The 2023 RS21 Cup season will see events in Scotland, Ireland and England as teams compete in a three-regatta venue, including Dun Laoghaire Harbour in July. To ensure sailors, new and old, get the chance to get up to speed as quickly as possible, the first regatta will see RS21 racing paired with coaching to provide direct feedback on the water.
Seven of the nine entries so far in the big boat class at July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) are visitors, but a brand new J112e from the home port will add extra spice to the Cruisers Zero fleet (boats greater than 12 metres in length).
With less than a week to go until the reduced early bird entry fee for July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta expires, you could be in with a chance to win a Dubarry holdall and backpack set in the regatta’s latest competition prize.
The early bird entry discount for Ireland’s largest regatta at Dun Laoghaire closes on March 31st, and Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers will raffle off a great high-capacity Duffel Bag between all paid-up entries received before midnight Sunday, March 19th.
New VDLR Event Director Paddy Boyd has been in charge of some new developments for 2023 and told ICRA that there would be 36 competing VDLR classes ranging from small 14-foot dinghies up to ocean-going 50-footers.
Of the 30 different one-design classes registered for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the Dragon and Sigma 33 classes currently lead the entries for Ireland’s largest regatta in 2023.
Martin Mahon’s Wexford campaign boat (with Royal Ulster connections) became the ICRA Divison 3 National Champion at the first attempt last September after a superbly sailed series on Dublin Bay in 2021.
According to class social media, the class is gearing up for an ‘awesome’ Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta to be followed by the Irish National Championships on the Irish capital’s waters.
The first Northern Ireland boats to enter the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in July are Stuart Cranston’s Ker 32 from Strangford Lough Yacht Club and John Minnis’s Final Call II, an Archambault A35 from Royal Ulster on Belfast Lough.
North Wales ISORA champion Mojito is one of the first entries into July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
