Ireland will next week hold another two major sailing events. The Mod70 trimarans are in Dun Laoghaire for a stop on their European Tour while Kinsale will host what is considered to be the World Cup of Dragon sailing with 200 competitors and more than 60 boats.
Sailing has been very much to the fore this year with strong performances in a number of classes by Irish boats at World Championships and the Olympic Games; the hosting of the ISAF World Youth Championships on Dublin Bay in July; the conclusion to the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway and the Tall Ships Festival in Dublin.
The Irish Sailing Association secured multi-year funding from Providence Resources for the Olympic and Paralympic programmes and the Congress of the International Sailing Federation takes place in Dun Laoghaire in December.
The Dragon Gold Cup will draw teams from  Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Finland, France, Portugal, Denmark and Monaco as well as strong fleets from both Ireland and Britain.
Two Olympic gold medallists as well as competitors in Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup campaigns will race around the open waters surrounding the Old Head of Kinsale.
The event has attracted strong commercial support as well with Private wealth management firm Tilman Brewin Dolphin the headline sponsor, Dubarry, Failte Ireland and Latitude Kinsale, a producer of nautical maps also participating as sponsors of the event which takes place from the 8th to the 12th September.
“We are delighted to host the prestigious Dragon Gold Cup at Kinsale Yacht Club this season and look forward to welcoming a world-class fleet to Kinsale for a full racing and social programme” remarked Cameron Good, Commodore of the Kinsale Yacht Club.
View all the latest news on the commercial side of Irish sport
Find out more about how Sport for Business can be of benefit to you
Subscribe today for the free Sport for Business daily news digest