Extended season the way forward

SAILING:White sails, filled and stretched across the bay in glorious sunshine and steady breeze. Nearby, a large cruising yacht at anchor off the picturesque cove paints a classic picture of summer sailing in Ireland. Except this was the scene earlier this week as our climate somersaults following a season where wind was generally notable for its absence and blue skies were equally as fickle.

For a sport often described as a cross between a game of chess and an aerobics session, Tai Chi would have been more appropriate for crews struggling to keep boats moving without disturbing what little boat-speed they had by sudden movements on board.

True, part of sailing does mean having to be able to adapt to different wind-strengths but up until just a few years ago, this meant racing in a range of winds from eight to 28 knots (and often more). Generally speaking however, the last few seasons have been a struggle to deliver good quality racing conditions, particularly mid-summer and not just on the east coast but the south coast too.

So has the time come, hastened by climate change to consider a re-ordering of the established sailing season? From the traditional "lift-in" of boats in April to the haul-out of boats by mid-October, club racing, championships and cruising build to a peak by the end of August.

Could an extended season, starting in March and finishing in November, address the weather and other issues?

"The demand is there now and the facilities are in place to support more sailing during the winter months," says Brian Craig of the Dún Laoghaire regatta organising committee.

"The beginning and end of the season have been the best for racing and cruising but whether or not this is a short-term phenomenon remains to be seen."

In two weeks' time, more than 50 cruiser-racers will begin the annual pre-Christmas series off Dún Laoghaire competing on a fun basis for a few hours each Sunday morning with the prospect of fresh conditions virtually assured. Elsewhere, the long-established Frostbite series are as popular, though a slight chill rather than actual freezing conditions would be more likely.

Although the east coast has felt the brunt of the change in the weather pattern, the south coast has also experienced more moderate breezes in recent times. Cork Week director of racing Dave Meagher suggests a realignment would also help ease congestion in the main season.

"I would prefer to see events spread out more - it's all over in a couple of weeks at the moment," Meagher told The Irish Times. "There's no doubt about it, the climate is getting warmer so sailing in March is much easier than say 10 years ago."

Location is factor as well, he maintains, and the problem isn't just limited to Irish waters. The net effect of slacker winds has been frustration for both sailors and race management teams alike with the latter owed a debt of thanks for setting whatever courses they can in the tricky conditions.

And the number of sailing days lost at major regattas and international championships plays havoc with organisers' plans, sponsorship, media coverage and the overall reputation for racing in Ireland as a quality venue.

Another by-product of light breezes is the lack of regular practice in windy conditions that inevitably leads to conservative tactics such as opting not to set a spinnaker or the alarming increase in man-overboard incidents.

"There's been a change and I can't remember competing in a really windy event for several years," says Meagher.

"There's no question, people's skill level goes down and we're getting used to sailing in light winds regatta - it's abnormal to sail in breezy weather."

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