Sailing ColumnA move to introduce the International Etchells keelboat to Ireland this season may end up with America's Cup skipper Dennis Conner competing in Irish waters following a bid by Howth Yacht Club to stage the class European championships in Ireland in 2005.
Four of the three-man keelboats are already on their way to Howth and recently-appointed Etchells class captain David Murnane expects at least four more to join the country's biggest club before the staging of the inaugural Irish championships in Howth next August.
Although it's still early days, Murnane claims that the possibilities of staging the prestigious event, where San Diego-based Conner is the current world number one ranked Etchells helmsman, are real.
The setting up of the new class has attracted interest from a cross-section of other keelboat enthusiasts from Cork and Dun Laoghaire.
Despite the lack of a class in this country until now, Ireland has not been without its international success in Etchells sailing. Cork's Mike McCann and Anthony O'Leary - a former class European championship winning combination from the 90s - have supported the Howth initiative.
Australian-based Dubliner Noel Drennan is seventh in the world rankings and Hong Kong-based Jamie McWilliam, from Crosshaven, is ranked 34th in a world ranking fleet of 744 boats.
Etchells class races have 56 fleets worldwide and boats sailing in 16 countries and last night the international class added its support: "Ireland should be a natural home for the boat. We are thrilled with the new fleet" said Etchells's New York-based executive secretary Bunny Wayt.
First in to the new class are Dragon sailors from Dun Laoghaire Jay Bourke and Norman McDonald who are to sail the three-man boat with former 1720 sailor Murnane.
National Yacht club sailor Anthony Shanks, who is crewing for Max Treacy in an Olympic trials bid at the end of this month against Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins in the Star class, has bought a boat. Also racing Etchells this season is Squib keelboat brothers Conor and Brian O'Neill from Howth.
The plan now is to have an Irish fleet up to speed before the arrival of a visiting 46-boat British fleet from Cowes and Liverpool, aiming to travel to the Irish Open in the autumn.
Although there is little evidence to indicate the need for yet another keelboat class as other similar designs are struggling to maintain numbers, Murnane says that the low-cost appeal of the 29-foot Etchells and the availability of world-class racing in chartered boats at international venues is a driving force behind the enthusiasm for a class that has a very similar appeal to the Dragon keelboat in this country.
Ready-to-race second-hand Etchells are changing hands at €20,000 and Murnane maintains that the simple, stable, and sleek racing sloop will appeal to existing Flying Fifteen, 1720, Squib and Dragon crews looking for a change in 2004.
In a further development of one-design keelboats this season the Squib keelboat that has for so long been dominant in Howth moves across the bay to the Royal St George where the sturdy design struck a chord with members during its successful use at the Special Olympics last year.
To this end the progressive south Dublin club aims to put the one design to a variety of uses including adult training, fleet and team racing events as well as developing sailing for Special Olympic athletes. A meeting of all interested parties will be held at the club on February 2nd.
Staying with Squibs, The Allianz Helmsman's Championship moves north for 2004 to the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club at Ultra. The event, running earlier than its traditional October dates, makes a return to the two-man keelboat on September 18th and 19th.
Yesterday, at the 15th London boat show at a new venue at Excel in London's Docklands, the 1720 class unveiled the Mk II version of the Irish designed and built 1720 sports boat that will effectively split the class between grand prix racing (in its current version) and the new club racing model.
