Home | About Us Home | Regatta Information | Logistics | News | Results | Social Program | Gallery | Weather | Accommodation | Shop About the Irish Etchells Class The Irish Etchells class was hatched by a few Dublin sailors over pints in late 2003 and a number of sailors committed to buy boats for the 2004 season. By the end of the 2004 season there were 11 Etchells registered with the newly formed Irish Class association. All of these 11 boats sailed from Howth Yacht Club on Dublin’s north shores. Howth Yacht Club has been very enthusiastic in its support of the new class and has given its backing to the objectives of the class association in promoting an international one design keelboat. At the end of the 2005 sailing season there were 19 registered Etchells actively sailing in Howth.          The 2009 season promises to push the class numbers up to 26. A new fleet in Dun Laoghaire located on Dublin’s south shore has begun with currently 4 boats lining out and a promise of a new fleet in Cork where three boats are located.          The class has run the Irish Nationals in 2004 and 2005 and the European Championships in 2005 all hosted by Howth YC. These events were supported very well by the UK Etchells fleets. In 2004 triple Americas Cup winner Russell Coutts sailed in our National Championships. In 2005 our events attracted another triple Americas Cup winner, Dennis Connor in addition to entries from Italy and New Zealand and renewed support from the UK Etchells fleet. The Irish Class fully appreciates the support given by the international fleets and promises to bring the Irish Etchells Fleet from strength to strength.          The Irish Class Association has a short to medium term goal, to bring an Etchells World Championships to Ireland and in particular to Howth Yacht Club, this would see the best of the best in International Yacht racing competing in local waters against our local fleets.          The Irish Class Association also puts its greatest emphasis on regular weekly club racing for all Etchells owners as it is all to aware that classes can come to an end if there is to much emphasis on travelling to events rather than support for the local fleet. In saying that, the boat is an international one design which has strong fleets in USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, France, Italy and Israel, and through the class loaner boat ethos, travelling is attractive, in moderation, allowing club sailors to compete in National, Continental and World Championships.