Kinsella joins the elite with victory in champions event

Feargal Kinsella's victory at last weekend's Eagle Star Champion of Champions event at Howth has delivered a welcome boost to the sport in Ireland. Competing against the odds, the 36-year-old helm defeated international sailing talents plus various Irish champions to secure a title considered the preserve of the elite.

A year ago he was refused a nomination to the event on the grounds that his class, the Irish Disabled Sailing Association, did not meet the declared criteria of a 20-boat fleet minimum turnout. Although the subsequent furore saw a reversal of the organisers' position, Kinsella declined to accept. Kinsale Yacht Club's Commodore, Paralympian John Twomey sailed instead.

Kinsella was selected by chance this year in a draw from a set of committee nominations. Last Sunday, ISA president Paddy Maguire described the victory as "a great day for Irish sailing".

The final race of the series could have ended with any of six possible winners. A consistent series of top-five results was boosted by a win in race three for Kinsella who kept his nerve to the end.

A short windward leeward course was utilised and although lying eighth approaching the final mark, Kinsella took out four others on the rounding to claim a narrow .75 point win over Tim Goodbody.

Meanwhile in St Petersburg, Florida this week, Twomey and his crew continued to make progress towards the next Paralympic Games when they took fifth overall in the World Disabled Sailing Championship. Canada's Brian Mackie won the event that saw 15 crews from 10 nations compete in Sonar keelboats over nine races. A similar number turned out for the 2.4 metre class.

In other news, the first Volvo Ocean Race that has a large Irish crew representation reached the end of the first leg from Southampton to Cape Town - 7,350 miles. John Kostecki's winning German entry Illbruck, whose co-navigator is Ian Moore from Belfast, faced two protests for alleged rule infringements.

The class measurer has also protested the boat for making a modification to equipment. James Dadd alleges a weed cutter fitted to the engine propeller bracket on the hull and fired into shape was made without his knowledge and in contravention of the rules.