Tipperary racing legend launches major Dublin sailing competition

Rachael Blackmore, horse-racing legend and winner of both the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup, who this week announced her retirement, alongside James Ryan, newly announced Lions squad member, three time 6 Nations Champion and Grand Slam winner, were ‘riding the crest of a wave’ today to help launch the 10th Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Ireland’s largest sailing event, which takes place from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, is now a major international sailing event, with everything from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors and their craft traveling from as far afield as the USA to participate.

READ MORE: PICTURE: Best-selling author Patricia Gibney visits Nenagh Library as part of Bealtaine Festival

No strangers to high performance sports and adventure themselves both Rachael and James embraced the aquatic charms of Dublin Bay onboard “Terra Nova”, skippered by Peter Bowring to help officially launch the event, which will see up to 70 different yacht clubs around the globe represented.

Reflective of the event’s 10th anniversary, numerous brand-new elements have been introduced to ensure the event remains fresh, challenging and inclusive to all in the sailing community.

Hence the addition this year of the Bay Race, the first race of the Regatta, and the inaugural Melges 15 Europeans, which will see roughly 40 boats competing, making this a significant milestone for the class as the largest European event, with sailors from all over the world aged 12 to 75 taking part.

A new Introductory Class has also been established, to encourage participation from boats that might otherwise not have taken part, facilitating less experienced sailors who are keen to experience the thrill of racing in a Regatta for the first time.

From the Baily lighthouse in Howth to Dalkey island, Dublin Bay accommodates six separate courses for no less than 36 competing classes of boats for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which has now become not only the country’s biggest sailing event, with an average of 1600 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland’s largest participant sporting events overall (after from the Mini-Marathon).

READ MORE: Calls made for more Irish Sign Language signage to be put up across Tipperary

Co-hosted by the four waterfront Yacht Clubs in Dun Laoghaire (Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club) this biennial four-day event is set to welcome boats ranging from small 14-foot dinghies up to ocean-going 50-footers, with individual crew members travelling from all over the world to participate in the event.

Such is the scale of the event that it requires the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury to resolve any arising disputes representing 5 countries.

Spectators will be able to view the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay.

As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it will also be possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

The Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore.

The Regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Speaking at the launch, Dun Laoghaire Regatta Ambassador Rachael Blackmore commented "As someone who enjoys the competition and the thrill of sport, it’s great to see the same passion that drives horse racing reflected out on the water at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. It’s fantastic to see an event of this scale bringing people of all levels together, from seasoned pros to Regatta first-timers, and I’m delighted to support the 10th edition of Ireland’s largest sailing event.”

Fellow Ambassador James Ryan added “ Great to be here launching the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and to get out on the water and experience this exciting sport in such good weather. It's going to be great to see the bay full of colour and great competition for the teams and from what I've heard I believe a great on shore social occasion too!"

For competitors in the VDLR, the Volvo Trophy is on the line for the overall winner of IRC classes, and with 40 IRC entries already in, two months before the first gun, these classes will ensure some of the hottest Irish Sea IRC action to date.