Sailors face random dope testing when the national authority signs up, as is expected, to the Sports Council's anti-doping procedures today.

Initially dope testing, through urine samples, will be concentrated on Olympic team members and members of the Sports Council's elite carding scheme.

Subsequent testing, however, could be applicable to those competing under the racing rules of sailing at the instigation of the Sports Council.

Several Irish sailors have already been tested under other jurisdictions but no one has so far been tested at home.

In 1988, Finn single-hander Conrad Simpson was tested at the Seoul Olympics and last year at a Finn training camp in the UK the 2000 Olympic representative David Burrows was also tested.

Though the ISA believe it is highly unlikely that sailors are engaging in doping the ISA argue that drug testing is now part of the regime of international sport and must be monitored in much the same way as any other aspect of the racing rules, such as sail or hull measurement.

Elsewhere, it has no clubhouse, membership comes from across Ireland and you need not be a boat owner to join - these are the flexible conditions attached to membership of what is one of Ireland's newest sailing clubs, the Shamrock Island Cruising Club, established last year with an initial membership of 40.

Formed by David Murray of Killinchy in Down to promote cruising, it offers nothing more, says Murray, than the opportunity for like-minded sailors to meet two or three times a year to share experiences afloat.

The club's a.g.m. is planned for tomorrow evening at Strangford Lough Yacht Club.

The burgee of the club is a rectangular flag with red, white and black horizontal stripes, a flag originally used by Murray's father and grandfather when they sailed in the River class at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. A Shamrock has been added to complete the new club emblem, that draws its name from a small island on Strangford Lough.

If you are interested in joining Shamrock Island Cruising club contact Northern Ireland: 0289 7542702.

In what must be seen as one of the most significant advances in dinghy equipment in recent years, Tacktick, the digital compass manufacturer, have been spurred on to produce a second generation of its race compass.

The solar powered device, initially aimed squarely at dinghy sailors, gave simple and clear lift and header graphics and, when class rules allowed, caught on at the front of some of the fastest dinghy fleets around.

A new development is the UK company's Tacktick Race Master, which is perfectly suited to sportsboats and small keelboats in that it does not require wiring, connections or skin fittings.

Data on heading and windshifts is displayed and there is also a countdown timer.

The difference between this digital device and conventional compass technology is that the Tacktick allows you to set up your compass for your heading and calculates whether you are lifted or headed from your mean wind direction.

Expect to pay £485 from Irish stockist Union Chandlery for this fully waterproof gem that really is a race winner.

A date for a new race from the Atlantic ocean to the North Sea through Scotland's Caledonian canal and great lochs has been set for June 3rd and is open to both sailing and rowing boats. The Great Glen raid, for boats inspired by tradition, is supported by the British Waterways Authority and Scottish Tourist Board, is set along a 150km course crossing the whole of Northern Scotland and is designed to encourage long distance navigation by easily handled craft. For an entry form telephone: +33 2 97 57 94 00.

A classes forum under the chairmanship of the Irish Sailing Association's Director of Racing, Harry Gallagher, will be held in the Ambassador Hotel, Kill, Co. Kildare on Sunday, March 5th. Details from the ISA office on 01 280 0239.

The ISA is also organising two Powerboat Instructor courses aimed specifically at members of ISA Affiliated Clubs. The initiative is intended to encourage more clubs to provide adequate training for members using powerboats within the clubs.

Two courses, each requiring two weekends attendance, are being run as follows:

The National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire: March 4th-5th and March 11th-12th. The Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven: April 1st-2nd and April 8th-9th.