700 sailors to compete in Greystones regatta

Greystones Harbour will play host to the second largest sailing event in Ireland this weekend.

Greystones Sailing Club and the new harbour marina are organising a cruiser regatta for the third year since the marina opened.

This year, more then 140 boats are expected to race on Sunday. Boats from Holyhead will race over arriving on Saturday evening, and most other boats will arrive from Arklow, Wicklow, Bray, Dún Laoghaire, Poolbeg and Howth during the afternoon. The main race starts at 11am on Sunday off the coast of Greystones, though the exact place depends on the wind at the time.

The Wicklow lifeboat and Coastguard helicopter are expected at 2.30pm and will simulate a rescue operation around the seafront at about 3 pm.

“With over 700 sailors racing this will be the second largest sailing event in Ireland,” said Greystones councillor Derek Mitchell.

“The town will be lively for the weekend with so many staying in the marina. It should be quite a spectacle to see so many boats leaving the harbour at about 10.30am and at the start of the race.”