The quirky Classic Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (James Dwyer, RCYC) may have found the ferocity of the winds in Friday's early races not quite to her taste, but with Olympian Andy Beadsworth on the mainsheet, she was flying today, winning everything that happened in IRC2 Division of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Stephen Quinn's J97 Lambay Rules Photo: Bob Bateman

Slightly down the fleet, however, there's a changed picture, as Howth's two J/97s, Stephen Quinn's Lambay Rules and Colin Kavanagh's Jeneral Lee, have moved themselves into second and third overall through consistency. However, it should be noted that Swuzzlebubble's wins have by no means been horizon jobs - she took the final race by just 45 seconds from Brendan Foley's First Class 8 Alligbr (RStGYC).

Brendan Foley's First Class 8 Allig8r (RStGYC) Photo: Afloat

The 2023 regatta, the ninth edition of Ireland's largest sailing event, concludes on Sunday with two final races for most classes and a great festival of sailing across the waterfront and Dun Laoghaire town as four sailing clubs come together for the biennial event; Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club and National Yacht Club.

Double British Olympic keelboat sailor Andy Beadsworth is on board Dave Dwyer's Royal Cork Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble for an IRC Two contest in this week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, where strong winds are forecasted to get the four-day regatta off to an exciting start on Thursday afternoon.

Beadsworth and Dwyer, who previously sailed together on the Mills 39 Marinerscove in RORC Commodore's Cup campaigns, will renew their long-standing friendship at Ireland's biggest sailing event. 

The Nottingham helmsman who sailed Solings at Atlanta and Sydney is also a double Dragon class world champion and has previously competed on the Dublin Bay race track.

Sovereign's Cup champion Swuzzlebubble is a favourite for IRC Two honours at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

As Afloat reported earlier, Dun Laoghaire's IRC Two division may be one of the hardest to call, given the developing strong wind forecast that threatens 30-knot gusts from the south on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

It's a forecast, however, that the Swuzzlebubble skipper appears to relish: "We discussed it this AM. We reckon there will be some relief inshore and should be incredible conditions for the regatta. Looks like it could be a brilliant Sailors' regatta".

Swuzzlebubble is a favourite for IRC Two honours, and Beadsworth's presence will only improve those odds for last month's Sovereign's Cup champion.