Costello lands DBSC challenge trophy

SAILING ROUND-UP: TIM COSTELLO'S Tiamat, in Class Zero, emerged as the overall winner of last weekend's DBSC Cruiser Challenge, an event where nearly 50 per cent of the entrants were class-one boats.

Costello, as current club commodore, was an appropriate winner of the challenge trophy that this year commemorated 125 years of yacht racing on Dublin Bay.

Paul O’Higgin’s sailing Rockabill V was the class one winner with Dick Dastardly (Brian Cusack) the winner of class two. The balance of the 44 boats competing was made up by the Sigma 33 class, a division won by Tim Goodbody of the Royal Irish YC.

Looking forward to next season already, Cork Week 2010 will strictly enforce its “no pro” rule next year to ensure only “Corinthian” sailors helm in the bulk of competing classes. Measures are also being taken to ensure the week from 10th to 16th of July is to become less expensive, according to its racing director Anthony O’Leary.

“We feel it’s time to make some changes which reflect the needs of owners and competitors that are attracted to Cork Week. We are also very much aware that many competitors found the last edition too expensive in many areas and we will be announcing measures to address this concern,” said O’Leary.

Recent alterations to the rules adopted into the Rolex Commodore’s Cup have proved very successful, and it has been decided that certain elements of the event will be used in Cork. The move makes even more sense when you consider that the flagship RORC event will be staged a month after Cork so the Irish fixture is likely be the major warm-up event.

Cork Week 2010 will allow Group Three (professional) sailors to race in the relevant classes but they will be restricted to the exact Commodores Cup Format of: IRC TCF 1.120-1.230: Two Group Three sailors; IRC TCF 1.075-1.119: One Group Three sailor and IRC TCF 1.025-1.074: One Group Three sailor. Super Zero, Zero, and One Design Classes, whose class rules do not limit professional sailors will be maintained.

On the dinghy scene, Sligo Yacht Club duo Tim Corcoran and Brendan Brogan made the most of their local knowledge to win the ESB-sponsored GP14 Championships of Ireland held at Rosses Point on Sligo Bay last weekend.

The Irish Laser Nationals at Lough Derg YC attracted 160 Laser sailors. Shifty and gusty conditions on the lake gave Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme YC) three firsts and four seconds to take the title.