In a first for Irish sailing, Sydney Olympian Maria Coleman has risen to number two in the world rankings following a 20 per cent boost to her heavy weather boat speed gained with a revolutionary new carbon-fibre mast that she designed herself.

There is now the prospect for the Baltimore sailor to unseat the world number one Sari Multala of Finland in three weeks' time at the Portuguese based world championships where the optimum conditions of an Atlantic breeze for the carbon spar may well prevail.

In the past she admits that Europe sailors have always complained about the struggle to get mast tips bending in windy conditions (16 knots and upwards) so that was the area on which she focused.

Armed with drawings and plans drawn up in Baltimore Sailing Club over Christmas she set off to cast the new design and worked with a Carbon composite firm in Holland. Six months later she has a spar that meets class rules and has proven itself at two Grade One regattas.

Although mast characteristics can be closely guarded secrets, Coleman reveals that the bend in the mast allows the leech of the sail to open very effectively in a gust.

This means she has more ability to maintain speed without making excessive leeway when conditions are rough. But crucially this only occurs in strong winds because the mast has a superior laminate compared with other Europe spars.

These new features combined with a spar that is now down to weight and with a smooth exterior finish helped produce a fourth in Hyeres regatta in April and a seventh at Spa regatta in May both of which were foundations for an attempt at the world championships (July 1st-7th).

Meanwhile, in preparation for next week's three-day 1720 national championships hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, an active Dublin fleet sail up the Liffey today at 12.30 in pursuit of the Docklands Authority Challenge Trophy.