IRC Cruisers, Non Spinnaker, One Design & Dinghies

  Regatta Site Venue

Great excitement this morning over at Sea Point where Kiteboarders were racing. The 2011 VDLR is proud to showcase this dynamic new class. Photo Jason Town | Cube Images


Press release - Saturday 9th July - This years regatta sees the launch of a brand new class, Kiteboard Course Racing. Many of you will be familiar with the mutlicolour...ed 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 for sailors today on the third day of the 2011 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (selected overall results below)

(Saturday 9th July @ 1900 hrs) Responsive race management in trying conditions pulled off a successful day afloat and ¬ averted a major regatta set back ¬ for the mas...sive 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.

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 another untypical 2nd 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 BomChickaWahWah 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 (Sunday 10th July) at 10.55am

Light winds replaced heavy for day two of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and although it has been a regatta of extremes so far it is also one that has completed the full schedule for all 25 classes.

Ireland's largest sailing event approaches the half way stage tomorrow and a number of key champions are emerging in cruiser, one design and dinghy classes.

Howth Yacht Club's Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly) leads Cruisers Zero from two Scottish visitors. Another local boat, the royal St. George's Sigma 38 Erislannan leads Class one, again from Scottish visitors.

Sligo Yacht Club's Conor Ronan has a two point lead in Class two but in the strongest regatta performance of the regatta to date the 2009 class three winner Hard on Port is in control again. Flor O'Driscoll's J24 Hard on Port has three wins in his 38 boat fleet, the biggest fleet of the regatta.

The one designs are lead, by fleet size at least, by the SB3s with 33 racing. The Howth trio of Ben Duncan, Brian Moran and Ric Morris are ahead but only by a point, their margin reduced by an OCS in race four.

The J109 class are also racing for national honours and after three races the early leader Pat Kelly's Storm has lost out to Joker (John Maybury) and Dermot Baker's Jalapeno in second.

The Dragon class only started racing the regatta today have now completed three races. Sir Ossis of the River sailed by Denis Bergin leads from Peter Bowring's Phantom.

(Thursday 7th July @ 21.30hrs) Unexpected strong winds got the fourth Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta off to a stunning start on Dublin Bay yesterday even though a number of boats in the massive 420-boat fleet got into difficulties as the southerly breeze hit 25... knots.

Nearly 3000 sailors and 420 boats are afloat for the four day regatta that is the biggest sailing event in the Irish Sea area.

An impressive line up of 14 Class Zero boats has made Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta the biggest turnout this year for the 40-footers and it was appropriate yesterday that Howth's well campaigned Crazy Horse should make the running in the big sea conditions. The Chambers/Reilly skippered Mills 36 beat Fairlie visitor Christine Murray's Elf too, a Beneteau First 40 on the windward leeward course. Third was another visitor Grand Cru (Jamie McGarry) from the Clyde.

Anthony O'Leary's put on a David vs Goliath performance in yesterday's dramatic opener of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta which was a result of the surfing conditions that gave his modified 1720 a real chance to show her speed downwind against some boats seemingly twice the size in IRC One.

The gutsy performance would have put the Royal Cork yacht 'Antix Beag' top of the 19-boat fleet except the Cork crew lost their rig. It is still unofficial but Debbie Aitken's Elan 380 Animal from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club is the probable winner. Second is the locally based Sigma 38 Errislannan skippered by Paul Kirwan.

In class two Sligo visitor Ruthless, a Corby 26, sailed by Conor Ronan beat the locally based half tonner Dick Dastardly from the DMYC. Another vintage half tonner, King one, from Howth and skippered by Dave Cullen was third.

Last year's winner of the overall Volvo trophy Flor O'Driscoll is back in contention again. His J24 Hard on Port was the winner of the regatta's biggest fleet yesterday, taking a win from Ken Lawless's Supernova in the 38-boat class three division.

In the one design divisions there were plenty of familiar names at the top top of the fleets given the testing southerlies that prevailed.

Tim Goodbody leads the Sigma 33s, David Gorman the Flying fifteens, Patrick Boardman the Mermaids, Colin Galavan the SB3s, first race winner Ben Duncan did not sail the second race. Pat Kelly's Storm leads the 10 boat J109s who are also racing for national championship honours.

Entry will close to this years event on Thursday 30th June so dont miss the chance to participate in 4 days great racing and craic.

Sailing Instructions are now availble in the PDF download below. They will also be issued in hard copy in skippers cases at Registration which will take place on the following days:

Tues 5th July 1500 to 2100
Wed 6th July 1100 to 1900
Thurs 7th July 0900 to 1300

All visiting and local competitors will be contacted by email in regards to Regatta Information.

  Sailing Instructions

With four weeks to go circa 3,000 competitors are now expected to start the biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Entries are being received steadily in all 25 classes for the fourth edition of the regatta.

Already 380 boats have signed up for the regatta which will be the biggest sailing event in Ireland in 2011. The competing sailors are drawn from Dublin Bay yacht clubs and Howth as well as from across Ireland with added participation from English, Welsh, Scottish, Isle of Man, French, Spanish, German and Danish yacht clubs.

