Six Months, and The Count Down Is On

There is still six months to go to the first gun of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2013 (VDLR) but already the country’s biggest sailing event is clocking up the entries and many are return visitors, a heartening prospect for regatta organiser Adam Winkelmann.

The fifth staging of the event starts on July 11 and with an estimated 400 entries in 28 classes the Dublin Bay regatta is attracting entries from across the Irish Sea including two entries in January from the Isle of Man and one from Fairlie Yacht Club in Ayrshire.
Liverpool Yacht Club’s J109 Sleeper skippered by Alasdair Davidson has confirmed and is expected to head a number of boats from the Mersey. Club mates Andy Dunn sailing a Bolero 26 and ISORA regular Kuba Szymanski in the Sigma 33 Polished Manx from Douglas Bay Yacht Club are already signed in for Ireland’s biggest sailing event in 2013.

An expected fleet of eight boats including IRC 1 Animal, Debbie & Kevin Aitken are returning once again to the event from Clyde Cruising Club. VDLR 2013 has also attracted back Scotland’s Neil Sandford sailing a Mat 1010 from Fairlie Yacht Club.

The RS Elite sportsboat fleet (approximately 20 boats) have four events in the UK and Ireland this season but their Grand Slam event has been confirmed as VDLR.

Royal North of Ireland’s Peter Wallace has confirmed he will be returning to defend his 2011 one design Squib Title.

The event office has also received enquiries from an experienced Crew from Yorkshire seeking a J109 or Sigma 33 for charter.

Feedback from local classes and class captains is very positive and excellent attendance is expected also from the local Dublin Bay and Howth fleets.

Already signed up are Bay regulars Raptor, the Mills 31-footer (Denis Hewitt), Howth Yacht Club’s modified Half tonner King One, (David Cullen) and the Royal St. George’s Vespucci, a Dehler 31 sailed by Sean and Kristina O’Regan. Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Paddy McSwiney’s Beneteau 31.7 is sailing as is the Robe Humphries 36 Megalopolis, skippered by Peter Allman.

An early entry promotional drive will commence this week with an annual Subscription prize to Afloat, Ireland’s Boating Magazine for early entries.

For more see www.afloat.ie