SAILING: A strong field for this year's Bell Lawrie Scottish Series seems assured as entries climb towards the 200-boat mark as the first start guns sounded at Gourock on the Clyde and Bangor, Northern Ireland last night.
These feeder races to Tarbert are the traditional start to the series that marks the first major event on the calendar for many serious Irish racing crews.
Although late entries have been trickling in at a rate of one or two each day, the 2002 event total of 192 boats will not be matched as Eamon Crosbie's new Kerr 32-footer Voodoo Chile and Dan O'Neill's Xerces are unable to take part due to delays in pre-season preparations.
Competitors are concentrated in the IRC Handicap classes, the Sigma 33 and 1720 divisions and interest is reported to be very good. New this year will be the Laser SB3 class, confirming the popularity of easily transportable sportsboats.
Scratch boat in IRC Class One will be Keith Miller's new Swan 45 "Crackerjack". Stepping up a "weight" this season is the double Scottish Series Trophy winning crew of Hamish MacKay.
They will add considerably to the fray in Class One with a chartered Race1 Ker 11.3 race boat as they bid to retain the Scottish Series Trophy for an unprecedented third time in a row.
Meanwhile in Medemblicjk, Holland, this week, Athens 2004 contenders compete in the second major Eurolymp regatta of the season.
The annual SPA Regatta has attracted 1,200 sailors from 60 nations to sail in the 11 Olympic classes.
More than 16 World Champions will start tomorrow on the Ijsselmeer including several multiple title holders like Robert Scheidt from Brasil in the Laser.
The Star class has the gold, silver and bronze medallists from Sydney 2000 racing, providing a stiff challenge for Ireland's Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins, recent winners of the Spring European Championship along with their main domestic rivals Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks.
Both crews must wait until their return from The Netherlands to learn of the findings of the Olympic Council of Ireland's report into the handling of the Star selection procedures by the Irish Sailing Association.
Skibbereen in west Cork is now set to become the centre of attention for the Optimist world as one of Ireland's best known racing sailors turned coach has made another switch.
David Harte spent six years acting as official measurer for the international class association before deciding to put his extensive boat-building experience to good use and is now producing hand-built "Oppies".
Catering for youngsters beginning the sport as early as eight years old and in some cases younger, the Optimist has exploded in popularity.
Harte's Oppy Shop business has produced eight hulls to establish absolutely identical models and has begun commercial production.
At the rate of one boat a week, demand currently out-strips supply.
Irish team member for the World Championship Conor O'Brien was his first customer after four months of setting-up before having the first hull pass the official measurement process.
Harte aims to meet a key market for hand-built boats with the experience he has amassed and ideas gained from visiting other producers around the world.
