Spirit of co-operation brings new beginning on Dublin Bay

It was a new beginning on Dublin Bay yesterday afternoon as all four waterfront yacht clubs joined together for the first gun of the inaugural Dún Laoghaire week regatta.

Organised in just six months, the fleet size has tipped 400 boats for the combined regatta that was launched yesterday by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue.

"The calibre of our entry is above our expectations given we had a short time frame to prepare for it," organiser Brian Craig said.

A quality fleet includes overall winners of the Scottish Series, Tiamat, Tim Costello's and UK IRC Champions, Colm Barrington's Flying Glove (both from Dún Laoghaire) as well as Royal Cork winners of the Sovereigns Cup, Antix, leading a 15-strong contingent of boats from the south coast.

Although fleet size is not the regatta's stated priority, it's hard to ignore the 400-boat figure achieved. It is nearly double that of any individual club regatta held last summer. Twenty three classes, averaging a fleet size of 18 boats per class will sail up to 10 races over six different courses spread across the bay.

In one one of those classes, the Dublin Bay Mermaid, the fibreglass prototype of the wooden clinker design, promoted by Roger Bannon, that has ruffled feathers among traditionalists, continues its technical evaluation. She sails in a 20-boat fleet this morning thanks to the spirit of co-operation afforded by the local Dublin Bay fleet. Co-operation, however, only goes so far, and Dolly, as the boat is known, can score points in the series, but even if she wins, the prototype is ineligible for any trophies.

Elsewhere, on the west coast, Martin Breen's new Corby 33 makes its debut as a part of a four-Galway boat contingent travelling to the West of Ireland Offshore racing championships (WIORA) at Kilrush next week where 40 boats are expected.

The expected WIORA fleet is double that which Galway Bay Sailing Club mustered for its biennial Galway Bay week held at the end of June which incorporated the Northwest of Ireland Offshore Racing Association (NORA) Championship.

Tomas Furey dominated proceedings in Rhocador with five races wins and two second places to produce a comfortable 11-point margin on IRC handicap.

In hindsight, the fact the fixture was sandwiched between the Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale and WIORA was a never a good idea as it spread a small band of competitors too thinly. This led to the drop in attendance from the Galway event.

WEEKEND FIXTURES - DúLaoghaire Regatta Championships www.dlregatta.org. Tall Ships Race in Waterford www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie. Bangor Week www.bangorweek.co.uk. Multihull Nationals in Ballyholme Yacht Club www.bangorweek.co.uk. Mirror Westerns www.imcai.com in Mayo Sailing Club. Laser Connaughts www.laser-ireland.com in Mullaghmore Sailing Club. Topper Munsters www.irltopper.com in Tralee Bay Sailing Club GP14 Leinsters www.gp14ireland.com in Skerries Sailing Club. Glandore Classic Week glandoreyc.com (Starts Monday)