A lot of boats enterd early to avail of the event’s early entry discount. To date, entries for the 25 class regatta have been received from 14 clubs across the Irish Sea area and beyond including: Carlingford Lough YC, Clontarf Y&BC, Clyde CC, Howth YC, Lough Erne YC, Malahide YC, Poolbeg Y&BC, Pwllheli SC, Royal Cork YC, Royal North of Ireland YC, Royal Ulster YC, Skerries SC, Sutton Dinghy Club and Whitby YC in Yorkshire.
Howth’s involvement in the event this year is reflected in a number of early entries from the north side of the bay, including Roy Dickson’s Rosie in class zero. Entries are also in from further afield – Cork’s Antix Dubh (Anthony O’Leary) and Scottish 36 footer, Tanit (Paul and Richard Harris) from the Clyde are also signed up for class zero. The largest entry in one class received so far is the White Sails division with 11 competitors. The event is to stage the first-ever White Sail Cup, an attraction that should boost the fleet to over 50 by July.
In a targeted move on UK fleets, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009 organisers are focusing on the value for money aspect of its four day regatta this July (9–12). The organisers, who expect an entry of 500 boats, are catering for IRC cruisers, white sails, one design and dinghies, and making a big deal about the compact site of the east coast town that offers racing ten minutes from the marina berth.
The biennial regatta was launched by Mary Hanafin TD at the Allianz Dublin Boat Show and is welcoming sailors to enter its third regatta.
Key changes in race format for the 2009 event:
Introduction of a Sutton/Howth day for larger keelboats
Flexibility for race officers to set fixed mark courses
Introduction of a feature race on the Sunday morning
Each day classes will experience different race areas, course
variations and different Race officers, all of whom are either
internationally or nationally qualified officials
