D2D director calls for unity on events

Sailing: Clubs and events should rally together to form a national conference to deal with the widespread fixture clashes that litter the Irish Sailing calendar according to one race organiser this week.

The National Yacht Club's Pierse Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D) takes place in one month's time and Race Director Martin Crotty has highlighted the potential for many events to boost entries.

The biennial D2D is set to increase its 2001 record turnout of 21 boats by as much as another seven boats as entries continue to arrive, but Crotty reckons a higher number is possible as the club seeks to develop the event over the coming years. In fact, this would push the limit that the race can currently accommodate, but demand has highlighted the issue.

The popular Sovereign's Cup week in Kinsale takes place two weeks beforehand and while several Cork boats intend sailing to Dublin immediately afterwards to race back again, several East Coast boats are unlikely to double up on their schedule like this.

Meanwhile, more Dublin boats would be interested in competing in the Kinsale event, but it clashes with the traditional Dublin regatta season in June that attracts an average of 300 boats each Saturday.

A realignment of the national would be a worthwhile exercise for a National Cruiser Racer Conference, according to Crotty.

"We need to set our dates two years ahead - it's a matter of stability. Although, we would hope that others would fit around us, but then everyone expects the same too," he said.

A typical season would see crews interchange on a boat depending on availability. Note should be taken of the number of students crewing bigger boats. A likely format for boats would see the season begin with regular club racing complemented first by Spring Series in April and early May.

Attention would then switch to the Clyde where the annual Scottish Series at the end of May that has become highly popular with Irish crew, who have a strong track-record of results.

The Dublin regatta season would follow in June as usual. Both the D2D and Round Ireland Races would move to early July dates at the end of the five-regatta programme.

In the case of the latter event in Wicklow, such a move would eliminate the conflict with the Dublin season and the massive 2,000-entry Round the Island Race in Cowes.

With a medium and long offshore race alternating mid-season, attention would shift to the south and west coasts.