Ireland prepare third cup team

SAILING: As Ireland prepares its third team for next June's Rolex Commodores' Cup championship in Cowes, the opposition is beginning to become known. With the event opened to unlimited national teams, as many as 14 squads are likely, though with multiple entries permitted, around half a dozen countries will be represented.

For the Irish, the cup represents unfinished business following the last event two years ago when Colm Barrington's three-boat squad dominated the week-long series until the final offshore race.

Now, with a third Irish squad in the offing, racing pundits are regarding an Ireland team as likely overall contenders.

But an Irish win is far from certain as the IRC handicapping system heavy-weight countries are lining up their own challenges. Defending holders Britain will be selecting four teams through a Royal Yachting Association selection process, and will include one team from Scotland and three teams selected in trials in England and Wales.

The week-long series will be held between June 25th and July 2nd in the Solent and could yet attract up to 10 countries, mainly from Europe. The event is raced under IRC-endorsed ratings, between 0.980 and 1.320, in three rating band classes, so a fleet of about 40 boats could be in action.

The selection of the three English/Welsh teams will be based upon their performance in a series of races, starting on April 29th. If the regional selectors for the Scottish team are unable to fill their team, the selectors for the other English/Welsh teams will allocate boats from any of the trials held.

Meanwhile, this year will again see the return of a competitive French team captained by RORC vice-commodore Géry Trenteseaux, winner of this biennial regatta in 2002 and second in 2004. The French Commodores' Cup is a herculean effort that will field four teams, each compromising three boats - small, medium and large. A pre-selection will take place during SPI Ouest France over April 13th-17th and at the Obélix Trophy on April 29th- May 1st. The exact make-up of the four teams will be decided after RORC's IRC championship on June 9th-12th.

The selection panel includes Christian Gouard (FFV), Marc Bouvet (FFV) Benoit Charron (national trainer), Fries (UNCL), Jacques Pelletier (Yacht Club de France) and Jean-Michel Carpentier (UNCL).

Already many crews have confirmed their intention to try for a spot. The Synergia 40 Paprec Recyclable, the JPK Guyader, Bénéteau 44.7 Courrier du Cur, J/109 Pen Azen, X-43 l'ange de Millon, the prototype 33-footer of Didier Dardot and the Archambault 35 or Bénéteau 34.7 skippered by former maxi-multihull sailor Pierre Follenfant are among the contenders.

Two positions are also being left open for boats making the journey from the Mediterranean to the Solent.

In addition to the big national squads from Ireland, France and Britain, entries are also expected but unconfirmed at this time from Hong Kong, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The explosion of interest in IRC handicapping in the United States over the past two seasons may not as yet produce a squad this year, while Australia's position is also unknown, leading to the European dominated event.