National Optimist champion Lorcan Lennon looks certain of a top ranking at tomorrow's final round of the World Championship team trials on Belfast Lough, while the race for the eight-person European team is dominated by Lennon's clubmate Debbie Hanna and Dun Laoghaire's Amy Byrne.
Having won six of the 10 races in a 50-boat fleet sailed at Howth and Royal Cork Yacht Clubs over the past two weekends, Lennon, who leads the series, will complete the trials on home waters at East Antim. Other contenders for July's Portuguese world championships are Nicholas O'Leary, Royal Cork YC and Howth sailors Dylan Gannon and Ross McDonald.
The eight-person European team is dominated by Byrne, of the National Yacht Club, and Hanna who lie 10th and 11th respectively in a fleet that features 15 helmswomen - an unprecedented number in Irish junior Optimist sailing, with five women currently placed in the top 20.
Meanwhile, organisers have confirmed that they have received a number of Whitbread 60 enquiries for the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland race but, in keeping with traditional form, there is little in the way of entries so far for the biennial circumnavigation that starts from Wicklow on June 20th.
The Irish Sailing Association are advising members that unless they are able to fully register their yacht, which is both inconvenient and expensive, they should put a question mark over plans to cruise in France this summer. The warning comes after unpleasant receptions afforded to some Irish yachts last season.
The problems concerned yachts being fined for non-presentation of National Registration Certificates and were principally centred around the port of Lorient. Discussions continue with the authorities in Lorient, local government officials and the Irish Embassy in Paris. The ISA are optimistic of a sensible resolution of the issue.
Last weekend, in Kinsale, John Godkin held on to his class one Channel (CHS) win in VSOP by winning the final races in the last round in the Nissan April league despite Arthur O'Connor's challenge in Luv Is. Jim Donegan's White Rooster was the overall ECHO winner.
In Class two Paul Kingston, helming Quicksilver, outwitted Dave Hennessy's Luas to win overall by a point on CHS. Mardi Gras (John Downing) was the class two ECHO winner.
Abroad, Kinsale Yacht club member Damian Foxall, who has teamed up with Sidney Gavignet, finished 13th in the first leg of the Transat AG2R. They arrived in Madeira on the transom of Yvon and Karine Fauconnier, some four hours behind leaders Frank Cammas and Michel Desjoyeaux who finished in seven days three hours and 22 minutes. Foxall maintains he is still in contention for the next leg to St Barts.
From next week sailors heading north will be able to berth in a marine nature reserve at Portaferry. The new 30-berth marina is the first on Strangford Lough and will be a welcome option for sailors en route to Bangor Ardglass and the Isle of Man.
