Irish try hard in Miami

IRELAND'S OLYMPIC sailing hopefuls ended a week of intense racing at regattas in the United States and Europe yesterday. Final results from the Genoa pre-Olympic regatta were unavailable last night, but the annual Bacardi Cup event for Star keelboats at Miami ended with Mark Mansfield and David Burrows finishing 20th out of nearly 80 boats.

The Irish crew, which finished sixth overall at the recent Miami Olympic classes regatta, finished just ahead of British silver medallist and Whitbread veteran Lawrie Smith at the weekend. Smith is unlikely to sail at the Savannah games, as this event was the decider between himself and fellow countryman Glyn Charles, who finished a highly creditable seventh. American Vince Brun won the event that was dogged by both extremes of weather.

Meanwhile, at nearby Miami Beach, the annual Southern Ocean Racing Conference fleet revelled in breezy conditions for the final day that saw a spate of torn sails. Irish Mumm 36 Noddy of the Royal Irish Yacht Club continued its American campaign in preparation for the class world championships this autumn in San Francisco with a final placing of fourth overall. American Jim Brady continues his dominance of the class.