IRELAND will have a four man team at the Atlanta Paralympic Games from August 16th-25th. John L O'Sullivan, Donal Buckley and Kevin Downing (reserve crew), from Cork, with helmsman Mike Hendra, of Bangor, will compete in the 6.9 metre Sonar three person keelboat under coach Bob McCarthy, the former NCB Ireland crew man.
Last night the crew joined 20 other athletes that form the Irish team in Dublin for the launch of the team anthem, Wheels in Motion, sung, by Finbar Furey and accompanied by the team.
Kinsale YC's John Twomey was the man behind the team's qualification: as helmsman he secured the Irish place at the European qualifiers in Spain last year. But because he also qualified for the discus (he was the 1988 gold medallist), he misses out on the yachting competition, which disappoints him greatly.
Meanwhile, Dun Laoghaire sailor Sean Lemass launched Boat Show 96 on the River Lagan yesterday billed as Belfast's first boat show. Sixty exhibitors are displaying a variety of craft, with an emphasis on power and small boats, at the Maysfield Leisure Centre until Sunday.
Lemass's company identified the growing Northern interest in boating over the last few years, and their success in getting this first show afloat is both a testimony to their hard work in the marine area (they also organise the Dublin boat show), and to the growing Northern interest in boating.
Belfast Lough and its environs now lay claim to over 1,000 marina berths, with established facilities at Bangor and Carrickfergus and marinas planned at Ardglass, Sixmilewater and Killyleagh.
The third round of the Irish Powerboat Championships will take place at the venue on Sunday, with waterskiing, canoeing and dinghy sailing demonstrations also on.
Down south, three maxis, the first Garda Siochana entry, the promise of three all women crews and an eve of race regatta festival will make for a special ninth Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland race on June 22nd, with 27 confirmed entries so far. Longobarda, Equity and Law, and Creightons Naturally are confirmed maxi yacht entries, and organiser Fergus O Conchobhair knows of at least one other maxi available for charter.
A record 63 Sigma 335 have entered for Ford Cork Week, which will double as the class national championship. The strong Sigma presence rounds off an expected total entry of 400 boats from 15 classes for the fun regatta which, in terms of size, now eclipses UK and near Continent regattas. Ford Cork week begins on July 15th.
Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht club marked the death of longtime member Norman Binns (80), with a weighted fender set afloat after his ashes were scattered on Dublin Bay last Sunday afternoon, with the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat and a flotilla of yachts in attendance.
Brothers Mathew and Martin Treadwell won the 13 boat Fireball Spring open meeting at Ballyholme YC last weekend. Five other classes competed in a well attended event that boasted 19 lasers, won by Peter Kennedy, and a solid fleet of catamarans that was won by husband and wife pair Cathy MacAleavey and Con Murphy of Blessington SC.
At the mid year meeting of the IYRU council a decision to clarify the criteria for the dinghy open high performance for the 2000 Olympics was taken. Amongst other things, the new dinghy must be a two person craft and be capable of providing close competition among crews of a wide weight range.
