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 McDonald | IRL 3501 |
| Ben Duncan | NZL 3287 |
| Gillian Guinness | IRL 3165 |
| Dave Barry | IRL 3449 |
| David Quinn | IRL 3240 |
| Brian Nixon | IRL 3275 |
| Des Faherty | IRL 3253 |
| Eoin Quinlan | IRL 3286 |
| Ronan Cull | IRL 3148 |
| Daragh Sheridan | IRL 3490 |
| Jerome Aguesse | FRA 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.
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