Irish offshore sailing is enjoying a real adrenaline rush this week as three entirely different events clearly mark a branch of the sport that is in better shape than many might have guessed.
Tom Roche's two-year Admiral's Cup campaign ended in glory at Plymouth while Cork sailing also showed off its prowess in the Fastnet, and the first Irishman to compete in La Solitaire du Figaro Race is expected at Kinsale this weekend.
Although the high scoring Fastnet Race ended inauspiciously for Roche and his crew on Jameson, their sixth placing out of seven boats in class masked a major contribution to the United States Team effort that resulted in the first US victory at Cowes since 1969.
Of added value to the Royal Irish Yacht Club boat was the defeat of two times Mumm 36 class world champion Thomas I Punkt: both boats were tipped as pre-event class favourites.
Although the Fastnet also cost Roche the overall win of his class as well, having entered the final race as clear leader, the team effort by the US squad is what will be remembered as well as, perhaps the improbability of the turnaround result.
While team big boat Flash Gordon 2 was easily the most consistent of the three, it was ILC 40 footer that saved the day in the end by pulling up from last to second in class on the final approach to the finish, ousting Italy from the lead and reinstalling the US as event leaders.
However, for most Irish sailors that have followed Roche's campaign since the last Irish squad entered two years ago, certain key questions now emerge.
For Roche to achieve his goal, he had to commit to an intensive world-wide circuit, hand over co-ordination of much of the project to skipper Dee Smith and eventually be rewarded with the invitation from US Sailing to join their squad.
If Ireland is to return to the Admiral's Cup fray, what lessons from Roche's experience can be applied, if any?
With the attendance down from its 19-nation heyday to just seven teams this year, and along with budgets estimated by some to be running to the order of $2 million for a full three boat, two year campaign, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) organisers appear to have lost control on the very elements that have been prohibiting involvement from smaller nations such as Ireland.
Cracks in the seams of the bigger nations were also appearing at Cowes but these may also hint at the way forward.
The United States team was truly the American dream at sea. Apart from the squad's big boat, the two others were the result of Polish/American (MK Cafe) and Irish/American (Jameson) co-operation.
Many event followers are now suggesting that a relaxation of the strict eligibility rules for crews to allow for regional teams such as the Scandinavians have achieved.
Whether this or any other change is enough to ensure the future Admiral's Cup is certain to be the subject of intense debate in the coming months.
Meanwhile, as the prolonged Fastnet Race finally ends for the rest of the non-Admiral's Cuppers in the 232 boat fleet, other Irish boats have once again been to the fore in this classic 605 miler.
About a dozen boats, mostly all regulars took part and pride of the Irish pack must be George Radley's IMP from Kinsale Yacht Club according to the provisional results.
Not only was the 1977 Holland design sixth overall on corrected time, but the 39 footer also won class two on Channel Handicap.
Stormbird from Dun Laoghaire was first Irish boat home shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning though the light airs kept her result down to 47th in class one.
Later that afternoon, Roy Dickson brought Cracklin' Rosie from Howth YC across the Plymouth finish to score 13th overall in class one.
Another Kinsale sailor is also set to take a major prize in his event as well this weekend. Damian Foxall and his DHL sponsored boat is currently 14th in the 50 boat Solitaire du Figaro single-handed Race en route to the Cork port and looks set to take the best first-timer award.
Alain Gautier is leading a mostly French but nonetheless star-studded fleet that includes such household names as Philippe Poupon and Florence Arthaud.
The fleet is sailing the 330 mile leg of the course from Brest to Kinsale via the Fastnet and 28year-old Kerryman is expected to reach his home club along with the other leaders sometime this morning.
Finally, and before the echoes of two world championships have died away, at least 120 young sailors are expected at Skerries Sailing Club next week for one of Ireland's largest dinghy class national championships.
The Optimist fleet have just completed their worlds at Carrickfergus while the north Dublin venue for the nationals have just started to unwind following the GP14 worlds.
Reigning Irish champion Colin Lough (15) of East Antrim Boat Club is expected to defend his title while his challengers will come from around Ireland and the UK as well as some possible European contenders.
