Dublin Matchracing Series 2009
After years of being restricted to firefly dingies or borrowed boats the disciplines of Match-Racing and Team-Racing in keelboats were thrown a lifeline by the Irish Sailing Association's purchase of a fleet of J80s. This fleet has proved to be a fabulous resource for clubs around the country since they arrived, and despite being used for everything from corporate sailing to beginners try-sails the team in charge of maintaining the boats has kept them in near perfect even condition which is so vital for Team- and Match-Racing. With the aim of building towards a proper national circuit and hoping to capitalise on Ireland now long-standing skill in dingy and university events a series of one-off regattas have been organised through the summer of 2009 in both Dublin and Cork, with the honour and entertainment of proper Match-Racing drawing in a very high calibre of crews and helms.