West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association

Northwest Offshore Racing Association

West Coast Championship’s 2008

Cruiser Regatta

Date

Wednesday 18^th June to Saturday 21^st June 2008

Venue

Clifden Boat Club, Beach Road, Clifden, Co. Galway.

Web Sites

www.wiora.org

www.clifdenboatclub.com

Anyone familiar with last years events in the Irish sailing calendar will certainly have heard of the great sailing event held at Clifden Boat Club in July. This competition, The West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association (WIORA) West Coast Championships was the largest meeting on the West Coast in 2007. The competition was keen, the sailing demanding and the shore side atmosphere was electric…. …………………………………....And it is all due to happen again this year.

If any addition is needed for this event, it is provided by the inclusion of the Northwest Offshore Racing Association (NORA) Cruiser Regatta.

This is the second time that the West Coast Championship’s will be hosted by Clifden Boat Club. The organising of this event will be dealt with, with the same dedication and commitment that was demonstrated by the Clifden Boat Club team last year. The picturesque bay of Clifden will be alive once again, with yachts from all over the country descending on the town for this event. After last year’s response to the event, it is a guarantee that the town and people of Clifden will once again give a great welcome to the competitors and spectators alike.

A key player in the huge success of the West Coast Championships 2007 was the event ‘Officer of the Day’, Alan Crosby. Alan has been associated with the West Coast Championship’s for the last five years and has added his very professional touch to the racing. In 2007, setting the courses in what can only be termed demanding conditions; he ran the event with precision and control that was admired by all. Alan is coming back to run the sailing waterside again this year, and this will assure the racing will be competitive and demanding, typically run with Alan’s easy humour and precision.

As a reward for the efforts of those boats that set such high standards, top class prizes are being provided. Over 125 prizes are presented to the winning teams over the four days of the event, being a first, second and third for each class, for each race and, if that wasn’t enough, in both Handicap systems. After racing on Friday, prizes for the overall’s Northwest Offshore Racing Association Regatta will be present and on the final day of racing, Saturday, there will be a first second and third for the overalls in each class and for both IRC and ECHO. For the production boat’s, there is an added incentive with X-Yacht, Sigma and Beneteau putting up cup’s for the best performing boat’s overall in these categories. And last, but definitely not least, the overall winners of the event. There will be a third and second overall out of all of the classes and finally first place going to ‘The West Coast Champion’s’.

Returning to defend the title, ‘West Coast Champion 2007’, will be class three yacht “Alliance” Vince Gaffney, from Howth Yacht Club. He will be coming back with his crew to, I’m sure, give us all a run for our money. Another one to keep an eye on is local yacht ‘Hallmark’ skippered by Jackie Ward and overall winner of ‘the Dubarry West Coast Super league ‘07’. The Royal Western Yacht Club, Tralee Bay Sailing Club and Foynes Yacht Club will once again be sending up there best, with ‘Chaos’ skippered by Tom Whelan, ‘Treyona’ skippered by Finbar O Connell and ‘Golden Kopper’ skippered by the Conway brothers, among many. A good show is expected from Galway competitors amongst which will be the two J109’s, Tommy Smith’s ‘Catalpa’ and Glen Cahill’s ‘Joie De Vie’ going head to head and the two Corby 33’s, Liam Burkes ‘AWOL’ and Martin Breen’s ‘That’s Life’ also trying to get one over on each other. From north of Clifden there will be yachts from Mayo Sailing Club and Sligo Yacht Club attending the event, including such competitive boats as Robin Smiths ‘Roxanne’. They are likely to make a stir in class one again this year. With up to sixty yachts traveling to Clifden for this event, the racing will be close and the competition will be one to remember.

Rest assured The WIORA / NORA West Coast Championships 2008 will be an event not to be missed…………………………….. Make sure you are on board.

For more information log onto www.wiora.org / www.clifdenboatclub.com

Bobbi O Regan

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