This weekend sees GP14 fleet arrive for 2 events in Royal Cork Yacht Club. The Classes Autumn Open & Youth Championships run side by side with many young sailors getting an opportunity to race a series for the first time. Expecting 20+ boats for the Autumn Open with probbaly 10-15 Youths. This is the first time GP14 have been down to RCYC for many a year.
Sutton will be well represented with Katie Dwyer & Michelle Rowley, Hugh Gill & Shane McLoughlin, Peter & Stephen Boyle all travelling. Alan Blay will not be racing but his crew David Johnston will be teaming up with Youghal helm Adrian Lee and will hopefully find a crew for the Youth Championships. Also heading to Cork is Conor Twohig for his first competitive start since jumping ship on Hugh and taking on his own boat with his Dad Barry. Following sightings on Thursday in Sutton Creek, the rumour mill has it that Conor has persuaded Robert Dickson to crew for him in this event.
In Lough Derg the Mirror Southerns are being held with Sean Ryan and Aedan Lestrange making the trip for their first ever away event (not including the Leinster in Clontarf). The Fireballs are also in Lough Derg this weekend and are holing their National Championships. We hear that IDRA14 man Sim Revill is teaming up with well known Fireball sailor Noel Butler for the event.
The J24 Worlds kick off early next week in Canada with a practice race on Sunday. Our own Graham Blay will be on the Howth Yacht Club U25 Team competing with up to 60+ other J24.