19th December 2020
The National YC s biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, currently scheduled for June 9th 2021, could become symbolic of the emergence from pandemic. The start of 2019 s race shows overall winner Paul O Higgin s JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (left) showing briefly ahead of Mick Cotter s 94ft line honours winner and new course record-setter Windfall
Credit: Afloat.ie/David O Brien
In normal times, the yearly Irish sailing fixtures list is a reasonably harmonious programme based around annual or biennial pillar events of various types and sizes, an ongoing succession of regattas and championships which slot together in a reasonably meaningful structure which is dictated by traditional times of the year, and the needs of the bigger one design classes – particularly the dinghies – to find a location which will accommodate them for their annual national championship.
The next three months will be a busy time for the Noakesailing 18ft Skiff Racing team as crew members prepare for a Sydney-Hobart Race campaign, the 2021 JJ Giltinan World Championship while still maintaining the Noakes Group business activity during the present difficult time.
Sean Langman, Managing Director of Noakes Group, and one of Australia s most successful and versatile yachtsmen, has never been a person to sit on his hands and is a high achiever in both business and several levels of Australian and world sailing.
His association with the Australian 18 Footers League and 18ft Skiff Racing generally in Australia goes back more than 25 years.