As the bulk of Dublin’s racing fleet is lifted back into the water tomorrow morning for the summer sailing season, three standout inshore and offshore events will make June a packed month in a busy calendar afloat.
The inclusion of boats from across the Irish Sea means the ICRA National Championships from June 13th-15th will not only be the biggest cruiser event on the east coast this season but it may also break the record of 125 entries for the championships to date.
Forty two boats are already entered for the Dún Laoghaire event and ICRA organisers are looking at new divisional handicap break-points that will quite likely make the composition of the 2014 fleet different from past events, especially in divisions three and four.
Welcome return
In Division Zero, Royal Cork entry Jump Juice is making a welcome return to challenge Crazy Horse and WOW, with Tsunami also in the mix. ICRA is still awaiting a Scottish First 40 entry together with challengers from Wales. Defending champion Antix will be competing abroad with other Commodores' Cup boats so it leaves the division ready to crown a new champion. Paul O'Higgins Corby 33 design Rockabill V takes on a clutch of seven J109's including previous Champion Pat Kelly's Storm and Welsh offshore champion Stephen Tudor in Sgrech in division one.
Division two is also building with Nigel Bigg's Checkmate V lining up against the Corby 25's Smile (Rob Allen) and the Noonan/Chamber's Impetuous. The 25 per cent discount entry deadline is next Monday (April 14th) for all competitors.
Separate starts
Following the ICRAs, an inaugural Sportsboat Cup from June 20th-22nd aims to attract eight separate classes. Howth Yacht Club will stage the 1720 European Championships as part of the multi-class event that also offers separate starts for SB20s, Quarter Tonners, J24s, RS Elites, Dragons, J80s and J70s.
Racing will be one design with the exception of the quarter tonners (who are also competing at the ICRAs) who will race under IRC.
The offshore highlight of the year is the Round Ireland race from Wicklow at the end of June. There is no official word whether the earlier tie-up with the Royal Irish in Dún Laoghaire has boosted entries as hoped but already one British Offshore Sailing School at least has entered the 700-mile race, with 'Sailing Logic' confirming the Beneteau First 40.
It bodes well for a bumper entry, given ISORA chief Peter Ryan is also urging entries into the biennial classic.
