SAILING:GALE FORECASTS for the weekend may yet threaten the competition for one of the most sought after trophies as the annual ISA All-Ireland Sailing Championship makes a rare visit to inland waterways and the Lough Derg Yacht Club venue.
Reduced to a two-day format to maximise participation, up to 30 national champions of varying hues from dinghy to keelboat classes were offered a chance to participate with 16 acceptances heading for Sunday’s final.
Amongst the line-up, a mix of big and small boat experience plus some household names and more than a few aiming for and well capable of getting their name on the coveted salver for the first time.
After three consecutive winning years, Nicolas O’Leary has passed on a title defence in 2011 and the prospect of his father Anthony, the Class Zero national champion taking a turn at raising the trophy is once again to the fore – once again because this year will mark close to a dozen attempts to win the title.
The Irish Cruiser Racing Association has three of its IRC handicap divisional winners taking part, including George Kenefick, while Olympic 49er Skiff helm Ryan Seaton is another unknown quantity in this very different form of racing to his current fast-paced training.
Waterways Ireland ISA Sailing Championship 2011 final class nominees: Adrian Allen (Ballyholme Yacht Club Multihull); Roger Bannon (National Yacht Club – Mermaid); Noel Butler (ISA Fireball); Alan Claffey (Royal St George Yacht Club Ruffian); Ben Duncan (Howth Yacht Club – Laser SB3); Brian Goggin (Kinsale Yacht Club – ICRA ‘2’); David Gorman (National Yacht Club – Flying Fifteen); Alan Henry (Sutton Dinghy Club – IDRA 14); George Kenefick (Royal Cork Yacht Club – ICRA ‘3’); Mark Mansfield (Royal Cork Yacht Club 1720); John McGuinness (Moville Sailing Club – GP14); Flor O’Driscoll (Howth Yacht Club – J24); Anthony O’Leary (Royal Cork Yacht Club – ICRA ‘0’); Pat O’Neill (Clontarf Yacht Boat Club – E-Boat); Gordon Patterson (Royal North Yacht Club Squib); Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme Yacht Club – Olympic 49er).
