Irish skippers lead way on first day

Although international professional sailors have added extra spice to the Affinity Insurance-sponsored Dragon national championship fleet in Dun Laoghaire, Irish skippers filled the top three places in yesterday's opening race of the six-race regatta.

Dun Laoghaire trio Neil Hegarty, Peter Bowring and David Williams in Phantom out-sailed a wealth of international talent - including former German world champion Vincent Hoesch - who have gathered at the Royal St George Yacht Club to contest what is an open event on the international Dragon calendar.

Second yesterday in a blustery north-westerly breeze that shifted as much as 20 degrees to the left-hand side of the course on the second windward leg was Cork's Cameron Good, with Phantom's club-mate Rascal Rat steered by Ireland's 1972 Olympic Dragon skipper, Robin Hennessy, third.

Hegarty, has already notched up an East Coast Championship victory on the Dublin Bay venue in June and finished seventh at the biggest international Dragon event in Douarnenez, France in May.

Phantom's opening performance yesterday afternoon therefore is not much of a surprise to regular followers of Dragon results but will provide food for thought for the event favourite, European silver medallist Andrew Craig of the host club who with crew Anthony Shanks and Graham Elmes finished 18th in the 30-boat fleet.

Also down were former champions Simon and Mark Brien and David Gomes from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club who did not finish. Olympic Star keelboat trialist Max Treacy was 12th.

Elsewhere in Dun Laoghaire, there will be a choice for one-design competitors who wish to extend the racing season next month between the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht club's successful September series (that includes cruiser handicap racing) and a new innovative series being introduced by 1720 sailor Martin Byrne of the National Yacht club.

Byrne is organising a 10-race autumn series over five Sunday's starting on September 16th. He is planning windward-leeward courses to be set with a provision for inner and outer loops to separate classes.

Racing for six keelboat and one centre-board classes is being provided. J24s, 1720s, Dragons, Sigma 33s, Ruffians along with Flying fifteens and Mermaids are contained in the notice of race but more classes may yet be added. Entry forms for both the National and DMYC events are available through the Dun Laoghaire clubs.

Meanwhile, Kerry sailor Damian Foxall, who was aboard Steve Fossett's Playstation when it pulled out of the giant multihull circum-navigation known as The Race earlier this year, has joined team TYCO for another attempt on the globe this time for the Volvo round-the-world race that starts on September 23rd. He is one of at least two Irish crew, the other being Northern Ireland's Ian Moore who will race with leading challenger Illbruck.

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. WEDNESDAY SERIES 3 (O'ALL) Cruiser 1 IRC: 1, Lethal Weapon I Switzer (8.00); 2, Equinox J McDonald (13.00); 3, Shindig A Knowles (14.00); Cruiser 1 ECHO: 1, Miss Tuttles C Boyle (13.00); 2, Lethal Weapon I Switzer (13.00); 3, Trinculo M Fleming (16.00); Cruiser 1 CLASSIC: 1, Spellbound H Burrows (1.00); 2, Rebel M & G Hanley (2.00); 3, Changeling Jameson/McManus (4.00); Cruiser 2 IRC: 1, Alphida H Byrne (21.00); 2, Phantom Guinan/Neenan (22.00); 3, Dux A Gore-Grimes (22.00); Cruiser 2 ECHO: 1, Boojum Fitzpatrick/Glennon (20.00); 2, Jokers Wild F Ennis (32.00); 3, Phantom Guinan/Neenan (34.00); Cruiser 2 CLASSIC: 1, Alphida H Byrne (8.00); 2, Boojum Fitzpatrick/Glennon (12.00); 3, Jokers Wild F Ennis (14.00).