Murphy pushes for podium decider

SAILING:TWO FINAL fleet races today will determine whether Ireland's Annalise Murphy will qualify for tomorrow's medal race in the Laser Radial class at the first European pre-Olympic Regatta at Arenal in Mallorca.

Murphy started the week with a second place plus a race win in her flight but light winds on the Bay of Palma have been frustrating her form that is better suited to heavier airs.

After a fourth place yesterday and a discarded 27th, the National Yacht Club sailor lies sixth overall out of 78 competitors from 29 countries. Belgium’s Evi Van Acker leads overall.

Reaching tomorrow’s podium decider would represent a continuation of recent form for Murphy; she placed fourth in the medal race at the Miami Olympic classes regatta in January and previously reached the final in Melbourne and the Sail for Gold Regattas last year.

Meanwhile, with just over 10 weeks remaining before the south coast plays host to two of the biggest fleet racing events this summer, organisers are predicting strong turn-outs with expectations of more than 100 crews.

Both the Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) and Kinsale Yacht Club will benefit from a carefully-managed fixtures list that will see the Royal Cork Yacht Club host the IRC National Championships in Crosshaven one weekend before then moving on westwards for the Sovereign’s Cup in mid-June.

Both are preceded by the biennial Dún Laoghaire to Dingle Race while the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta avoids conflicts for boats in mid-July; all four events are designed to minimise the amount of annual leave needed by crew to take part.

By July, the depth of the national fleet is likely to provide the strongest indicators of whether a defence of the Commodores’ Cup in 2012 is viable option.

“It is encouraging that some of the potential boats are entering the ICRA nationals,” said ICRA Commodore Barry Rose.

“We will know by then but we should be able to gauge the level of interest by the end of May.

“By mutual agreement, we have let the matter lie until now as we’ve had to give breathing space to everybody first.”

However, the ICRA is seeking expressions of interest before planning begins in the next two months.

Antix and Roxy from the winning 2010 team are entered while marinerscove.ie is understood to be in Britain and is currently for sale.