Cork set the benchmark for success

It has become custom as the year draws to a close to review some of the highlights of the sailing season. Often this is simply a matter of reeling off the best achievements without comparison to a benchmark of any kind. This year is different, however, as the Royal Cork Yacht Club has established a clear set of benchmarks under a single roof for others to better.

For instance, how more appropriate could the sailing season finale earlier this month have been for the world's oldest yacht club at the end of the millennium? The RCYC continues its success story of recent years with a crowning for its best known sailor in a class that the club played a major part in founding.

Mark Mansfield, a two-time Olympic veteran and a ISA Helmsman winner from nine years ago, topped the 25-strong field for the Eagle Star Champion of Champions in a definitive series inside Cork Harbour.

Close behind him came Maurice `Prof' O'Connell who had been the major challenger from the outset, while Baltimore's Maria Coleman was third. But these results are only part of a record season for the RCYC. In the Junior Helmsman Championship, five out of the top six places were dominated by youngsters from Crosshaven. But if you think that this double act is impressive, try the following for a record to beat: a long-awaited and much celebrated Irish win was achieved by 18-year-old Marty Moloney when he won the Mirror World Championship, while RCYC crews also took sixth and eighth place.

Peter O'Leary won the National 18's Irish title plus the Laser class junior title and went on to represent Ireland at the ISAF Youth Worlds. Colm Galvin and Mark Rose won the prestigious Fastnet International Schools Regatta in a 420 and also sailed at the Youth Worlds. With the Coveney family completing their epic circumnavigation in April, this might have suggested the rise of youth and junior sailing successes to come during 1999. In reality, however, the investment in facilities at the club in the last few years have paid off handsomely.

Proper coaching, commitment from parents to help out at all stages on the ground and the ability to sail 12 months of the year have contributed to a fleet of 100 Optimists, 60 Mirrors and a growing fleet of 420's.