Final call for the inaugural Irish Sailing League !
Irish Sailing along with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council are pleased to support the inaugural Irish Sailing League, lead by Kenneth Rumball, and urge anyone considering entering that the deadline is Tuesday 30th May.
Taking place in Dun Laoghaire, the Irish Sailing League will see competitors represent their clubs in short, grandstand-style sprint races sailed in RS21s with crews of four. Boats will be supplied.
Teams will battle it out to become the Irish Sailing League champions and give their club the right to proclaim itself the best sailing club in the country. What’s more, the champion club/team has the opportunity to represent Ireland at the annual Sailing Champions League, where sailing clubs from across Europe and beyond put their skills to the test to determine the best sailing club in the world.
The League is fully affiliated with the International Sailing League Association.
There are now a few changes to the format:
- The first ‘qualifying’ weekend is now dropped.
The event now sees a qualifying weekend over the 1st and 2nd of July, with entries split over the two days. The top 50% from each day will represent in the final or the repechage two weeks later on the 15th & 16th July
- Entry fees now slashed
As a result of the above, entry fees are slashed to €1150 per team including boat charter fees, event management and co-ordination, insurances and safety.
- Direct entry from teams welcome
Teams do not have to be nominated by their club, however teams will sail for the glory of their club.
- Final entry deadline is now the 30th May 2023, after this the event will be declared or not.
Here are some FAQs that you might useful:
Where is it taking place ?
The event will be sailed in Scotsman’s Bay in Dun Laoghaire, with the Irish Sailing League mobile race office situated in the new Dun Laoghaire Baths. Large RIBs will be on stand-by to transfer crews to and from the race course.
Excitingly, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have included the event as part of the Dun Laoghaire Coastival event taking place that week.
What boats are being used ?
With thanks to RS Sailing, the event is to be held in one design RS21 Keelboats. These boats will ensure a level playing field for all teams as only a handful of people have sailed these boats. Furthermore each boat is factory fresh and produced within a number of weeks of each other maintaining the one design status of the fleet. Clubs, teams and classes need not worry about boats and logistics as the boats are provided and will be pre-rigged before teams come to the venue.
What happens if we enter but the event is cancelled?
Entry fees are non-refundable for teams that do not attend the event for whatever reason. In the unlikely event that any of the league events are cancelled, entry fees will be refunded.
I want to enter a team but my club hasn’t put in an entry, how can I enter?
Put an entry in for your team or club and email the Irish Sailing League or Kenneth Rumball on social media. There is extra capacity so please enter or send an email if you are unsure.
I have a team but not all team members can sail all of the dates?
No problem. Teams can replace members weekend to weekend as long as the organising authority is notified of the changes. The organisers know a lot of dedication is required, so they are more than happy to accommodate these changes.
My club cannot organise a team, can we collaborate with another club?
Absolutely, for smaller clubs who may not be able to organise, the organisers are more than happy for clubs and teams to collaborate.
We’re worried we may not be good enough?
Not a problem, it’s all about having fun, learning and giving it a go. Not everyone will have sailed a RS 21 before and rig settings will be locked to keep things simple. Take the plunge, guarantee it will be worth it.
I’m too young/old!
No one is too young or old for the league, teams can be of any age, sailing is a sport for life.
I don’t have the time.
The league has been set up with reduced sailing dates to mean there are only 3 days of sailing per team, thus reducing the time commitment for teams.
And what if I win ?
The winner of the league this year will be crowned the Irish Sailing League Champions and will have the opportunity to represent Ireland at the Sailing Champions League in 2024.
If you have any questions or want to find out more, please contact Kenneth Rumball kenneth@inss.ie or go to www.irishsailingleague.com