but their Grand Slam event has been confirmed as VDLR.

Royal North of Ireland's Peter Wallace has confirmed he will be returning to defend his 2011 one design Squib Title.

The event office has also received enquiries from an experienced Crew from Yorkshire seeking a J109 or Sigma 33 for charter.

Feedback from local classes and class captains is very positive and excellent attendance is expected also from the local Dublin Bay and Howth fleets.

Already signed up are Bay regulars Raptor, the Mills 31-footer (Denis Hewitt), Howth Yacht Club's modified Half tonner King One, (David Cullen) and the Royal St. George's Vespucci, a Dehler 31 sailed by Sean and Kristina O'Regan. Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Paddy McSwiney's Beneteau 31.7 is sailing as is the Robe Humphries 36 Megalopolis, skippered by Peter Allman.

An early entry promotional drive will commence this week with an annual Subscription prize to Afloat, Ireland's Boating Magazine for early entries.

#vor – Volvo's long association with Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) is set to continue into 2013 with the car marque taking the Title sponsor package for the event next year.

Dun Laoghaire Regatta has announced Volvo Car Ireland will sponsor the 2013 event in association with Spirit Motor Group, the dealership for Volvo in South Dublin.

"Sailing is a global platform for Volvo with our global involvement in the sport including the Volvo Ocean Race and we are proud to continue our association with this superb inshore regatta organised by the 4 waterfront yacht clubs in Dun Laoghaire" commented Adrian Yeates, Managing Director Volvo Car Ireland.

Given the challenging economic environment this announcement illustrates the confidence of Volvo Car Ireland in the ongoing recovery in the Irish economy and the belief in the regatta as a marketing platform for the brand.

"We at Spirit Motor Group are delighted to work with Volvo Car Ireland and the Dun Laoghaire Regatta Committee to ensure a winning partnership for customers and the important sailing community that participate in the event" commented Alan Moore, Dealer Principal, Spirit Motor Group.

Adam Winkelmann, Chairman of the 2013 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Committee added "like all events we rely enormously on the support of our sponsors to run the event. The regatta relies heavily on sponsorship and an army of volunteers to deliver a quality event at an affordable price. We are really delighted that Volvo Car Ireland, our long-standing title sponsor, continues as our primary brand partner in that regard. We welcome once again Spirit Motor Group as a very important addition to the mix."

The biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta will attract in the region of 400 boats and 3,000 participants along with families and friends to Dun Laoghaire in July next year. The sailors come mainly from Ireland, UK, Wales and Scotland from where we expect at least the same number of visitors as 2011. The event promises an important boost to the local economy of Dun Laoghaire town in the middle of the summer season. The regatta prides itself in delivering quality racing along with a wonderful festive atmosphere across the Dun Laoghaire waterfront.

This announcement is timed to coincide with the launch of the 2013 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta official Notice of Race and Online Entry available here.

George Sisk's new Wow sailed to success in the Crusiers Zero divison of the Dublin Port sponsored Dublin Bay Sailing Club race this afternoon. The new J111 that sailed its first race in July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta beat Vincent Farrell's Tsunami, a Beneteau 40.7, for the Bay's big boat IRC honours. Full results for the entire Dublin Bay Sailing Club race (for 23 JULY 2011) are below:

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Fiddly Bits (Kevin Byrne et al), 2. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al), 3. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 3. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jura (Barry McCabe), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al), 2. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 3. Bendemeer (Lindsay Casey Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 3. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Taiscealai (Brian Richardson et al), 2. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

DRAGON - 1. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 2. Susele (Michael Halpenny), 3. Sir Ossis of the River (D Bergin)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe), 3. Snow White (Frank Burgess)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe)

GLEN - 1. Glenroan (Terence Moran), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 3. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Kim (D Cassidy), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID - 1. Kim (D Cassidy), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS - 1. R Tate (Laser), 2. Desmond McCarthy (Laser 1), 3. Orla Callender (Laser 1)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. R Tate (Laser), 2. Desmond McCarthy (Laser 1)

SHIPMAN - 1. Macro One (Joseph Murray), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Euphanzel lll (Louis McSherry et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 3. Pintail (M Muldoon & B Stevens)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 2. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 3. Kookaburra (P & M Dee)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta showcased the dynamic new sport of Kiteboarding off Seapoint on Saturday.

