With just over three weeks to go before the massive World Series '99 gets underway in Melbourne, the Irish squad in Australia are already in action at a series of events that lead into this crucial gathering. In Brisbane last weekend, Maria Coleman emerged fourth overall in the Europe single-handed class, narrowly missing third place by a single point while 49er Skiff hopefuls Mel Collins and Fraser Brown made the top 20 Gold Fleet in their class.
The Melbourne series will be a unique event as, for the first time, most of the major Olympic classes will simultaneously hold their World Championships at the same time and at the same venue. The event will be akin to an athletics world championship using the bay as a "stadium". With a little under two years before the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Melbourne will be critical in determining the final shape of the sailing squad for the Irish team. The selection process begins with this event, though Brisbane and the Sydney pre-Olympic regatta next week will also be important training opportunities for the 10 Irish boats competing.
Coleman has been quietly preparing since before the Savannah '96 Regatta and her performance is reflected in her world ranking of 19 announced by the International Sailing Federation (ISF) yesterday. The Baltimore sailor's big break came during preparations for the 1996 Olympics when her training partner, Kristine Roug, won the gold and Coleman was subsequently invited to Denmark to train there.
The 49er Skiff is certain to live up to expectations that it will be a high point of Sydney 2000, not just for the sailing regatta but for the entire event.
The host city's association with these exciting craft is well established. The Royal Cork YC's Mel Collins and Fraser Brown have also been rewarded for their solid training over the last few months and 18th at Sail Brisbane means their goal of qualification is becoming a reality.
An Australian rival in the 49er class is taking time off for the 54th annual Sydney to Hobart Race that gets underway on St Stephen's Day. David Witt has chartered former Whitbread maxi ketch The Card to sail as Nokia to be a potential line honours winner for the Offshore classic that is the sporting highlight of the Australian Christmas period.
The entry brings the fleet to 117 and although the 83-footer is 10 years old, its reaching capabilities present it as a serious threat to the international gathering of big boats in the race. Other favourites for line honours are the 78-footer Sayonara from the USA and local 76-foot maxi Brindabella. The current course record stands at just over two days and 14 hours set by Morning Glory in 1996 having beaten the previous 21-year-old record held by Kialo.
Back on home waters and the winter `off-season' is increasingly becoming very much an `on-season' with frostbites in most major centres, dinghy coaching and winter class series taking place. The Brass Monkey Sunday racing at Howth YC ended last weekend after a busy series while further north at Swords, the Optimist National Winter series saw the campaign for places on the national teams for the World and European Championships begin in earnest.
