Our Class Measurer Roger Bannon provides Amendments to the SB3 Class Rules

The complete Class Rules are here.

The weekend of 4-5 July romises to be a brilliant warm up for the Dunlaoghaire regatta which runs from the 9/10th July .

You can download the entry form from the SB3 Ireland website and send to RIYC Dunlaoghaire.

If you send your entry in by the 19th June you will save € 20 on entry ( instead of € 120 you will only pay € 100)

Kind regards,
Jerry Dowling

tel.01 28 28 390
mob. 087 2511509

June  9 th , Wind SE , 3-5 knots rising to 12-15 kn in the afternoon, 7 races held.

A fleet of 8 SB3s, about the right size for the confined space, sailed up through the lifted Toll Bridge at 1030 to do battle in some epic racing for the 2009 Liffey Challenge.  Weather conditions were initially poor with drizzle which was unfortunate for spectator appeal and photo opportunity but at least by lunchtime the skies had cleared.  The lunchtime hordes from the Accountancy firms, Law firms and IFSC companies by the River gathered in good numbers to watch, armed with their paninis and cappucinos.

An early afternoon hazard for the fleet for a number of races was a large number of divers and 2 large ribs, complete with camera crew up above on the quayside.  This turned out to be the filming of a “suicide jump” episode of RTE’s “Fair City” , rather spoiling the element of surprise for any SB3 sailing soap followers, not to mention the disruption for the TV director caused by loud, exhuberant SB3 crews hailing for room at an obstruction!

Anyway, the action started off fast and furious with very patchy morning winds and incredibly close racing, especially for the first tack after the start in by the wall and later as all eight boats tended to round the windward mark together. Extremely fast out of the blocks was “Trade Credit Brokers” , sailed by Aidan O’Connell with Graham Elmes in the middle, who won the first three races.

Race Officer Ailbe Millerick called for a brief halt for lunch then racing resumed.  The wind increased at this stage, ironing out a few of the treacherous light spots. The lads on “TCB” lost some momentum and Cathy MacAleavey on “Bluebird”, racing with Laser Radial star daughter Analise and ex 49-er campaigner Russell MacGovern, really came into it with two race wins on the trot.  However, “Squalo Bianco” raced by Sean craig, Alan Green and wife Heather Craig had been chipping away and ended up winning the last two races to take the trophy by the narrowest of margins.  Many others in the fleet, such as young Ben Shanahan, Jerry Dowling and Marco Sorgassi had strong individual races.  The stronger wind produced some good planing down by the favoured north wall and some really tight racing.  A couple of boats spun out for nasty little brushes with the quayside wall.  Thankfully no damage or injuries resulted.

The SB3 class are very grateful to the RAYC for organising, the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club for their facilities and of course Dublin Port Co. for their generous sponsorship.

Final results (Top 3) :
1st  3281 “Squalo Bianco”, RStGYC, Sean Craig, Alan Green and Heather Craig, 13 points ; results ; 1,1,2,2,3,4 ( 5)
2nd  3033 “Bluebird”, NYC, Cathy MacAleavey, Russell MacGovern and Analise Murphy, 14 points ; 1,1,2,3,3,4 (8)

3rd  3279 “Trade Credit Brokers”, RStGYC, Aidan O’Connell, Graham Elmes and Carol O’Kelly, 16 points ; 1,1,1,4,4,5 (8).

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Champagne sailing conditions for SB3 Southern Championship.

Sunshine and fresh breeze was the order of the day for the JG Property Management  SB3 Southern Championship.

Saturday started with 10 to 15 knot breeze and with racing in the harbour the sixteen boats had four races with PRO David O’Brien making full use of the harbour and giving the bank holiday crowds something to watch with the windward mark located near the Baltimore Pier.

Race one started in 10 knots of Breeze from the South East. Ben Duncan and crew aboard Sharkbait started as they were to continue with a race win followed home by fellow HYC boat Emmet Ryan and crew on Sonic Zoom.

Race two again saw Sharkbait take the gun with Kieran Dorgan in Sibelus second.
Ronan Collins in Modus Operandi managed to take the gun from Sharkbait in Race four before sailors headed for the sun and well earned pints in Baltimore. Baltimore Sailing club put on a fantastic dinner which was followed by a long night with plenty craic and pints!

Sunday morning arrived with blue skies and sick heads, sailors were rewarded with some of the best sailing conditions in memory with flat seas and 15 – 20 knots of Breeze. Racing was held outside the harbour and boats rushed towards the eleven o’clock start through the back channel to the race area outside Sherkin.
Race five saw Ben Duncan and crew start with another race win followed by Rob Cahill and Andrew Algeo. Sailing conditions were perfect with plenty of excitement downwind and plenty of position changing.

Race six followed with Sharkbait taking another race win followed by Kieran Dorgan and Andrew Algeo.

Race seven saw Andrew Algeo and crew take the gun follwed by Dave Barry and Kieran Dorgan.

This secured second place overall for Andrew Algeo with Kieran Dorgan third overall.

There was no doubt about the winner with Sharkbait Ben Duncan, Ric Morris, and Brian Moran from Howth Yacht sailing a great event, and counting a very impressive five firsts and one second place to complete a memorable month in which they have won all three Irish SB3 events.

Complete Results (pdf file)

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