This year's regatta sees the launch of a brand new class, Kiteboard Course Racing. Many of you will be familiar with the mutlicoloured spectacle of kiteboarding, or as its sometimes called kitesurfing. Its not unusual to see 100+ kites in the air as you cruise or race pass Clontarf's Dollymount Strand. The sport has moved rapidly over the past 10 years with a vibrant community in Ireland, and is probably one of the most affordable sail sports available today. Now with a budding race scene, you can expect to see kites in large numbers vying for podiums all around the country.

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has a history of being at the forefront of sail racing, and is proud to showcase this new dynamic class. Kite Course Racing was held this morning (first Start 10.15am) and depending on the wind will race again tomorrow Sunday 10th July.

The latest technology drive in kiteboarding has been towards course racing. Kiteboarders on race specific equipment fly upwind as quickly as an AC45, and achieve fully powered up racing from 8kts upwards. As you would expect, it has all of the hallmarks of high octane sailboat racing, as riders fight tooth and nail for every boat/board length, screaming for water at the mark, while searching for wind shifts and the fastest route around the cans, all this is done with breathtaking speed and agility. Heres an example of kiteboards pitted against hydrofoiling Moths, and 49er's ( http://www.pureracing.ie/ikite​r-tv/ )

Among the many hopefuls on the starting line, you can expect to see Francois Colussi, owner of Clontarf based kiteboard store & school Puremagic. Look out for Francois riding Cabrinha, he has been at the top of the sport for many years, competing at international level before settling in Ireland to open Puremagic Dublin & Achill. Jade O'Connor also on Cabrinha is no stranger to finishing line honours, a stalwart competitor in dinghy classes and catamaran's for many years.

The format is olympic / triangle courses, and ISAF rules under appendix BB, races are about 25 minutes long, raced back to back, with an event carrying the usual discard rules. A strict box rule governs the boards, keeping costs down and competition up. Kite size's range from 6m to 16m, as you can imagine the power to weight ratio is quite phenomenal. The class has a professional tour and recent world championships in Sylt, Germany, which was attended by over 70 competitors. Recent showcases have included the Rolex Miami OCR, the class is also in the mix for inclusion at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

2011 VDLR Kite Boarding Race 1 (Saturday 9th July)
Full Results as follows;
1. Francios Colussi
2. Jade O'Connor
3. Colm Murphy
...4. James Hayden
5 Eoin O'Connell
6 Melissa Evans, Carl Jordan, Catherine Etienne, Ross Harte, Charlie.

With marginal conditions the kiteboard course racing completed two races on Saturday. Enjoying cross onshore conditions at the required minimum 8kts limit at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

A hard fought contest saw the PureMagic Team take first and second. Francois Colussi in first place on a 13m Cabrinha Crossbow, followed by Jade O'Connor also riding Cabrinha. In third place was Colm Murphy riding Nobile. A short but fantastic day's racing in Dublin Bay

Responsive race management in trying conditions pulled off a successful day afloat and – averted a major regatta set back  – for the massive 420 boat fleet in the penultimate round of the four day Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta today.

In a classic Dublin Bay scenario a light westerly gradient breeze of 8 knots fought an opposing sea breeze leaving Ireland's top race management teams with little option but to reset some courses and abandon others across the regatta's nine different courses.

Despite the on the water headaches however, the outcome has been a full programme of races in nearly all the 25 competing classes, thanks to nimble race teams.

More light winds at Dun Laoghaire today. More Photos on the Afloat Gallery HERE.

It leaves just two more races for the one designs and dinghies and a single race to decide the overall honours in the Cruiser classes tomorrow (Sunday) morning.

The hardest done by was perhaps the SB3s and Dragons who were sailing in Scotsmans' Bay. Race three was started twice and abandoned twice as the regatta's Chief Race Officer Con Murphy sat between two bands of wind, neither stable enough for racing.

The fickle conditions brought the first slip from Flor O'Driscoll's leading J24 in Cruisers III. Though the Royal St. George Crew still lead their margin is now a single point over Ken Lawless' Supernova.

O'Driscoll who is counting three races wins only managed a second and an untypical  22nd placing today. Supernova closed the gap with two race wins. Another J24 3. Scandal (Brian McDowell) is third.

21 Cruisers III are racing in IRC and 33 under the local ECHO handicap to be the biggest class at the regatta.

The J109s are racing for national championship honours and Pat Kelly's Storm from Rush Sailing Club is back in command again after a slip on Friday. Second is Andrew Sarratt's with John Maybury's Joker third.

