UCD look the stronger

The Americas Cup that starts today in Auckland provides a contrast to an annual duel that takes place in Dun Laoghaire harbour this afternoon. The annual colours match between Trinity College and UCD will see two of Ireland's best young helms face each other in a three-strand team event.

Defending title holders UCD, whose victory last year earned them a trip to the World Students' Championships in France last year where they scored a creditable second overall, are going well at the moment. Four of their six sailors from last year are in action today. Best known from the first team is Gerbil Owens, fresh from his campaign in the 470 class where he is hoping for a place in the Athens 2004 Olympic squad.

His opposite number, Max Treacy, captained the Irish A team in last summer's Indigo World Team Racing Championship, also held in Dun Laoghaire. The two sides first teams will be play a major role in determining the outcome as the best of their five-race scores combines with the two second team scores from a best of three, plus the result of an all-ladies best of three series.

Favourites for the event must be the UCD side who also won the Southern Championship in Schull last November. The event will be sailed using Trinity's own Lark dinghies while Johnny Ross-Murphy will oversee the event as chief umpire.

Although the two sides have been the dominant forces in Irish collegiate racing for decades, the gap between the Dublin universities and the other establishments has narrowed considerably in the last two years.

As with other areas of Irish Sailing, Cork is becoming the major venue both for facilities and competitors. While national championships will be hosted by UCC next month at Crosshaven, the Cork Institute of Technology squad is the rising star of the college scene and is the best equipped club. A fleet of eight new Larks have been purchased in addition to a rescue boat while a member of staff has been assigned permanently to manage the club.

Meanwhile, the Irish Sailing Association will announce details of a special millennium project for Irish clubs this evening and is aimed at promoting the ISA's own strategic objectives.