This year's Regatta is running a coastal series as part of the fifth edition of the combined club's event and judging by entries to date (see below) there it looks like the initiative is getting a good response.

Entry in the class this year is expected to reach approximately 15 boats with the list of entries to date below. Already DBSC regular Lively Lady, a Beneteau 44.7 is signed up as well as the Nicholson 58 Rebellion. Smaller boats are also involved including Lulabelle, the Beneteau 36.7.

The coastal series will accommodate those larger cruisers who prefer to take part in races where the distances between marks are greater. It is hoped that this will attract the increasing number of boats that are opting to race offshore as evidenced in part by the work of Peter Ryan running a 20-boat ISORA fleet from the National Yacht Club.

The courses for the VDLR series will take place outside of the Burford Bank and in an area north of the "Bray Outfall" buoy and south of the "North" Howth Yacht Club race mark.

The courses will be set on the day of the July race and will reflect the conditions prevailing at that time, boats will race one long race per day.

Ashore the plan is those taking part in the Coastal Series will be able to enjoy the fantastic social scene around Dun Laoghaire as much as their inshore competitors as the race duration and time limits will get all boats back at the same time as the inshore fleets

  Afloat

Eight of nine of the IRC zero entries for July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta on Dublin Bay are overseas entries. The exception is the sole Howth based Mills 36 Crazy Horse skippered by Norbert Reilly, who is returning to defend his title of Best IRC Boat.

In IRC 1 fity percent of entries received are visitors to Dublin Bay and in another boost for bay racing, 25 boats in the overall fleet are overseas entries with a good number still to enter, it is estimated.

29 clubs are currently represented with boats coming from Scotland, Wales, UK, Ireland and the North of Ireland.

The VDLR organisers have extended the early bird discount to the biennial regatta until the 22 April but already 250 entries have been received for an event still three months away.

The country's biggest club is leading the local waterfront club entries. The RStGYC has 53 entries, the Royal Irish YC has 42, the National YC has 26 and the DMYC 4 entries to date.

There is also steady growth in participation from across Dublin Bay with Howth YC sending 24 entries.

  More Information on Afloat.ie

With a week still to go on its early bird entry and over three months to the close of entry, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) has received over 120 entries for what is expected again to be Ireland's biggest regatta again in 2013.

Entries received to date are spread across a good mix of visiting clubs from Ireland and overseas with all of the visiting clubs represented bringing additional boats who have yet to enter so the estimation would be that VDLR numbers of visiting big boats will be up from 2011.

In another boost for regatta chairman Adam Winkelmann the entries received so far (see below for full list) are up at least 30% on this time two years ago.

The J24's will be holding their Eastern championships and will be racing within IRC 3 division. The hope is is that it will attract additional J24's in advance of the Nationals and Worlds later in the summer at Howth YC.

For more updates see www.afloat.ie

  Strong Take Up for Entry.......

The Royal Irish Yacht Club are hosting a Spring Coaching Regatta on the weekend of the 27th and 28th of April in Dun Laoghaire. This is bringing together Prof O'Connell, Des McWilliam, Philip Watson and Kenny Rumball for on the water coaching and video analysis, Timothy Goodbody for tactician briefings and a Racing Rules pub quiz to highlight the 2013-2016 rule changes.

The off the water sessions will deal with techniques, tactics and racing rule changes for 2013.

Saturday will consist of practice starts, upwind trim and windward mark roundings and will integrate three races. Sunday will focus on downwind trim, gybing and leeward mark roundings and a final race to pull it all together.

Skippers that will be bringing on new crew for 2013 or competitive teams looking to grease the team cogs before the ICRAs will benefit from this world class training weekend. Non-DBSC boats are more than welcome and any trailered boats from outside Dublin can be launched from the RIYC.

The cost for this event is €50 per boat which is a continuation of the RIYC’s policy to provide really good and value for money events for skippers. RIYC encourages as many ICRA members as possible would support this initiative. For more information go to www.riyc.ie .

  For More Information please visit RIYC Website

The J24 class has confirmed they will run their Eastern Championship as part of the Regatta. The fleet will race within the IRC3 division in the Event with the championship running alongside.

In advance of the J24 Nationals and Worlds in Howth, it is expected that the numbers of J24's will be boosted due to this for the Regatta which is great news.

Organised jointly by the Royal Dee YC & Liverpool YC this feeder race to the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta should not be missed if you are wishing to clock up your miles in advance of the Fastnet race. The Lyver Trophy race commences the week after the Holyhead Regatta which runs 29th-30th June on Friday 5th July at 1900 from Holyhead and finishes in Howth YC.

Boats competing at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which starts a week later on Thursday 11th July, will be accommodated between both events at no cost.

For Further Info on the Lyver Trophy Race please contact:
Annie Farrell E: anniefarrell56@gmail.com

  Notice of Race

  Lyver Trophy Race Event Website

Planning for the fifth edition of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is well underway under the chairmanship once again of Adam Winkelmann and his committee. "Our objective in 2013 is to build further on the success of the 2011 regatta. We are focusing our efforts on delivering a quality sailing regatta at an affordable price.

Competitive racing will again be offered across our various course areas and racing formats. A full social calendar across our 4 waterfront yacht clubs and activities in the town will make it as much fun as we possibly can for sailors, their guests and families and our army of volunteers." quoted Adam.

Event Open to IRC Cruisers, Non Spinnaker, One Design & Dinghies. 2013 will be the special year of 'The Gathering' and we will be encouraging all Irish sailors abroad to return home for the Regatta.

Additions for 2013 are an IRC Coastal Class who will have one coastal race per day and we also hope the growing fleets of RS200 and RS400's will attend in numbers.

  Regatta Site Venue