SAILING LASER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWNWITH SUMMER-LIKE conditions threatening to return, plus a possibility of reasonable racing breezes, Dublin Bay is about to host the largest gathering of any adult racing class this year - or indeed recent memory. It's all part of the build-up to the inaugural Laser SB3 class world championship and this weekend will see the Irish title decided.
At noon today the starting gun for a fleet of 80 of these sportsboats will be fired as the Royal St George YC in Dún Laoghaire. In September, 150 boats - the entry cap set by the organisers - will assemble at the National YC for the world event.
It's all testimony to the almost instant success of class that has found a niche like no other and has attracted dozens of Ireland's best known sailors. Picking out leaders from this weekend's entry would be about as accurate as dropping a pin on the list and hoping for a result.
At least three former Olympians, Cathy Mac Aleavey, John Driscoll and Tom Fitzpatrick, will be racing. Sailors synonymous with the 1720 Sportsboat class that preceded the SB3, though in somewhat smaller numbers, are also crowding the turnout.
Past champion Gareth Flanagan, along with class champions such as Stefan Hyde, the reigning All-Ireland sailing champion, will also be competing.
Nevertheless, the outcome of this weekend is certain to prove telling for the worlds and 20 visiting boats from Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, UAE and New Zealand are all lining up to test the bay and its conditions.
Meanwhile, the SB3's smaller single-handed cousin is also sailing this weekend in the Kia Motors Laser National Championship. The Laser is the only Olympic class actively sailed in this country and has a large following across its three different rig sizes of Standard, Radial and 4.7, though with the latter division currently staging its world championship in Croatia, most of the 115 boats that started racing yesterday at Howth will be concentrated in the two other fleets.
Favourite to win is defending title-holder James Espey, who is on form with a win at the Munster championship plus second and fourth place in the Connacht and Ulster events respectively.
Espey was an Olympic hopeful for the Beijing Olympic squad, as were brothers Russell and Matt McGovern, then in a 49er skiff together but competing separately at Howth this weekend.
In the Radial division, another Olympic contender was Debbie Hanna of East Antrim Boat Club, who must be a favourite for the class and is battling Ballyholme's Oliver Loughead. He already has a second and third to his credit at the regional events, while Chris Penney from Carrickfergus SC, Barry McCartin of Cushendall SC and Annalise Murphy from the National YC will also be considered serious contenders.