For many of the boats in the cruising classes, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2011 will be the culmination of hard training and participation first at the ICRA National Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven (17th – 19th June) and then the Sovereign’s Cup at Kinsale (22nd – 25th June.) When the first starting guns are fired in Dun Laoghaire on the afternoon of Thursday 7th July, the fleet form should be clearer based on the results from the earlier regattas.

However star contenders that lined up for prizes at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 are already in contention for prizes in 2011.

IRC Class Zero has attracted ten entries and will feature boats such as Aquelina, a J122 Arklow Sailing Club, Dopplebock, German-entry Dopplebock from Nordduscher Regatta Verein, a new J111 that is the latest ‘WoW’ from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and Cork’s Jump Juice from the RCYC; all are expected to feature in the top results. Organisers are also expecting entries from Allan Hogg’s, Argie Bargie from Royal Western Yacht Club, Kilrush, Co Clare and Vincent’s Farrell’s, Tsunami, from the National Yacht Club.

IRC Class 1 has already attracted 22 entries and will feature Sailor of the Year 2010 Anthony O Leary with Antix Beag (RCYC), a modified 1720 which in the right conditions is unbeatable. Paul O’Higgins’s Rockabill V (NYC/ RIYC) was IRC 1 champion at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 is also a key contender. Organisers say Rockabill is an extremely well crewed boat and could be in contention for the overall event prize.

IRC Class 2 has already attracted 24 entries and the star contender is David Cullen’s King One, a half tonner from Howth Yacht Club which although a classic boat is very well sailed. Red Rhum, Jonathan and Christopher Nicholson’s Dehler DB1 from the Royal St George Yacht Club which won on ECHO at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 is also in this class.

IRC Class 3 also has a strong entry with 33 entries so far and Flor O’Driscoll’s Hard on Port (RStGYC) was the only boat in 2009 which achieved bullets (race wins) across the Regatta and is obviously the star contender in this class.

The Non Spinnaker classes (White Sail 1 and White Sail 2) which demonstrate the true spirit of sailing, have already attracted 25 entries, especially from visiting entries.

Philip Dillworth’s Orna, a Grand Soleil 40 from the National Yacht Club which will sail in Non Spinnaker class 1 is a wonderfully consistent boat that wins everything. Other boats to watch out for in this class are Persistance from the RIYC which won on ECHO in White Sail 1 class at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 and Katanca from RIYC and MacMagic from HYC who both achieved line honors two years ago.

So far 12 J109’s are registered to race at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2011 and John Hall’s ‘Something Else’ from NYC is widely regarded as the boat to beat in that class. Other ‘one design’ classes will include the Beneteau 31.7s, the Sigma 33s, the Ruffian 23s and the Shipman 28s.

The dinghy classes will include Laser SB3s sportboats. Squibs, Mermaids, Dragons, Flying Fifteens, Fireballs and Lasers single-handed.

Ben Duncan and Brian Moran’s SB3, Sharkbait from Howth YC is already sitting at top of its class. But another a key competitor in that class will be Annalise Murphy who is currently ranked 9th in the world by the ISAF (International Sailing Federation), is a 2012 Olympic sailing campaigner and has kindly taken on the role of 2011 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta ambassador. Annalise will be sailing the SB3, Bluebird. In the Dragon class, a former Olympic boat, Martin Byrne is currently the national champion on Jaguar and also Commodore of the Royal St George YC, so is the boat to beat in that class.

The classic boat classes will include Glens, Howth 17s, IDRA 14s, Water Wags, Wayfarers and Etchells and may be consolidated into a single race area, depending on the turn out. The UK and Irish national championships for the Wayfarer class will also take place during the event, with 40 to 50 boats expected in this fleet alone.

Organisers are also trying to build a relationship with the kite boarding class, which may become an ISAF Olympic class by 2016. The Regatta will have a prize for a kite boarding event in Sutton, and will have a kite boarding demonstration on one of the regatta days.

In addition to the overall winners and runners up, special trophies will be awarded for Best IRC, Best One Design/ Keelboat, Best Dinghy/ Small Keelboat, Best Visiting Boat and the Irish Open White Sail Champion.

Behind the scenes, there’ll be more than 300 volunteers making sure that the event runs smoothly and organisers say they will process more than 6,000 sets of results (including handicap combinations) over the four days.

The regatta will take over the entire waterfront at Dún Laoghaire for the event, using the four yacht clubs and benefiting from Dublin Bay Sailing Club’s expertise and equipment.

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For further information please contact Jane Curtin, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2011 Media Director. Tel.: 087 938 0779

One third of entries received so far are coming from outside Dublin Bay representing a record 61 different yacht clubs from Germany, France, Denmark, Isle of Man, England, Wales, Scotland and France, N.Ireland our local clubs and yacht clubs countrywide.

DID YOU KNOW.....With each class expected to race between 7 and 9 races each, organisers will process more than 6,000 sets of results over the 4 days!

The 4th biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) organised by the four waterfront yacht clubs in Dun Laoghaire will take place from July 7th–10th 2011 in Dublin Bay.

