12-13th June 2010

The Sharkbait team of Ben Duncan,Brian Moran and Ric Morris retained the Sb3 Airtricity sponsored SB3 Northern Championships.This was sweet revenge to coming second to Gareth Flanagan in the Easterns. The event was hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Y.C. whose hospitality was second to none. The whole weekend was a real adventure, from the launching in Belfast Lough on Friday night to the bar on Saturday night. The launch drivers need special mention for their skill in getting us in off the water safe and sound on the Friday night.

We shared the course with RS Elites, which added a positive dimension to the weekend of racing.
The PRO, Alister Hunter performed brilliantly with his team, giving us superb courses and never once kept us waiting around, on behalf of the SB3 fleet I want to convey our thanks for a job really well done.

23 boats competed, an increase on the 17 last year, a real testament that the SB3 fleet is as progressive as ever. This was in no small part down to the great work that Gordan Patterson put in, his reward was line honours in the last race on Saturday. All race winners were rewarded a bottle of champagne, Gordan had his drunk before he hit the dock !!!!

The racing was extremely close with a point separating 4/5/6 and 7th positions. Greg Bell on Duff Beer was unlucky to have sail damage on the Sunday, and was pipped for fourth spot by Bád/Kilcullen. Emmet Ryan sailed supremely to be edged into third spot by Gareth Flanagan in McCready Sailboats. Peter Kennedy our current Irish Champion finished sixth.

We hope its not too long before we return to the Royal North, they gave the SB3 class a real welcome which we will never forget. Its off to Crookhaven for the Southerns, hope to see you all there for more fun and games.

J.Dowling
Sb3 National Chairman

2010 Northerns Results (pdf file)

Our National Championships, sponsored by Investwise, will be held at Howth Yacht Club on 3 – 5 September.

Summary of the SB3 event (pdf file)

ONLINE ENTRY FORM

Notice of Race has been published (pdf file)

Amendment 1 to SB3 Nationals NOR – 4th August

Facebook page with crew wanted / available.

The Royal Alfred Yacht Club will provide a full weekend of racing in Dublin Bay on May 15 – 16, run from the National Yacht Club.

Three races on Saturday and two on Sunday will see the SB3 fleet sharing the windward-leeward course with the Dragons.  First gun at 1100 hours.

Download the Notice of Race and Entry Form HERE

A number of International Class Rule changes have become effective on 16 April 2010.  Among the changes:
–we can now carry and use a hand held GPS unit and mobile telephones
–if you don’t have an outboard engine (and of course you therefore have 21 kg of lead correctors) you no longer need to carry a fire extinguisher, but you must have pair of paddles
–weedsticks and a toolkit are now optional items that may be carried on board

Full details of 2010 INTERNATIONAL Class Rules and changes are on this page.

Additionally, two changes have been made to Safety Rules for Irish (32 County) events:  No longer a requirement to carry a horseshoe buoy or a set of flares.

Our Ireland Class Measurer Roger Bannon reports:

The Committee of the Laser SB3 Class Association of Ireland, at its April meeting, passed the following bylaw which will apply for the 2010 season for all racing at Local, Club, Regional and National events unless amended otherwise by the NORs or SIs to cater for local requirements.

C.5.1 is amended to remove the requirement under C.5.1 (1) and C.5.1 (9) to carry a horseshoe buoy and distress flares. In Northern Ireland it is a requirement that the crew must at all times wear a PFD to the minimum standard ISO 12402-5 (CE 50 Newton’s), or USCG Type III. This requirement already exists under statutory regulation in The Republic of Ireland.
This bylaw shall be construed as part of the rules and regulations governing the Laser SB3 Class in Ireland.

• The revised rules for 2010 are published here as noted above. They contain a small number of changes, the most notable being the revised requirements regarding boats which elect not sail with an engine. It is important to note that the 21Kgs (previously 22Kgs) of lead correctors must now be securely located on the engine shelf and 2 paddles must also be carried on board.

• The use of a handheld GPS is now permitted unless its use is prohibited in the NOR’s or SI’s.

• For those of you travelling to events outside Ireland it will be important to establish the specified mandatory and optional equipment that will be carried on the boat as it is likely it will vary between different locations because of the impact of diverse localised regulations. Under the revised 2010 rules, variations to specified equipment are now permitted if they are notified in the Notice of Race and or the Sailing Instructions. So don’t throw away your lifebuoy and flares, you may need them.

Roger Bannon
Laser SB3 Class Measurer Ireland. 16th April 2010

Hear ye! Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!

Only a month to go to the start of the SB3 season!

Howth Yacht Club’s Spring Warmer Series is offering two races on Saturday 10 April and two more on Saturday 17 April for the bargain price of €100 including cranage.  First gun is set for 10.55 each Saturday and we’ll share the race course with Etchells, J-24s and Squibs.

Run quickly to this page on HYC’s website to download the Notice of Race and enter online.  A great opportunity to brush off the cobwebs, tune up the boat and get some practice ahead of the Easterns on 24 April.

The Mitsubishi Motors SB3 Eastern Championships 2010 will take place at the Royal St George on the 24 and 25 April.  Enter online here today and get a discount of €20 if your entry is received before 1 April. The Saturday night is not to be missed with a three course buffet and a few free drinks courtesy of SB3 Ireland and the George.

It’s going to be an awesome April!