On the Inshore Course for one-designs, it was close enough in the Etchells, with the first three boats finishing within 30 seconds and the honours going to Jay Bourke of the Royal St.George YC on 'Northside Dragon'. Simon Knowles 'Jabberwocky' and Robert Dix's 'Glance' were hot on his heels, particularly on the final leg to the finish in the Sound. Ten boats have entered the League but two didn't make the start line for race 1.

The J/24s made their first appearance as a class in the Autumn League, a week after completing their National Championships at Howth, and although the numbers were small, the competition was tight until the final beat when Fergus O'Kelly's 'Jibberish' pulled out a healthy lead on second-placed 'Scandal' (MYC), helmed by Mossy Shanahan. The new National Champion Flor O'Driscoll had the misfortune to partly sail the wrong course and although he fought back well, it wasn't enough to trouble the front two.

The biggest fleet in the entire event is the Puppeteers with 23 boats but inevitably the leaders were familiar ones at the head of this competitive class. 'Harlequin' (Clarke/Egan) had just 23 seconds to spare over national champion Garret May on 'Ibis' while 'Mojo' (Stanley/Callen) was about the same distance behind in third. On handicap, 'Gepetto' (Ed O'Reilly) got the nod by a narrow margin over 'Haemoglobin' (Mullen/O'Dea).

The small Squib fleet was dominated by 'Kerfuffle' (Craig/Raune) and, 3 minutes behind, 'Shadowfax' (Phil Merry) to such an extent that they also finished first and second respectively on handicap while Emer Harte's 'Puffin' had to settle for third on the water.

Ten Seventeens started the race but only nine finished with HYC Sailing Secretary Brian Turvey and his crew on 'Isobel' suffering a broken mast at a time when they were challenging at the head of the fleet. The honours instead went to 'Rita' (Lynch/Curley), a minute ahead of Ian Malcolm's 'Aura' and the 17s' champion Roddy Cooper in 'Leila' in third. Perhaps a little surprisingly, Peter Courtney's 'Oona' was back in fourth slot.

Over on the Offshore Course for Cruiser Classes, Stephen O'Flaherty elegant 'Soufriere' took line honours but when the handicaps were calculated was relegated to the bottom end of the 9-boat fleet while 'Storm' (P.Kelly) and 'Tiger' won on IRC and ECHO respectively. Ross McDonald's 'Equinox' took 3rd and 2nd on the two handicap systems.

A minute separated the top five finishers in Class 2 and while Dave Cullen's 'King One' pipped 'Superhero' (Byrne/Banahan) by just five seconds on the line, it was 'Dux' (Anthony Gore-Grimes) who took the IRC honours in the 20-boat fleet. 'C'Est la Vie' (Flannelly & others), so impressive in last year's League on ECHO, maintained their performance levels to win again in that division, this time ahead of 'Maximus' (P.Kyne).

A smaller than usual Class 3 fleet saw Vince Gaffney's 'Alliance' again dominate matters on the water, heading 'Holly' (Basil McMahon) and the 11 other boats to win on IRC. Third was Malahide visitor 'Tobago' (Ray & others), a result good enough to earn them success on ECHO, just ahead of clubmates 'Shenanigans' (Douglas/Keane).

In the White Sail class 4, Colm Bermingham's 'Bite the Bullet' was third on the water behind 'Flashback' and 'FanatiX' but had done more than enough to win on both handicap systems. 'FanatiX' (R.Fanning) and 'Trinculo' (M.Fleming) were the runners-up on ECHO and IRC respectively. Class 5, the other non-spinnaker grouping, was led home by Harry Byrne's 'Alphida' who won on IRC while on ECHO, it was the Toomey's 'Harmony' which emerged on top.

The 6-race Autumn League continues with race 2 next Sunday 26th.

Howth Yacht Club's annual 6-race Autumn League starts this Sunday (19th September) with 130 entries in 10 classes to date, a figure which is expected to increase with Dublin Bay boats joining the cruiser fleet to compete in the newly-introduced WD-40 4-Race Challenge Mini-Series over the last three days of the sailing series.

An invitation was extended to the four Dun Laoghaire waterfront clubs to enter the Cruiser Challenge which coincides with the end of their summer racing programme.

The League, with sponsorship from WD-40, leading ski operator Crystal Holidays and The Food Room (on Clontarf Road) offers four Sunday races and then two back-to-back windward-leeward races on Saturday 16th October.

Other changes to the Autumn League include the addition of the J/24 Class, following its successful National Championships in Howth last weekend, as well as a later start time for all participating classes on each day's racing.

The 2010 Autumn League starts on 19th September 19th and offers a five-week series made up of four Sunday races and a final Saturday with two windward-leeward races on October 16th.

