Sailing: An overcrowded fixtures list is the bugbear of this column when it comes to wading through the mass of clubs, classes and championships comprised by the sport in Ireland. But moves are afoot that could yet present a more manageable programme.
In the broadest terms, competitive sailing in Ireland divides into three areas: handicap keelboats popularly known as cruiser-racers, one-design keelboats and dinghies. The largest fleets are in Cork and Dublin, with smaller bases in regional coastal locations and inland waterways.
Huge diversity of interests is to be found within all these areas and the sport is almost as changeable as the daily tides. On one hand, national administrators claim numbers of participants are growing; the reality at sea suggests that turnouts are falling.
As no statistical evidence exists, anecdotal reports point to a middle-ground: static national numbers and growing choice of events resulting in diluted entries all round.
In Dublin, a regular bench-mark has been the June regatta season, which begins on the bank holiday weekend with the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, then moves to Howth for the Lambay Race the following weekend, then to the National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St George YC by the start of July.
In times past, entries for the biggest of these regattas could reach 400 boats; in 2004 about half this number turned out.
Clearly, something is changing, and the explanation most often given is availability. Between family and work commitments, plus traffic and competition from other attractive leisure pursuits, the impact on traditionally popular sailing activities is being felt both in competitor numbers and availability of voluntary organisers.
But solutions to the twin problems of crowding and availability are under active consideration, albeit by a variety of bodies not all necessarily in contact with each other on the matter.
For example, one idea floated several years ago for the Dublin area is that instead of taking an entire month to hold the regattas, a "Dublin Regatta Week" would be formed comprising all the major club events. Each club would hold its regatta race on a weekday afternoon, necessitating a week of half-days from work of an annual leave quota for an individual.
Such a format would also prove attractive to visiting boats, perhaps even leading to a series that would match the success of the biennial Cork Week.
Such a week would free up four weekends for alternative events, or simply downtime for crews. It would certainly boost potential entries for the Round Ireland Race and Dún Laoghaire to Dingle (D2D) races, whose timing normally falls in the middle of the regatta season.
Thanks to moves by the Irish Cruiser Racer Association, the D2D will next year form the feeder race for the Sovereign's Cup and Irish Cruiser Racer Championship in Kinsale at the end of June, though it will still clash with at least three regatta weekends in Dublin.
Other clashes happen during the year. The current Howth Autumn League has seen a fall in numbers over the past two years from highs of 220 boats. The major factor here has been the success of the Dún Laoghaire Motor YC's September series.
The scenarios outlined above affect the cruiser-racer and one-design portions of the market. Dinghies too require a seamless plan for their sport.
Smaller clubs also stand to benefit from an efficient season as the major dates are known in advance and not, as at present, less than six months in advance.
