Shot fired across British bows ahead of Cowes

Sailing ColumnFollowing hot on the heels of last summer's mini-revolution in the home of British yachting, when Irish boats hauled away some of Cowes Week's best-known trophies, the ante was upped again last weekend when yet another warning salvo was fired ahead of the Commodore's Cup, which gets under way in 10 days on the Solent.

The British IRC National Championships was completely dominated by Irish crews, most of whom will make up the three teams for the big event.

Especially notable results came from the overall winner of the RORC IRC Championship Trophy, Tim Costello's Mills 40 Tiamat from the Dún Laoghaire Motor YC, and Dave Dwyer's second-overall Mills 39-footer MarinersCove.ie, winner of the Jackdaw trophy.

Meanwhile, the customary rush for the BMW Round Ireland has brought a further crop of entries with two weeks remaining before the starting gun at Wicklow Sailing Club at 16.00 on Saturday, July 1st.

The official entry stands at 43 boats, just shy of the 2004 entry of 49 boats, albeit with some further late entries likely. Among the latest boats included are Legally Blond, at 31 feet, and Quite Correct, at 54 feet, both from the National YC. And offshore racing veteran Adrian Lee returns with his 47-foot Irisha.

Already under way around Ireland is Capt Mick Liddy, a multiple Round Ireland record-setting sailor, with Michel Kleinjans, the solo record holder.

The pair have teamed up for the Round Britain and Ireland Race that started last weekend, and they led the monohull division into the first 48-hour pitstop port, Kinsale, earlier this week.

Just 35 minutes separated them from the second boat, but a favourable forecast has boosted their hopes of an overall win in their Open 40-footer.

Prior to the July circumnavigation of Ireland, Tralee Bay Sailing Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary when it stages the annual West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association week. Up to 50 boats and 400 sailors are expected to compete.

Irish ocean-racing history will be made this weekend when Justin Slattery finishes the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg. As lead bowman on Mike Sanderson's ABN AMRO One, the Waterford sailor becomes the first Irishman to win this round-the-world race.

The Dutch-led team secured victory with two legs to spare in the 32,000-mile race, though their win was in little doubt from the halfway stage months ago thanks to the benefits of an early start to their well-funded campaign.

The winning boat was built by Cork's Killian Bushe, and the Juan Kouyoumidjan design is his second consecutive race winner after Illbruck in 2002.

Irish interest also centres on Damian Foxall, bowman on Ericsson, currently placed fifth.

Sailmaker Tom McWilliam has joined the boat for the final leg from Rotterdam to Gothenburg, which started yesterday.