SAILING: Dun Laoghaire's Tim Costello will defend his Scottish crown in Tarbert in the first of eight races this morning at the Bell Lawrie Scottish series on the Clyde.
Costello, sailing Tiamat, who won the overall title in 2005, admits he may be hard pressed to repeat the performance in the 17-boat fleet this weekend as his Class One fleet contains some of the north of England's top crews. But if he does he will become the first Irish man to win the Scottish series trophy twice.
Last year Tiamat, a Mills 40, won the event on its maiden sail, and goes in to this event also as a member of this year's Irish Commodore's Cup Green team.
There have been three Irish winners of the Clyde's 31-year-old competition.
In 1981, another Dun Laoghaire boat, a Castro One Tonner Justine III (Frank Woods) became the first, but there were no others for 23 years until Anthony O'Leary took Scotland's top award in 2004 sailing his Corby 35, Antix.
O'Leary is part of a modest Irish fleet participating on the Firth of Clyde that includes Philip Watson from Howth whose yacht, a Hanse 371, Megawat, sank following a rudder stock failure on the way to the event last year.
After a dramatic rescue, the race organisers offered to refund his entry fee, but he announced that the Clyde Cruising Club (CCC) should enter him immediately for the 2006 event and he intends to be on the start line with Hansebacker, a brand new Hanse 371.
O'Leary, like Costello, is treating this as a training event as the Royal Cork helm is in the final stages of preparation for the Commodore's Cup.
Racing with his sons, Peter and Nicholas, as part of his six-man crew, he says CCC's eight races in a 28-boat fleet, in which only three or four boats are rated below Antix, is great practice for Cowes in July.
In other cruiser news, Wicklow Sailing Club have 20 entries to date for July's BMW Round Ireland race, and organiser Dennis Noonan is reckoning on a slightly reduced fleet from 2004 because of the clash with the Commodore's Cup in Cowes. He expects to have about 40 starters, down 20 per cent from last time round.
In sailing administration news, the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) have appointed their club development manager, Harry Hermon, as chief executive this week. He is their third CEO in 15 months.
Hermon (41), joined the ISA professional staff in 1999 as club development officer.
The CEO's first job in the new role might well be the recruitment of a replacement racing manager, as his appointment coincides with the exit of Dave Quinn, who held that position for two years.
This week the ISA have joined the Irish Marine Federation (IMF) in making separate submissions to Fingal County Council over proposed bye laws that limit the use of fast powerboats from popular sites in north Dublin.
The council crackdown aims to prohibit jet ski and fast powerboat use at nine venues, including Howth, Sutton, Portrane, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan.
They also plan to restrict the use in other areas, which the ISA and IMF say is "unduly excessive".
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday: NORA Cruiser racing at Mayo SC.
Saturday: Lark European Championships, at the Royal St George YC, Dun Laoghaire; RAYC/DBSC Keelboat Race Day, at the Royal St George YC, Dun Laoghaire; Fireball Ulster Championships, at Newtownards SC, Co Down; ISORA Irish Coastal Race, at the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire; Annual Blessing of the Boats, at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Dublin
