SAILING: AMBITIOUS plans to host an Irish dinghy forum as part of the 2009 boat show were boosted by organisers yesterday, who aim to recruit a many as 25 classes for the event next February.
The plan to rejuvenate the dinghy end of the sail boat market in two months' time comes after years of successive events where the small boat scene had all but disappeared at the RDS.
Now, though, dinghy enthusiasts are making a comeback. The initiative got the backing of one of the largest classes here yesterday, the GP 14s. Not a dinghy but also participating is the small Flying Fifteen keelboat.
The event is focused on providing an opportunity for dinghy organisations to get together and promote an interest that up to only a few years ago was the backbone of the sport. Already some have pointed to the initiative as the first step towards an Irish Dinghy Racing Association similar to the successful Irish Cruiser Racer Association (ICRA) formed by the big boat fraternity six years ago.
The subject is debated online at www.afloat.ie. Show organiser Margaret Andreucetti can be contacted on 01-295 8181.
On Dublin Bay, there will be a seasonal fancy Dress Race on Sunday to mark the conclusion of the Viking Marine Turkey Shoot league that has attracted up to 90 entries off Dun Laoghaire for the past six weekends. Together with the Motor Yacht Club's annual winter dinghy frostbite series, there now appears as much winter activity in the harbour as there is in the summer. It strengthens the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) argument that year-round racing is a possibility.
The winter leagues will continue right up to Christmas with UCD's novel team racing event in the harbour planned for the December 20th-21st.
Irish inspired entries Green Dragon and Delta Lloyd start the third leg of the Volvo Ocean race tomorrow (2pm). The 1,950-mile eastward from Cochin, India to Singapore, means the fleet will sail upwind in uncharted waters and cross busy shipping lanes. The Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker lies fourth and Ger O'Rourke's first generation Delta Lloyd is in seventh in the eight-boat fleet.
