SAILING/Column: Cruiser racing got a much needed shot in the arm last night with the launch - appropriately during Kinsale's Sovereign's Cup regatta - of an association that aims to introduce a series of national championships and set national handicap divisions.
At its core is a desire by cruiser-racer enthusiasts to provide a co-ordinated approach to fixtures, according to its new commodore Fintan Cairns, the go-ahead former commodore of Dublin Bay Sailing Club. The ICRA also plans to select representative teams for international events that could include Commodore's Cup or Admiral's Cup squads.
At the inaugural meeting of ICRA, held in Waterford on May 27th, Royal Cork's Jim Donegan was elected the association's vice-commodore. Brian Cusack, Pat Pyne, Robert Keating, Barry Rose, Francis Ennis and Dennis Kiely complete the first executive committee.
The ICRA will contact an estimated 500 cruiser-racers around the country in the coming weeks to arrange for the first a.g.m. to be held in November.
Sailmaker Des McWilliam of Crosshaven applauded last night's announcement: "If this kick-starts Irish international sailing in cruiser classes again, it's the best thing to happen for a long time. Some of us still remember the glory of the Ton Cup days."
McWiliam also emphasised the need for ICRA representation at next month's world sailing federation (ISAF) meeting where, according to McWilliam, ISAF will debate changes that could affect cruiser racing in this country.
After light winds yesterday, strong SE'lys provided a testing change for the 160 cruiser-racers on day two of the Sovereign's Cup. In a repeat of the first day's over-the-line results in Class 0 were Fanatix (Conor Fanning), Minnie the Moocher (Anthony Richards) and Gloves Off (Colm Barrington). Full details are on www.kyc.ie.
The National Yacht Club has an assembled fleet of 20 yachts for next Tuesday's start of the Pierse Dún Laoghaire to Dingle race (11 a.m.) from Dún Laoghaire harbour. This is a change in the traditional tea-time start for the 300-mile race.
Regrettably, the fleet is down two yachts, race organiser Brian Barry reported yesterday. The Sigma 38 State O'Chassis (Kevin Buckley) has withdrawn due to engine failure. Although a sailing race, all boats must comply with offshore safety regulations and a stand-by engine is mandatory.
In addition, two other entries, Celtic Spirit (Michael Holland) and Diatas Air (Ciarán O'Mara and Padraic O'Neill) will combine crews to sail on Celtic Spirit.
The fleet is expected in Dingle on Saturday, July 5th.
Also at the National YC, Asterix (John Counihan and Frazer Meredith) has won the first Citroen Dún Laoghaire-Cruisers Three Dublin Bay trophy on IRC handicap.
Twenty-three of the 35 boats in the Bay's Cruisers three class took part in the Sunday morning race. Run from the NYC it is part of a series of five designated events sponsored by Citroen Dún Laoghaire. A ladies day has already taken place and Sunday's trophy race is to be followed by a Captain's Prize on July 27th from the DMYC; the East Coast Championship on August 16th from the NYC; and a Boatman's Race on September 2nd from the NYC.
At Sunday's trophy race Ceol na Mara (Eugene Lalor) came second and Two Step (Ross Doyle) third on IRC. Sasori (Michael O'Meara) won the Bay Trophy which was awarded on Echo handicap with Asterix and Ceol na Mara second and third on the Echo scoring.
On the west coast, this year's Galway Bay Sailing Club Round Aran Race was the fifth consecutive race since it's reinstatement in the GBSC Calendar in 1999.
The IRC division of the 14-boat fleet was won by the 2001-class winner Niall Quinn's Finesse and Jim Grealish won on Echo sailing Now What.
Next week GBSC have the annual race to Kinvara before West of Ireland offshore week kicks off. An expected 70 yachts will be racing on Galway Bay from July 9th-13th.
Elsewhere, Baltimore single-hander Maria Coleman, ranked fourth in the world, is in Palma de Mallorca preparing for the European Championships on July 7th in the Europe dinghy class. It is a key regatta for Coleman's campaign where nothing less than a top-five result will satisfy. Before that she competes in the Palma Open which starts on Sunday.
Tomorrow's final races of the sailing regatta of the Special Olympics start at 9 a.m. with live commentary from the grandstand on the Dún Laoghaire marina breakwater.
