KINSALE Yacht Club looks set to reach the magic 100 boat mark for an event this weekend when the south coast becomes the focus of racing action for one design and handicap keelboat sailors at the Cork Dry Gin Sovereigns Cup. Racing gets underway on Monday, and entries officially stood at 86 earlier this week.
The five day programme is primarily aimed at keelboat classes one, two and three under both ECHO and Channel handicap systems for up to nine races sailed on a variety of courses off the Old Head of Kinsale.
The proven formula of mixing inshore distance courses with laid round the buoys and windward leewards provides the ideal balance for crews to keep regattas interesting.
Apart from the handicap classes, though, the most intense and closest racing is likely to come from the 1720 Sportsboats event which may have up to 40 entries: this is also the national championship for the class - its first ever. The rapid growth of the Irish fleet is likely to see a hotly contested event with many of Ireland's best known sailors competing.
Cork's Mark Mansfield is generally regarded as the class master so far in the 1720s' short history and he is unlikely to relinquish such a prominent position if his performance in most of the class events is an accurate guide.
Last autumn, for example, the two time Olympic veteran managed to split his weekend between Dublin and Cork events to maintain his lead in local leagues.
Predicting the main contenders for next week is very difficult, as the new style of sailing required by the 1720s regularly produces varying winners from recent events. Certainly, Mark Lyttle on Bond Girl from Howth YC must be a favourite as is Martin Byrne on Key Events, the winner of last week's National YC Regatta. Regular runner up to Mansfield is Joe English on EKO and, Anthony O'Leary's Ford Racing is another strong Cork entry.
However, given the time and experience being gained by the newcomers to the class over the last 12 months, the gap between Mansfield and the other main challengers must surely be narrowing; but we must wait until this time next week before knowing the outcome. The only certain prediction is that Kinsale will be the venue for a fierce and determined battle for the national title.
Meanwhile, the strength of Irish youth sailing on the world stage will be very evident in late July and early August at Kingston, Ontario where more than 100 boats will be competing in the Mirror World Championships.
"Ireland is sending a massive team of 29 boats, the single biggest squad for the event. Two container loads of the two person dinghies will be shipped out in two weeks time.
The popularity of the Mirror in Ireland is the reason for the large contingent as the national class association boasts 1,200 members compared to the UK, which has about 900 members and will have 24 boats at the event. Africa, Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United States will also be compelling at the event which runs from August 4th to 8th following practices and a preworlds event.
Out of the 29 Irish boats, favourites include Max Treacy of the Royal St George YC, the current Irish champion; Ed Moloney of the Royal Cork YC, the current east coast champion; Jerbil Owens of the National YC, the British National Inland champion; Ross Killian of the NYC, second overall at the Mirror Europeans; and Mattisiese Hellstern of Kinsale YC, sixth at the UK Nationals.
Donal Killian and Margaret, How of the Irish class Association are coordinating the team as well as a further four boats that will compete in an open event. Kieron Collins is the team manager while David McHugh and Mel Collins will take time off their Sydney 2000 campaigns to be the team coaches.
