Search


11 Howth boats in SB3 World Championships 22 - 26 Sept at NYC
Author: David Quinn Posted on: 19/9/08 Print Version

 
11 Howth boats will compete in the SB3 World Championships next week. The event is being hosted by the National Yacht Club, with practice racing on Sunday and the championship scheduled from Monday 22nd until Friday 26th. 140 boats representing 11 countries will compete in flights for the first 3 days over 2 separate races courses, with a split into Gold and Silver groups for the final two days. Howth boats have been performing well on the Irish circuit so far this year and will be among the main Irish contenders for this event.

Of the visiting boats, favourites include Geoff Carveth (2007 European Champion), Mike Budd, Paul Lovejoy, sailing with the Greenhalgh brothers, and Craig Burlton, 2006 European Champion and, recent winner of the East Coast Championship in Howth. Other notable visitors include South African Dave Hudson, who is a former Olympic Flying Dutchman helm and recently won the overall Cork Week trophy.

The home fleet also has a very strong line up. Ranking leader and recent Irish National Championships winner Gareth Flanigan should lead the Irish challenge. A number of the current Irish Olympic Squad will also be sailing, including Ger Owens (470) sailing with David Quinn, Peter O’Leary (Star) and Tim Goodbody (Finn) who will be sailing together and Russell McGovern (49er), who narrowly missed a place in the Beijing team. Nicholas O’Leary, 2007 National Champion is expected to make a welcome return to the class for the event.

The Howth entry:

Emma McDonaldIRL 3501
Ben DuncanNZL 3287
Gillian GuinnessIRL 3165
Dave BarryIRL 3449
David QuinnIRL 3240
Brian NixonIRL 3275
Des FahertyIRL 3253
Eoin QuinlanIRL 3286
Ronan CullIRL 3148
Daragh SheridanIRL 3490
Jerome AguesseFRA 3024

3 races a day are planned with 2 on the final day, with first gun at 1100. This should be one of the most spectacular sailing events seen in Ireland in recent years and it will be well worth taking the trip over at some stage during the week. The National Yacht Club have also organised a packed social schedule each evening.