SAILING: THE SECOND of three keelboat titles is up for grabs off Howth this morning in a month-long series of one-design regattas at the North Dublin venue.
A week after hosting the Etchells Worlds, Howth Yacht Club is back on the water with another fleet of over 40 boats, this time for the Investwise SB3 National Championships. And as soon as the SB3s pack up on Sunday, the J24 class prepares for its National Championships on September 11th.
It’s another important fixture because the class European championship is to be held in Howth next season.
There is little doubt today there will be close scrutiny from on the water judges in the first of eight SB3 races because a race course collision at the western championships in Galway a fortnight ago prompted class debate over aspects of the international sailing rules.
Some say part of the issue is the sheer speed of these high-tech keelboats.
Mark rounding in strong breezes is not for the faint-hearted, especially on a port tack approach without any right of way. In post-event discussion, one top sailor, whose boat was damaged in Galway, says it appears the rules are stacked against starboard (right of way) boats.
“There is a real problem with the rules which effectively protect the port tack approach to a windward mark unless the offended starboard tack boat is prepared to jump through endless complicated hoops to ensure a successful protest and in the meantime his boat could be badly damaged,” says top helmsman Roger Bannon.
The damage sustained is expected to cost over €5,000 to repair. It was one of several collisions at the venue.
Today’s forecast is for moderate winds only which will reduce the problem and the event includes a rules briefing from Gordon Davies before the sailors go afloat.
A pre-event favourite is “McCready’s Gill Racing”, sailed by Gareth Flannigan/Brian Spence/Jeremy Tomlinson from Ballyholme, who already have two wins in the four regional championships sailed this season. Former Belfast Olympian Peter Kennedy is the defending champion.
