Double British Olympic keelboat sailor Andy Beadsworth is on board Dave Dwyer's Royal Cork Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble for an IRC Two contest in this week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, where strong winds are forecasted to get the four-day regatta off to an exciting start on Thursday afternoon.
Beadsworth and Dwyer, who previously sailed together on the Mills 39 Marinerscove in RORC Commodore's Cup campaigns, will renew their long-standing friendship at Ireland's biggest sailing event.
The Nottingham helmsman who sailed Solings at Atlanta and Sydney is also a double Dragon class world champion and has previously competed on the Dublin Bay race track.
As Afloat reported earlier, Dun Laoghaire's IRC Two division may be one of the hardest to call, given the developing strong wind forecast that threatens 30-knot gusts from the south on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
It's a forecast, however, that the Swuzzlebubble skipper appears to relish: "We discussed it this AM. We reckon there will be some relief inshore and should be incredible conditions for the regatta. Looks like it could be a brilliant Sailors' regatta".
Swuzzlebubble is a favourite for IRC Two honours, and Beadsworth's presence will only improve those odds for last month's Sovereign's Cup champion.