SAILING:MANY IN Olympic circles thought it can't get much better for Irish sailing than a gold medal at last weekend's Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth yet this weekend promises more international honours but this time across the cruiser-racing and dinghy scenes.
After a series of near misses in the Commodore’s Cup Ireland is edging closer to overall victory this morning after a consistent series in Cowes. It’s been a fantastic week for the single Irish team against the might of British and French opposition.
And at home it looks certain a Belfast pair will lift the International Mirror dinghy European trophy at Rosses Point, Sligo, this evening. And the two-week high might continue with the prospect of more good news from the Etchell’s World Championship that kick off in Howth on Monday.
A glimpse into the life of some of the most successful Olympic sailors of all time will be aired on BBC1 tomorrow at 1pm. It tells the story of Britain’s medal winners at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta.
In Sligo, Royal North’s Ross Kearney and Max Odell have a streak of wins after seven races in the Mirror European championships. The Belfast Lough pairing are 32 point ahead of Britain’s Alfie Wisdom and Sam Warren. The event ends this evening.
After seven races at the 234-boat Optimist National Championships at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, Royal Cork’s Peter McCann holds the lead on 12 points from club-mate Patrick Crosbie on 21 points.
In Howth, if the 29-boat Irish Etchell’s fleet looked impressive on the water last weekend then Monday’s 43-boat Worlds’ entry will be some sight when the first race of the World Championship starts. Some of the world’s top sailors, including Olympic medallists and former world champions, will compete in the nine-race series being staged on the waters between Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye.
Over 130 Etchells sailors will participate and in addition to the 12 Irish boats which qualified for the event, entries have been received from Australia, USA, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Singapore, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Twenty-five boats are entered for tomorrow’s Dún Laoghaire M2 Buoy-Dún Laoghaire race starting at 10am. This is the eighth race of the ISORA series and it is organised in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club. The start line will be located in Scotsman’s Bay. Also on the bay, the J109 class races for National honours at the Royal St George YC.
