RS Elite National Championship at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta - Preview
by Alasdair McLeod 27 Jun 17:26 BST
11-14 July 2019
RS Elites hoist their kites rounding the windward mark © Peter Hickson
The 2019 RS Elite National Championship will be held from 11th to 14th July as part of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, an event hosting upwards of 500 boats in 37 classes on at least nine separate course areas in Dublin Bay.
This is a double first for the class. It is the first time the event has been held outside the UK and the first time it has been part of a larger event. Elites have competed at Dun Laoghaire in the past and the concept of holding a National Championship at the Regatta has already proved popular, with the 34 entries to date. This makes the RS Elite the most numerous keelboat class overall. The Elites will have their own starts and course area.
Approximately half of the entries come from Northern Ireland, where the class has a strong presence. The remainder represent all the RS Elite fleets in mainland UK with one entrant coming all the way from Guernsey. Entrants to date include Olympic medallists Mike McIntyre (the defending champion) and Ossie Stewart, current International 14 World Champion Andy Partington and former Dragon Edinburgh Cup winner Simon Brien. This year the class is also very pleased to welcome back former Class Chairman Steve Powell whose tireless work in the past has done much to ensure the success of the RS Elite today.
On the water the competitors can expect excellent race management, and on shore the hospitality provided by the host clubs (Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal St George Yacht Club and Royal Irish Yacht Club) is legendary. The Class Championship Dinner will be held on Saturday 13th July at the Royal St George Yacht Club.
For team supporters both Dun Laoghaire and, of course, Dublin are well known tourist destinations. Entry is still open and full details can be found on the RS Elite Class Association website rselite.org.