Anthony O’Leary’s Antix will seek to defend his Cape 31 national title when the championship is run in conjunction with the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta this week on Dublin Bay. Racing will run from Thursday to Sunday, but competitors have already begun to arrive at the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which is hosting the fleet of six.
Met Éireann is forecasting southerly to south-easterly winds for Dublin Bay during the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta this week. However, it cautions that the forecast is “more uncertain than usual for later this week, so the probability for change is quite high”.
With the top three boats from 2019 all competing again, the outcome of this contest depends mainly on what conditions will prevail. Six days out, it looks like the Bay will serve strong to medium-strength southerly breezes, which could upset the pecking order in the regatta’s most significant class.
Overall, this 20-boat class has a wide range of cruisers studded with a few stand-out racers who can run away with the prize if they come prepared with a decent crew, but it may also be the hardest class to call given this weekend’s wind conditions showing both light and strong winds.
Royal Irish Yacht Club’s Paul O’Higgins sailing Rockabill VI won Saturday’s 12-hour Lyver Trophy Race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. The line honours winner in the tough test across the Irish Sea was Andrew & Sam Hall’s J125 Jackknife. The fixture was also Race 12 in the Musto ISORA 2023 Offshore Series.
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 event director Paddy Boyd spoke to Wavelengths about the week ahead, starting with Coastival opening on July 1st.
Two Irish hopes in this month’s prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race from Cowes will compete first this week in a 20-boat Coastal Class at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR). Pundits say the pre-event favourite must be the First 50 Checkmate XX, fresh from Sovereign’s Cup victory (three wins from four races sailed).
A week of maritime-related festivity is underway today (Saturday) as Coastival gets going in Dun Laoghaire, with the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from next Thursday through to Sunday contributing mightily to a peak of dynamic interaction between town entertainment and sea sport through the unique harbour.
Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club is laying on a special social programme for the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta – All the crew are Invited!
At 371 boats and still counting, next week’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) 2023 is certainly living up to its pre-event billing as Ireland’s largest sailing event. With visiting entries already sailing into the great granite harbour for the four-day competition starting next Thursday, July 6th, the regatta’s entry system will remain open until Friday at 5 pm to accommodate all-comers.
