Irish sailing enters the dock

SAILING COLUMNWITH ONLY 57 days to go to the Olympic regatta Irish sailing enters the dock tomorrow for an appeal over one of its nominations and, as it was for Athens, it is the Star keelboat selection that is in deep water.

It was never going to be an easy passage to the Olympic regatta in Qingdao because subjective crew selection is always destined for a rocky shore.

Slow and lumbering, whatever this oldest of Olympic craft lacks on the water, it continues to make up for ashore with selection spats capsizing sailing's Olympic preparations here for more than a decade.

On this occasion, the fight is over the right to represent Ireland at a venue that has little or no wind; where many countries are already condemning the outcome in Qingdao a lottery.

It has not dulled enthusiasm for participation from Ireland however with two Irish Star boats already embarked to China on the back of a ship.

But it is the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) and not the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) that takes the helm tomorrow (Saturday) when it hears arguments from Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks on why they and not Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne should be the Irish nominees in the Star class. The ISA will be present at OCI headquarters to defend its unanimous decision to send a team both younger in age and experience but one it, and many sailors, consider full of promise.

The decision, made six weeks ago, was a committee one, which the ISA claim it was entitled to make under its nomination policy. Given the way in which selections were handled in 2004, it is easy to see why the association wrote this process for 2008.

And in making this decision they followed an example of the most successful sailing nation at the last two Olympics primarily because of trials cock ups.

There are good examples of subjective selection paying dividends in the short term but the price of success - because of perceived bias, real or otherwise - can be a deterrent to others entering the sport into the future.

What sailor (or his commercial sponsor) would commit to a four-year campaign in which the outcome depended on someone else's choice rather than results? Tomorrow's appeal will be the first rigorous test of the policy - Treacy goes to Howth with a legal team comprising a solicitor and a senior counsel and whatever the outcome it will more than likely shape future qualification for London and beyond.

In its selection the ISA overlooked Treacy's higher ranking and he will argue this fact plus the fact that it was he and not O'Leary who qualified the country at the Miami World championships in April.

But beyond the examination of the merits of either crew lies the honour which Ireland earned when it qualified for a place in China.

Because sailing has been unable to provide the OCI with a clear nomination with 57 days to the Olympics, could the OCI decide to send neither crew, thereby forfeiting Ireland's place? It is a highly unlikely outcome because the OCI, more than most, recognises the value of the Irish slot so it will be incumbent on all parties tomorrow to ensure Ireland continues the remarkable journey begun in Barcelona 1992 by Royal Cork's Mark Mansfield of four consecutive Olympic appearances in the class.

Because 75 per cent of all Irish sailing is undertaken in keelboats, this controversy has great significance for the majority of Irish sailors.

Ahead of tomorrow's hearing both parties have agreed that the OCI will be the final arbiters but the pre-eminence of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is also recognised. The appeal outcome is not expected to be released immediately.

Out of all of this is the prospect of a medal or at least a top-eight finish (not seen since Tallinn 1980) remains a possibility for Ireland, not least because of the unsuitable light air nature of the venue that, as every sailor recognises, can make champions of rank outsiders.

Irish sailing's worst kept secret ended yesterday afternoon with confirmation by Green Team skipper Ian Walker that Kerry's Damian Foxall will be part of the line-up as a watch captain for October's Volvo Ocean race around the world.

One of two Irish entries in the 39,000-mile race, the Green Team's appointment of Foxall came as part of its full crew announcement, with four members having sailed the course before.

The crew also includes Wexford's Justin Slattery and Ian Moore of Carrickfergus as navigator.

GREEN TEAM (sailing squad): Ian Moore Irl, navigator; Damian Foxall (Irl), watch leader; Justin Slattery (Irl), bowman; Tom Braidwood Aus, trimmer/driver; Andrew McLean (NZ), Bowman; Phil Harmer (Aus), trimmer/driver; Scott Millar (Irl) trimmer; Freddie Shanks (Brit) bowman.