In spite of the race abandonment issues Sharkbait (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran) lead the Laser SB3s. Aidan O'Connell's entry from the Royal St.George is third with John O'Driscoll's BornChickaWahWah third.

In the dinghy classes Johnny Ross Murphy's Water wag Little Tern leads from Swift (Guy Kilroy). William and Linda Prentice's Tortoise is third.

The final races for all classes get underway in the morning at 10.55am

Selected overall VDLR results after Day three (provisional) below:

IRC CLASS 0 - 1. Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly), 2. Elf Too (Christina Murray) 3. Grand Cru II (Jamie McGarry)

IRC CLASS 1 – Something Else(John&Brian Hall/Sue McDonnell), 2 Bengal Magic (John Moorehead/Chris Ferres), 3. Antix Beag (Anthony O'Leary)

IRC CLASS 2 - 1. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 2. Impetuous (Fergal Noonan/Robert Chambers) 3. King One (David Cullen)

IRC CLASS 3 - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Supernova (Syd MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon), 3. Scandal (Brian McDowell)

NON SPINNAKER 1 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lula Belle (Liam Coyne), 3. Persistance (Charles Broadhead/Jerry Collins/Ian Stuart)

NON SPINNAKER 2 - 1. Bite the Bullet (Colm Bermingham), 2. Voyager (Joe Carton), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

NON SPINNAKER DBSC CUP - 1. Persistance(Charles Broadhead/Jerry Collins/Ian Stuart), 2. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer),3.Eden Park (Liam Farmer)

J109 - 1. Storm (Pat Kelly), 2. Jedi (Barratt/Austin/McGuinness), 3. Joker 2 (John Maybury)

J80 WELSH/IRISH CUP- 1. Ireland 1 (Geoff O'Donoghue), 2. Ireland 2 (Stephen Doherty), 3. Wales 1 (Kieron Inman)

LASER SB3- 1. Sharkbait (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran), 2. Aidan O'Connell, 3. BornChickaWahWah(John O'Driscoll)

BENETEAU 31.7 – 1. Twister(Fletcher/Byers/Fair),2. Flying Machine (Conor&Donal O'Gallagher),3.30 Something(Kavanagh/Jones/Gaffney/Lubliner)

SIGMA 33 - 1.White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Moonshine (Ronnie Moloney/David O'Flynn)

RUFFIAN 23- 1. Ruff Nuff (Derek&Carol Mitchell), 2. Diane 2 (Alan Claffey) 3. Ruff n'Ready(Cullen/Brown/Kirwan)

SHIPMAN- 1.Curraglass (John Masterson), 2. Whiterock (Henry M Robinson), 3. Joe Slim(Clarke/Maher&Maher)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (Donal&Richard O'Connor), 2.Glenmarissa(Frank Elmes/Wilf Higgins), 3. Pterodactyl (Roderick & David McCaffrey)
FLYING 15- 1. Hy5ive(David Gorman), 2. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole) 3. The Big Bow Wow (Niall Meagher&Nicki Matthews),

DRAGON- 1.Phantom (Peter Bowring/David Williams), 2. Jaguar(Martin Byrne), 3. Sir Ossis of the River (Burgin/Murphy/Burke)

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (Johnathon O'Rourke), 2. Endeavour(Roger Bannon), 3. Thumbalina(Patrick Boardman)

SQUIB - 1. Toy for the Boys (Peter Wallace), 2. Femme Fatale(Joe O'Byrne/Vincent Delaney), 3. Anemos (Peter & Anne Evans)

WATER WAG - 1. Little Tern (J Ross-Murphy) 2. Swift(Guy Kilroy), 3. Tortoise(William & Linda Prentice)

WAYFARER- 1. Devil's Advocat (Richard Hartley) 2. Still Gamboling (Brian Lamb), 3. Black Pear (David Wade)

FIREBALL- 1. El Rey Del Fuego (Francis Rowan) 2. Lets Get Messy (Andy Boyle/Barry Hurley), 3. Moon Monkey (Diana Kissane)

IDRA 14- 1. Delos II (Patrick O Neill) 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Chaos (Julie Ascoop/Heather Keenan)

HOWTH 17- 1. Isobel (Brian&Conor Turvey) 2. Oona (Peter Courtney), 3. Leila (Roddy Cooper)

LASER RADIAL - 1. Declan Kickham, 2. Pump It (Luke Murphy), 3. Eoin Foley

LASER STANDARD- 1. Fossa Too (Will Nesbitt), 2. SharonHowey.com (Richard Tate), 3. Francis Barry