The first major outing of the season for Dublin one-design sailors gets underway tomorrow at the National YC where up to 150 crews will compete in the Royal Alfred annual Baily Bowl. Points from the weekend-long event form part of the RAYC Carlsberg Superleague, which begins a week later.
As many as 20 1720 sportsboats will have their first intensive test of what looks set to be a busy summer for the class at events around Ireland. Last year's Superleague class winner, Martin Byrne's Key Events, will have a testing season defending his title as another four boats have joined the local fleet.
Once upon a time, about eight years ago in fact, Dun Laoghaire hosted the only J24 fleet in the Republic and it was arguably the dominant one-design racing class. No less popular today, the national fleet has spread beyond the South Dublin port and numbers aren't quite what they used to be, as available boats get snapped up by eager new crews further afield.
Nevertheless, the home side convincingly retained its title in the biannual Ireland v England friendly J24 team racing event last Sunday on the bay, which will serve as a useful warm-up for tomorrow's Baily Bowl.
Bryan Maguire's Cries of Passion holds the 1997 superleague class title; but J Supremo Tim Goodbody's return to the fray on White Mischief is bound to present a serious threat.
The third class racing is also enjoying a popularity boost following last summer's gold cup series. Four new Dragons will be sailing tomorrow with Mick Cotter's latest Whisper defending last year's title at the start of the 11race series. Racing for the Baily Bowl gets underway tomorrow morning at 11.0.
As next Wednesday's entry deadline for the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland Race looms, the rumour mill is working overtime with predictions for the bigger entries. At present two Whitbread 60-footers, several Maxis and a host of mid-sized boats around the 50-foot mark are thought to be coming to Wicklow for the June 20th start.
However, before the W60's can turn their thoughts to the delights of sailing around Ireland, they are currently battling light and fickle winds on the final approach to La Rochelle where they are now expected to finish some time tomorrow. Lawrie Smith's British entry, Silk Cut, received a weather reprieve when he was brought from second last to second place, thanks to a low pressure system in the last three days.