The Regatta which is now established as one of the biggest sailing events in Ireland will attract approximately 500 boats across 25 classes over the four days. The boats competing will be crewed by approximately 3,000 sailors largely from yacht clubs across Ireland with added participation from English, Welsh, Scottish, Isle of Man, French, Spanish and Danish yacht clubs.

Announcing the 2011 VDLR, Adam Winkelmann, Chairperson of the Organising Committee said “After the city marathons, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the biggest participant sporting event in the country. The Regatta also continues to grow and build upon Ireland's international reputation as a quality sports and sailing destination and cements Ireland's reputation as a location for a major international regatta.”

“The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta owes its prominence in European sailing events to a number of factors. One of the core reasons as to why it is successful in attracting so many entrants is that it is one of the least expensive sailing events in Europe, providing great value for money. We also have more than 300 volunteers who give their time and energy to ensure the regatta runs smoothly. In addition to delivering quality racing, the Regatta now prides itself in delivering a wonderful festive atmosphere across the Dun Laoghaire waterfront so overall the event promises an important boost to the local economy of Dun Laoghaire town in the midst of the summer tourist season and recession”

Volvo will continue as title sponsor for the Regatta but this year they will hold the title sponsorship in partnership with Spirit Motor Group, the premier dealership for Volvo in South Dublin.

In addition the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta enjoys support from the Dublin Port Company, Royal Marine Hotel, the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Helly Hansen, the Butlers Pantry and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

For those who prefer to keep their feet dry and enjoy the superb sailing action in Dublin Bay from afar, there will be a fantastic array of family orientated activities that have been set up on shore by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. There will be a farmers market, street entertainment, a carnival with face painters and balloon men, numerous ladies fashion events, live music from jazz to traditional Irish to marching bands, local area restaurant and
pub events, an evening of Irish culture, music, food and dancing and a scheduled RNLI Air Sea Rescue demonstration.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series jointly promote reduced entry fees.

Great news if you are considering sailing in both the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series. You can get up to 50% off your entry fees.

The way this works is that the Clyde Cruising Club are offering a 25% rebate for boats from the 4 Dun Laoghaire Clubs (DMYC, NYC, RIYC, RStGYC) that enter the Brewin Dolphin Scottish series before the expiration of the early bird discount period which expires on April 22nd.

As a reciprocal arrangement the committee of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta are offering a discount of 50% from the full entry fee to all boats that enter both regattas. To avail of this, boats must register for the early bird entry fee in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta prior to 2 May 2011. Note the 50% discount will be applied to the full entry fee rate and not the early bird rate.

To avail of this arrangement for the Scottish Series contact the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series office for details, bdss@clyde.org 0044141 221 2774.

To avail of this arrangement for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta visit the event website at www.dlregatta.org or email sec@dlregatta.org

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta will take place from July 7th–10th 2011.
The Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series will take place from 27 – 30 May 2011.

Note to competitors from Ireland going to the Scottish Series. The feeder race from Bangor to Tarbert has been re-instated. Those interested should contact the BDSS race office as above.

Troon and Largs Marinas are offering competitors berthing rate discounts around Scottish Series, see website for these and other offers. www.brewindolphinscottishseries.com


Note to competitors from Scotland going to the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. The entry fee to the regatta includes free berthing for the duration of the event.

Volvo Car Ireland will sponsor the 2011 Dun Laoghaire event in association with Spirit Motor Group who are the premier dealership for Volvo in South Dublin.

The bi-ennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta will attract in the region of 500 boats and 3,000 participants along with families and friends to Dun Laoghaire in July this year. The sailors come mainly from Ireland and the UK from where we expect at least the same number of visitors as 2009. 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.

Ends.

  Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series

Here's a unique glimpse of a post World War One Dun Laoghaire regatta in rare newsreel recently archived by British Pathe (below). The shots taken on August 2nd 1926 show a mixture of long shots of yachts sailing across Dublin bay. There's definitely lovely shots of Dublin Bay 21s enjoying a tight race, a brave gybe by a Dublin Bay 25 at the harbour mouth plus shots of some Howth 17s.

There's panning shots of in harbour rowing races and high angled shots of men diving off the side of a boat and into the harbour. The swimmers race the length of an area cordoned off by rowing boats with spectators watching from the boats. There is also a shot of women's swimming race and some diving too

  Click Here to View Footage

The J109 Fleet have announced the Volvo Regatta as their highlight event for 2011 for their ever expanding Irish fleet of 16 boats. The J/109s will have their own J/109 Class event with a separate Start. This will be run to full Class Rules & will be the official J/109 Irish Nationals.

It is hoped to attract the top boats from around the country including Jellybaby from Cork & Justus from Kinsale, as well as Joie de Vie from Galway to battle it out with local boats such as Jalapeno, Storm, and Something Else. Two years ago Tigh Soluis, who made the trip from Scotland, and Jukebox from North Wales both provided formidable opposition and hopefully they will be able to make the trip once again this year …… they will make sure the Irish don’t have it all their own way.