Ireland’s national sailing event will see the best of Irish sailors compete to be crowned the 2007 All Ireland Sailing Champion. The National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire will host this premier domestic championship this coming weekend (6th & 7th October 2007). The Senior competition will be sailed in the J80’s from the new ISA SailFleet and the Junior & Girls event will take place in Laser Radial dinghies.

“2007 Champion Peter O’Leary will be defending his title but he will have strong competition to contend with,” said Ed Al*****, ISA Racing Manager. “One interesting wildcard nominee is Ger O’Rourke who recently added the title of overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his list of triumphs for 2007.”

In the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games it will be interesting to watch the two Olympic Squad nominees Gerald Owens, who earlier in the summer secured Ireland place at the 2008 Games in the 470 class, and Star campaigner Maurice O’Connell. Interestingly enough, the 2006 Defending Champion, Peter O’Leary, has begun competing internationally in the Star class.

Following on the success of 2007, this year’s championship will see an even stronger Girl’s presence within the Junior & Girl’s competition which takes place in the Olympic class Laser Radial dinghy.

Returning to defend her title will be Rachel Guy (2006 Girl’s Champion) however this year the girl’s fleet will include nine strong competitors, including local sailor Annalise Murphy who campaign’s her Laser Radial regularly on the Olympic circuit.

Last year there was a battle royal between Ben Lynch and Aidan McLavery as they chased the Junior title, which George Kenefick untimately clinched.   Although Kenefick is not competing this year neither Lynch nor McLavery can expect plain sailing as the girls sail within the Junior fleet and can also aim for the Junior Title.

Seniors                        Representing

Peter O'Leary                2006 Defending Champion

John Hall                       Beneteau First 31.7

Noel Butler                    Fireball

Niall Henry                    GP14

David Crosbie                ICRA 1

David Rose                    ICRA 2

Stefan Hyde                  J24

James Esprey               Laser

Niall McGrotty               Mermaid

Gerard Owens               Olympic Nominee

Maurice O'Connell          Olympic Nominee

Tom Fitzpatrick              SB3 Sportsboat

Jonathan Craig               Shannon One Design

Ger O'Rourke                 Wildcard Nominee

Neil Hegarty                  Wildcard Nominee

Junior & Girls               Representing

Rachel Guy                   2006 Defending Champion

Katie Tingle                   420

Jordan Hunt                   Laser 4.7

Katie Malcolm               Laser 4.7

Katie White                   Laser 4.7

Aidan McLaverty            Laser Radial

Ben Lynch                     Laser Standard

Alan Ruigrok                  Laser 4.7

Aileen Boylan                Mirror

Mark Boylan                  Mirror

Diana Kissane               Optimist

Richard Harrington         Optimist

Jenny Andreason           RS Feva

Mattie O'Dowd               RS Feva

Simon Doran                 Topaz

Maria Dolan                   Topper

Philip Doran                   Topper

Annalise Murphy            Wildcard

Rob Lehane                   Wildcard

Maeve Leonard  Wildcard

Event website http://www.sailing.ie/allireland/

Event sponsors include:

SLAM (http://www.slam.ie)

Joker Boats (http://www.jokerboats.ie/)