The race towards Sydney 2000 gathers more pace this week with two developments in the Irish sailing team line-up. In Miami, Mark Mansfield and David O'Brien's performance at the Bacardi Cup is easily meeting their predictions. Meanwhile at home, the first full-time coach to the squad has been appointed to bring preparations to a new level over the coming seven months.
The 74th Star class regatta in Miami featured two races on Wednesday and is shaping up to be a showdown between some of the world's top Olympic crews. Due to the abandonment of the opening race of the series, an extra race was sailed in a moderate breeze bringing the 98-boat fleet back on target for the event.
Britain's Ian Walker and Mark Covell sailed to victory in the first race of the day while Canada's Ross McDonald and Kai Bjorn won the second. However, it was Spain's Jose Van Der Ploeg who vaulted to the overall lead in just his second time participating in the event.
For Mansfield and O'Brien, a top three result by the end of racing this evening would be an added bonus - their declared aim is a top-15 result. Thus far they bettered their own expectations as they started yesterday's race in fourth overall having been joint third the previous day.
Regardless of the final result this week, the Irish duo's main achievement will be the precious commodity of consistency across a range of conditions. So far, they have scored two sixths, an eighth and a 12th before the single discard kicks in after yesterday's fifth race. A series of race defeats over a host of world champions and previous medallists is also a morale booster for the pair who are now set to turn to full-time preparation for the Olympics at the end of September.
The outcome of the series confirms Mansfield's prediction of selection for the national squad following the World Championship scheduled for Annapolis, Maryland at the end of May. Furthermore, a third Olympiad for Mansfield will certainly place him among the most prodigious of Irish yachtsmen in terms of his achievements to date.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the squad in preparation for Sydney, both qualified and campaigning, will be boosted by the appointment of James Hynes as the first full-time Irish Olympic coach by the ISA this week. The 30 year-old from Malahide brings experience from a variety of international projects from Admiral's Cup to Tall Ships to various dinghy championships.
Until Christmas, Hynes was working full-time with David Burrows, the Irish Finn class representative, and is widely credited with having brought a winning edge to the singlehander's campaign for squad selection.
While individuals such as Maria Coleman will continue to work with a range of coaches from time to time, Hynes will attend a series of regattas and championships and will concentrate on the Finn, Europe, Laser and 470 crews. With three boats now probable, both the latter two classes will need additional help to make the final bridge into the qualifying stakes.
