This year the Sigma 33 class is celebrating the launch of the first boat forty years ago.
With 408 boats built between then and 1991, the boats proved a great success, not only for builders Marine Projects in Plymouth but also a generation of one design keelboat sailors across the UK and Ireland.
"the class works hard to keep the boats one design philosophy"
With the class working hard to keep the boats one design philosophy, it is still proving a very popular boat with 20 boats frequently making the start line in most of the bigger regattas.
Last year for the first ever UK and Irish Sigma 33 Championships at the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay a record fleet gathered at Dun Laoghaire.
Currently, there are 16 boats entered for the July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and in an effort to push this to 26 the Irish East Coast Class Association has offered to refund the entries for two boats if the total entry reaches 26 by the close of the early bird entry date of March 31st.
Entries can be made on the VLDR website here
The cost of entry is €220.00.
If the total entries reach 26 by March 31st a draw will take place the following week in which the additional entries received will be included. €220.00 will be refunded to the two boats drawn.