The drive towards full-time campaigns at Olympic level was highlighted at the SPA Eurolymp Regatta in Holland last weekend when Ireland's sole representative in the new women's keelboat class withdrew from the Athens 2004 squad.

SAILING COLUMN: Laura Dillon, with crew members Katie Dwyer and Jennifer Coldridge, were due to become full-time athletes next year but career and exam demands made further competition impossible. In the most recent set of world rankings the Howth crew had regained their fourth overall world placing.

Commenting on the development, Irish Olympic team manager Garrett Connolly said: "No matter what sport you look at, going full-time early makes all the difference - look at the progress of the Irish rugby team."

The Alfa Romeo J24 European Championship will be staged at the Royal Irish YC in the last week of August and will include the Irish nationals as a pre-event warm-up. Dún Laoghaire used to be home to a much larger fleet of J's 10 years ago following the last world championship to be staged here. The Europeans this summer has provided a fillip to the local fleet and four new boats have arrived in the harbour ahead of the championship.

Meanwhile, a strong contingent of 20 boats from the east coast is entered in the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series this weekend at Tarbert on the Clyde. The event is the first major event for cruiser-racers and sportsboats. As always, Colm Barrington and his team on Gloves Off lead the Irish charge, not just on the domestic circuit but defending class winners at regattas from Scotland to the south of England.

His regular team are a polished act and will be boosted by Jamie Boag whose star is rising on the international circuit as a tactician, including scoring third overall in last year's highly competitive Farr 40 World Championship.