SAILING: Looking forward to the 2005 sailing season brings a mixed bag of excitement and major tests. Like the year that just was, the potential for success and heartache hovers nearby, so here are just some of the stories likely to make the headlines over the coming 10 months.
First up and well on her way to a well-earned accolade is British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, who, despite her recent injury, is currently crossing the upper reaches of the Pacific Ocean in search of the solo non-stop round the world record.
Starting this year on the note that ended 2004 leaves us looking at another deadline, this time January 17th, according to notices placed by the Irish Sailing Association this week for its new chief executive.
With a stronger economy and a greater population in many dormitory towns around the coast, one of the big challenges for the new CEO will be to improve sailing's popularity in smaller, regional venues.
Signs of the stronger economy will be proof-positive next month when the Irish Marine Federation stages its biggest ever Boat Show at the RDS from February 23rd to 27th.
Featuring 200 exhibitors, the show follows on the highly successful inaugural used boat show that was held in Malahide last autumn.
On the racing front, Eamon Conneely's new Transpac 52 footer currently in build at Lymington must rank as the most exciting development for big boat racing in Ireland since the 1970s and the heyday of the International Offshore Rule. As many as 20 of these €1 million yachts will be completed by year end.
The arrival of this TP52 has to be significant, not just for its sheer size and budget, but also because, as a west coast initiative representing Galway Bay Sailing Club, spin-offs from the campaign will hopefully add pressure to complete the planned modernisation of facilities at Oranmore to include the long-awaited marina.
The coming year also sees the amalgamation of all the Dún Laoghaire club regattas to stage a super-series in early July that may eventually complement Cork Week in the alternating years. Perhaps predictably, this raises this column's regular bugbear yet again.
Unless all the major event organisers knock their heads together around a table before announcing their dates, they are collectively failing both the sailors and the sport by ensuring that - in addition to sending out a confusing message about which event is most important - owners, crews and boats must have perfected the science of bi-location for events on opposite coasts at peak season.
But even before the main season gets underway in the spring, the Royal Cork YC in Crosshaven will host the first Irish Team Racing event of 2005 next weekend. The Southern Team Racing Championship will also incorporate the rescheduled 2004 Irish championships which were previously cancelled due to the severe weather at Lough Derg YC.
