Irish hopefuls join massive fleet for qualifying event

Sailing Column:A massive fleet of 150 teams comprising some 1,700 sailors in 1,000 boats are on their way to the Balearic Islands ahead of next week's first major event on the European Olympic sailing classes circuit.

Virtually all of the Irish squad and Beijing 2008 hopefuls will be competing in the Princess Sofia Trophy as the first qualification event that will eventually determine Irish representation for the Quingdao Regatta.

Only the paralympic sailors will be absent from Palma though the International Dragon keelboat, itself a former Olympic discipline, has been invited and adds a classic element.

Next week's regatta is intended to form part of a World Cup Series and is hoped will have a similar format to that of the tennis ATP comprising the Sail Melbourne regatta in January; Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in February; Hyères Week at the end of April and Holland regatta in May. The circuit will finish in Kiel in June.

Following this year's German event, full attention will switch to Caiscais in Portugal where the ISAF Sailing World Championships for all the Olympic classes will be combined in what is certain to be the most telling performance-indicator with one year to run for the Olympics.

However, with the importance of Caiscais to the 20-strong Irish contingent, it is highly likely most will be based in Portugal throughout June to adjust to the windy conditions of the venue.

Future Olympians will be among the 130-strong fleet competing at the ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven in mid-April. Expected to be the largest single youth event in Ireland this year, the ISA's new Pathway programme that prepares talented young sailors will be showcased for the first time.

Seven classes will be in action including a new under-15s category which will sail in Optimists, Toppers and Laser Radials in a separate race area.

Meanwhile, a fleet of a slightly different calibre is being assembled to compete in home waters. The Irish Cruiser Racer Association (ICRA) has this week called on its countrywide membership to converge on Crosshaven at the end of June for the annual Saab Cruiser National Championships.

The event ties in neatly with the biennial Sovereign's Week at Kinsale with timing worked out to allow a break between events to rotate crews.

Following these events on the coast, ICRA is hoping the fleet will then sail up the east coast and converge on the capital for Volvo Dún Laoghaire Week in mid-July. This event begins on the Thursday afternoon and runs through to the Sunday, thus minimising the impact of crews' valuable holiday leave.

Following these three events, the choice is whether to head for the south coast of Ireland and the delights of Calves Week in west Cork or continue further afield to Cowes Week with the added bonus of the 605-mile Fastnet Race to round off a busy season.