J24 European Championships at Howth YC – High winds and big seas
by Howth YC on 12 Sep 2011
Opening ceremony - J24 European Championships 2011 Howth YC
BMW J24 European Championships were scheduled to kick off on Sunday 11th September 2011 with a practice race followed by first races on Monday 12th. The practice race was cancelled due to 35kt winds and big seas.
The championships were officially opened on Saturday evening, 10th September, with a ceremony on the forecourt in front of the clubhouse on the podium erected by the sponsor.
It featured two top-of-the range BMW vehicles and a motorcycle and a backdrop with the highly appropriate phrase of ‘Joy is Plain Sailing’ in front of the national flags of the nine competing nations.
With an audience of competitors, supporters and club members, the speakers on the podium were introduced by the ‘Master of Ceremonies’, Club and Championship Press Officer Graham Smith.
First to speak was Derek Bothwell, Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, and then the Commodore Roger Cagney addressed the large crowd who has assembled on the forecourt and balcony. They were followed by John Ives, Managing Director of BMW Ireland, the title sponsors, who spoke about BMW’s global involvement in sailing, and then Niamh McCutcheon, President of the Irish Sailing Association, spoke on behalf of the ISA and the Irish Sports Council who supported the event.
Jim Farmer, President of the World Council of the International J/24 Class Association, spoke next, and the final speaker was the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr.Gerry McGuire, who welcomed all the overseas visitors to the county and officially declared the Championship open.
The competitors were then invited to an Opening Reception in the clubhouse.