All Cruiser Class boats will enjoy a bonus mini-series that encompasses the final 3 days (4 races), facilitating Dublin Bay Sailing Club entries to join an event that provides a highly competitive and enjoyable finish to the season for many keelboat crews.

Other changes to the Autumn League include the addition of the J/24 Class following its National Championships in Howth on September 11th/12th, as well as a later start time for all participating classes on each day's racing.

Entries can be made online at www.hyc.ie or by completing the standard entry form and returning it with the entry fee to the HYC office. A discounted fee is available until September 8th.

Howth Autumn League chairperson Joan Harris with Lynn Reilly of sponsors WD-40

Among the highly competitive fleet will be four or five past or present Olympians, former national champions in several classes and a couple of All-Ireland Champions, a formidable line-up by any standards. Such is the quality of the field that any one of 10 crews is capable of taking the title, with consistency the key over the 8 races on the schedule.

The 'bookies favourite' is undoubtedly 'McCready's Gill Racing' sailed by Gareth Flannigan/Brian Spence/Jeremy Tomlinson from Ballyholme who already have two wins and two runners-up places in the four regional championships sailed this season. Former Olympian Peter Kennedy from RNIYC is the defending champion and with a new crew on 'Belfast Kitchens' has been building slowly throughout the year - their performance at the recent Westerns suggests they are very much in contention.

While the Northern fleet has been dominant in SB3s since the class was formed, they cannot discount the top performers from Dun Laoghaire, Howth and the South. Leading the southside challenge will be 'Yeti' (Sean Craig/Stephen Boyle/Alan Green), a prediction for a top 5 finish, while 'Bad' (Stefan Hyde/Jerry Dowling/Jimmy Dowling) has been improving ever since the Northern Championships

.

The host club's best bet is 'Sharkbait' sailed by Ben Duncan/Brian Moran/Ric Morris, a combination that is consistently at the top of the fleet (e.g. winning the Northerns) and tops the ranking ladder with Flannigan. A 'podium finish' is anticipated. The event sponsor David Quinn and his crew on 'Investwise' have enjoyed good form of late while 'Lia' (helmed by Dave Barry) has improved since a trip to Lake Garda.

The southern challenge is headed by 'Modus Operandi' (sailed by Ronan and Killian Collins and Donal Hegarty) which has the potential to upset the odds if they can put a steady campaign together.

Race Officer is David Lovegrove while Suzanne Carroll has masterminded the organisation of the event as chair of the Championship Committee.

 John Bertrand's dominance of the Etchells World Championships at Howth Yacht Club continued on day 4 of the regatta with a win in the afternoon race after scoring a disappointing 9th earlier in the day. His lead, however, has been trimmed back by his main rival Ante Razmilovic whose 4th and 5th places have closed the gap to 7 points after discards The other Razmilovic – Nils – had mixed fortunes on the day and lies third overall, a further seven points adrift.

The Championship, sponsored by the local Fingal County Council, has three more races on the schedule, two on Friday and one on Saturday, with only one discard allowed for the 9-race series, underlining the need for consistency at this level. Four wins in six races by Bertrand is undoubtedly exceptional consistency!

The 42-boat fleet faced a freshening north-easterly for the start of Race 5, sailing in18 knots of wind and a choppy sea. Nils Razmilovic of the Royal Swedish YC (sailing for Singapore) enjoyed the conditions to lead from the first windward mark to the finish. He was followed at various stages by his brother Ante, Eamonn O'Nolan of the RORC, Jake Gunther of Royal Brighton YC and Julia Bailey of Royal Thames YC.

Somewhat surprisingly, series leader John Bertrand could not keep with the pace and indeed slipped from 5th to finish 9th, a disappointing result by his standards and one which he will no doubt hope to be his discard. Despite that setback, he still held a 6-point lead in the overall standings after the fifth race.

It was a good day for the British contingent, filling the next three places, with O'Nolan securing his best placing in 2nd spot and Julia Bailey taking a well-earned third while Ante Razmilovic's 4th was enough to retain 2nd overall, tied on points with his brother.

As if to exorcise the ghosts of his 9th place in the previous race, Bertrand got back to winning ways in the sixth race to extend his overall lead, although he left it late. He was behind the ever-improving Julia Bailey at each mark rounding but on the final beat – shortened earlier because of dropping wind strength – he pulled ahead of the Royal Thames helm by the finish.

Damien King of Australia, never out of the top three throughout the race, held on to that slot, with Eamonn O'Nolan completing a satisfying day with a 4th to add to his earlier 2nd. Ante Razmilovic had to settle for 5th while 6th for Marvin Beckmann of Houston represented the equal best American result in the series so far.

