Rule change boost for Irish yachtsman

Sailing ColumnA change to the America's Cup protocol relaxing team nationality restrictions has provided a boost to one of Ireland's most successful yachtsmen. Ian Moore (33) has been signed up by Emirates Team New Zealand in a new career high-point for the former Newcastle, Co Down, Ruffian sailor.

Moore was navigator on board Eamon Crosbie's Calyx Voice & Data, the winning boat in the BMW Round Ireland Race although his recent boats have all been on the maxi yacht end of the scale.

His move to Auckland in January, just one month after getting married, will be to take on the brief of running the team's electronics programme and sail as navigator on the tuning boat.

"I have no idea of my chances of making the final crew line-up for the final event," he told The Irish Times this week. "Until I get to Auckland, I can't really say what exactly the full extent of my role will be."

Nor is he likely to be revealing too much about the Kiwi campaign; America's Cup projects are steeped in secrecy as new technologies are developed in the hope of finding performance advantages.

"I suspect we'll be developing one or two new things but really it's a case of making small things better rather than major new developments," he said.

Nevertheless, finding any advantage is going to prove essential for the former double-holders of the world's oldest sporting trophy if the 'auld mug' is to be won after its first visit to Europe in the event's history.

But for Moore, just making the grade to be selected on one of the principal teams for the challenger series is a lifetime ambition realised. Having started sailing in Mirror dinghies, he progressed on to Ruffians before eventually racing big boats out of Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough.

His career as a naval architect eventually had to be put on hold as he became hot property after the 1997 Admiral's Cup when he sailed as navigator on the Italian Mumm 36 Breeze. From then on, he sailed on the maxi yacht circuit for Sagamore and Morning Glory. A place as navigator in the last Volvo Ocean Race was one half of his sailing ambitions realised.

Meanwhile, the Irish Cruiser Racing Association have announced details of their annual conference to be held at the River Court Hotel, Kilkenny, on Saturday, November 20th. Neils Jeppesen, designer for X-Yachts will be a guest speaker while there will a special forum to decide owners needs in settling the annual fixtures list in advance.

Irish boats taking part in the Flying Fifteen French National Championships at La Rochelle in France last weekend were to the fore in a fleet of nearly 40 boats.

Three Irish boats finished in the top 10 with Shane Statham and Chris Doorly getting a podium spot in third place. The event was won by Britain's Steve Goacher and Phil Evans.