In their best result so far, Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh ended the 470 European Championship in 19th place overall at Cesme, Turkey yesterday. The pair were attending their second major event as part of their campaign for Sydney 2000 and their result marks a steady improvement from 24th overall at the recent Kiel week in Germany.
In the 470 women's fleet, Ireland's Laura Dillon and Kareena Knaggs ended 17th overall in their 25 boat fleet following a rally towards the end. A fifth in the penultimate race of the series helped their standing along with an early third overall.
The third Irish boat, crewed by Gerbil Owens and Graham Elmes, missed qualifying for the men's Gold fleet after finishing 15th out of 31 boats in the Silver division.
All three now set their sights towards the class World Championship scheduled for Palma, Spain in two weeks time.
Although still to be confirmed, the Irish qualifying criteria is expected to be in the range of top 15 to 20 boats in order for either discipline to make selection for the Irish squad. These details should be confirmed in the autumn.
In the meantime, Ireland must still qualify for national selection in this class.
National qualifying events started this year although according to sailing squad manager Bill O'Hara, no Irish boats in this class are expected to reach the standard before next year. The first world's event will be in Melbourne in January 1999 where 14 classes, including seven Olympic fleets, will decide their world titles.
Ireland has qualified for a Laser class based on Jon Lasenby's performance at the ISAF World Sailing Championships in Dubai last winter. The Finn single-hander holds its world championship in Greece in just over two weeks time where a strong Irish showing is expected from David Burrows, Colin Chapman, and John Driscoll, Ireland's Savannah '96 representative.
While placings such as the 470 results this week will boost these Irish sailors in the ISAF rankings, the world championship events are crucial to these Olympic hopefuls according to O'Hara. Next week sees the formal launch of the new Sports Council funding scheme which is based entirely on the recognised world rankings for each sport.
Early expectations based on the preliminary criteria for the new `carding' scheme suggest that as many as half a dozen Irish sailors will fit into two or three of the categories, each bringing different levels of support. Five principal classifications are divided across rankings from top eight (World Class 1) down as far as top 30 (World Class 4) as well as an International category for top 60 ranked sailors.
In the Carlsberg Royal Alfred YC Superleague, following last weekend's mid-season race in Howth, local favourite Mustang Sally, owned by Max McMullan, is building a comfortable lead in Class 0. However, an eight point cushion with just two races remaining leaves the class wide open.
Duelling for runner-up places is Howth entry Cracklin' Rosie, skippered by Roy Dickson. Fresh from a high-powered win in Cork under Harold Cudmore's stewardship, the big red boat must see off Colm Barrington's Surfin' Shoes just two points away before an assault on the overall win can be considered.
In other fleets, three boats from Dun Laoghaire's Royal St George YC dominated Class 1 under Channel Handicap last weekend.
Brian Mackle's switch from Class 3 in Rianoir to Rebel this season is proving a worthwhile move with a win bringing him to fifth in the class which is led by Oliver Sheehy's X99X-Claim. After some teething problem's, last year's Class 1 ECHO winner Jim Hyland had a second under CHS with his new Maxim last weekend.
However, the regular mid-summer dip in attendances as cruising and family holidays priorities take over was in evidence once again on Saturday. Class 3, that usually features one of the largest turnouts, could only muster two boats while the Ruffian class, one of the biggest One-Design fleets also only had two competitors.
Following a wet and windy final on The Solent yesterday, the German Red Team emerged overall winner of the Rolex Commodore's Cup thanks to an unassailable lead. Runner-up places were a close fought affair with the two Dutch teams separated by just half a point.
Strong flood tides and winds gusting to over 30 knots with driving rain made for a tough and wintry finale to the 10-day event.
The 131-mile offshore race earlier in the week saw several incidents including one night-time collision between a new all-out racer and an older `classic' entry; the heavier boat emerged almost unscathed while the lighter boat limped into port before being shipped back to its Finnish yard for major surgery.
470 European Championships (at Cesme, Turkey); Overall - 1, Rocha/Barreto (Por); 2, Copi/Margon (Slo); 3, Marinho/Nunes (Por). Best Irish: 19, Fitzpatrick/McHugh (34 boats). Silver fleet: best Irish: 15, Owens/Elmes (31 boats). Women's: 1, Taran/Pokholchik (Ukr); 2, Truebel/Grosser (Ger); 3, Becatorou/Tsoulfa (Gre). Best Irish: 17 Dillon/Knaggs (25 boats).