For the Burrows family – Richard on helm with son David and daughter Samantha crewing - seventh was an encouraging result, maintaining their 11th place on the leader-board and consolidating their position as the leading Irish boat.

Etchells World Championships – overall placings after 6 races:

John Bertrand (Australia) - 9 points  Ante Razmilovic (Britain) – 16 points  Nils Razmilovic (Singapore) – 23 points  Damien King (Australia) – 24 points  Jake Gunther (Australia) – 25 points  Graham Bailey (Britain) – 36 points

Follow the event on Twitter on the Championship website – www.etchellsworlds2010.org

Howth Yacht Club.  Wednesday Series 3  (RACE) 18/08/2010  

Class 1 IRC:  1, Storm P Kelly;  2, Makutu Doyle/Others;  3, Trinculo M Fleming;  Class 1  HPH:  1, Trinculo M Fleming;  2, Storm P Kelly;  3, Makutu Doyle/Others;  

Class 2  IRC:  1, Dux A Gore-Grimes;  2, Superhero Burne/Banahan;  3, Toughnut D Skehan;

Class 2  HPH:  1, Jokers Wild G Knaggs; 2, Toughnut D Skehan;  3, Dux A Gore-Grimes;  

Class 3  IRC:  1, Alliance V Gaffney;  2, Starlet Bourke/Others;  3, Helly Hunter L McMurtry;  

Class 3 HPH:  1, Helly Hunter L McMurtry;  2, Rossinver C Scott;  3, Starlet Bourke/Others;  

White Sails  HPH:  1, Sandpiper of Howth A Knowles;  2, Brazen Hussey Barry/Stirling;  3, Alphida H Byrne;  

White Sails  IRC:  1, Alphida H Byrne;  2, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham;  3, Sandpiper of Howth A Knowles

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 3 (RACE) 10/08/2010 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Rita Lynch/Curley; 3, Aura I Malcolm; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Rita Lynch/Curley; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 3 (RACE) 10/08/2010 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 2, Ibis G May; 3, Mojo Stanley/Callen; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Mr. Punch NiBhraonain/Wilson; 2, Cloud 9 C Feeley; 3, Nefertari Morgan/Murray; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Roxanne J Flynn; 2, Pegasus K T & K Smyth; 3, Astrix M McGaughey; Squib HPH: 1, Pegasus K T & K Smyth; 2, Shadowfax P Merry; 3, Roxanne J Flynn; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 2, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 3, Kootamundra Wattle O'Grady/Reilly; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Investwise D Quinn; 2, Lia D Barry; 3, Sharkbait Duncan/Moran

Howth Harbour

A picturesque fishing village nestled on the rugged peninsula that forms the north side of Dublin Bay, Howth is one of Ireland’s many hidden treasures. That is not to say that the village doesn’t receive its fair share of visitors. Far from it. Howth is a favourite holiday destination and benefits especially from its popularity amongst yachtsmen and pleasure boaters. Indeed Howth Yacht Club dates back to 1895 and with around 2,000 members it is by far the largest in the country and enjoys a busy programme of racing, regattas and voyaging. The marina and club complex combine state of the art with old and traditional with standards of services superb across the board. As you would expect from such a large club, berths are plentiful and marine services top notch.

Away from the harbour itself there is much to recommend Howth. Historians will love the ruined abbey, nearby Baily Lighthouse and 15th century castle. You can take a bracing stroll along the piers, sight-see aboard an open top tram, watch seals and dolphins in the waters along the shore and take in breathtaking views from cliff top walks. Of course, Howth’s working fishing port means that fish and seafood lovers are absolutely spoilt when it comes to dining out and the pub scene is second only to Dublin itself, if a little more relaxing.

Howth is a lovely place from which to discover Ireland. You can blow away the cobwebs and kick back and explore the magnificent coastline at your leisure knowing you will be returning after each trip to one of the friendliest places on earth. And that’s the truth.

Marine Services in Howth – click here

Pilot Notes for Howth – click here

Marinas in Howth – click here

Accommodation in Howth – click here

Emergency

Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999/112

Customs: 874 6571

Harbour Master: 83 222 52

Lifeboat: 8323 524

Beaumont Hospital: 83 777 55

Tourist Information – Fingal Tourist Information Office +353 1839 6955

Air Travel

Aer Lingus: 705 3333

British Midland: 283 8833

RyanAir Flight Information: 1550 200200

CityJet: 844 5566

Car Ferries

Stena Line: 204 7777

Irish Ferries: 66 10 511

Rail Transport – Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail): 83 66 222

Howth Harbour  Harbour Master's Office – Captain Raja Maitra, tel +353 (0) 1 83 222 52 or mobile 086 3814926. fax +353 (0) 1 832 6948 (Office situated Northern End of Auction Hall)