SAILING: The emergence of new one-design fleets in Ireland continues this weekend when the inaugural national championship is staged at Dun Laoghaire for the Beneteau 31.7 footer. Based on a previous design for the Solitaire du Figaro race, the Irish class emerged when the racing pedigree of this cruiser was realised three years ago.
Nineteen boats have entered the championship which is the latest development after the class succeeded in getting many event organisers to allow the fleet to sail as a one-design division with its own start. The new national champion from this event will also be nominated for the Allianz ISA Helmsman Championships in the Royal North of Ireland YC in two weeks time.
However, not all the fleet are happy with the arrangements ahead of tomorrow morning's first start. The class association openly acknowledges its infant status and in response to concerns raised within the fleet, has sought to limit participation in the main championship event to class regulars only. While the championship itself will be decided on scratch results, a parallel event will also be held for all boats sailing under a performance handicap system similar to the ECHO handicap but administered by a class committee. Ineligible boats will sail for a prize under this system.
To be an ineligible boat, an entry must be "crewed up" and all boats have been obliged to submit a crew list in advance of the event. If, in the opinion of the committee, a boat has been "crewed up" for the event, then it is deemed ineligible. No criteria for such a qualification have been published, although the class association is at pains to point out that all are welcome to take part. So far, the only casualty of the ruling is Paddy McSwiney and Nigel Grennans' Extreme Reality from the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Irish Sigma 33 Class champion Tim Goodbody is expected to sail on board and has brought four of his regular crew from White Mischief to join the two co-owners for the two-day event. Under the event's Notice of Race, Extreme Reality has been deemed to have "crewed up". "I don't agree with the ruling and I'll be watching with interest what happens on other boats. I presumed the rule applied to professional crews but I do understand what the committee is trying to achieve," McSwiney said last night.
The difficulties arise from the lack of definition of this latest twist to sailing's eligibility debate. Ten years ago, yacht racing was peppered by professional sailors competing in ostensibly corinthian events - amateur sport for amateur sailors. Not until Donal McClement devised the fore-runner of what is now the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Sailors' Classification system did the issue of professionals in sailing finally achieve clarity.
It is the one international system of classification used around the world and to apply for a classification, sailors must first register with the ISAF on-line by filling out a questionnaire. A certificate is then issued for cat one, amateur or cat three, professional. A cat two is for recent pro sailors and all are assessed on standard criteria.
But the 31.7 association move apparently seeks to further divide the field for this fledgling class by classifying other amateur sailors that may discourage its existing fleet by out-performing them during the championship. "This is a one-design class and the essence of one-design racing is competition where the best on the water wins by superior skill and not as a result of an ad hoc handicap favouring or otherwise particular competitors," said Goodbody. "For one-design classes to flourish, they must welcome competition not hinder it and benefit from the results." The former Sigma 33 European Champion now plans to call on the association for a second time to amend the event Notice of Race to allow an Open Championship as well as a National Championship to be sailed in parallel.
