Sailing: Cruiser racer fans are set for a double helping of action over the next two weeks as Ireland field three shy but potent Commodore's Cup teams, and at home there are up to five entries from a fleet of 45 capable of breaking the 1998 race record in next week's BMW Round Ireland race.
In trying to downplay their prospects for Monday's Commodore's Cup on the Solent, three Irish teams have only themselves to blame if the label of favourites is refusing to rub off.
Six nations and 13 teams will contest next week's Commodore's Cup in Cowes but it is Ireland's prowess at the recent UK IRC championships on Commodore's Cup waters that puts Ireland's three teams in the limelight, a place where they appear a little uncomfortable.
Last night team manager Fintan Cairns sought to make light of recent successes, particularly the clean sweep of the British IRC Nationals: "The British are the defending champions here and are not to be underestimated. There are three strong teams from France, and the Dutch always provide a good challenge. The only certainty is that it will be a hard-won event."
Colm Barrington, skipper of Ireland Orange, says Cairns is right to keep a lid on next week's propsects. Too many Irish sailors go abroad saying they are going to do well but come home with nothing. "We'll wait to do any laps of honour 'til after the event," he told The Irish Times.
As the Commodore's Cup concludes tomorrow week the BMW Round Ireland race begins off Wicklow and it is a testament to the attraction of the 704-mile course that has perhaps achieved its most exotic fleet so far.
There are as many as five big entries lining up to break the sub three-day barrier: Cityjet Solune (JP Chomette) returns from La Rochelle; two Volvo 60s Spirit of Kilrush a Western Yacht Club syndicate; and Team Heiner 1.
The current record is held by Colm Barrington and he set it in the 1998 race in a chartered water ballested entry Jeep Cherokee. His record time is three days, four hours and 23 minutes.
Dun Laoghaire's Mick Cotter has entered his cruiser Southern Wind 78 Whisper but the biggest entry of all is a 100-footer from New Zealand and sponsored by Lakeshore funds that will have Sutton dinghy sailor Ruan O'Tiarnaigh among its crew.
But the race is not about line honours or even a course record - neither are part of the event programme - the overall win is awarded to the handicap winner and this, combined with the unpredictability of the course, is essentially what keeps the round Ireland alive.
Ireland have three teams: Green, White and Orange. Each team will consist of three boats racing under different performance bands determined by IRC ratings.
Racing takes place over six days, beginning next Monday, and includes seven inshore races, a short coastal race on Wednesday while the event will culminate in the offshore race, finishing Saturday.
The inshore races count for half points, while the long offshore race scores double
Green: Tiamat (Mills 40), Tim Costello, Dun Laoghaire Motor YC. Blondie III (Corby 37) Eamon Rohan, Royal Cork YC. No Naked flames (J109), Andrew Allen and Colm Monahan, Royal North Ireland YC.
White: Mariner's Cove 1 (DK 46) Tom McWilliam Mariner's Cove 2 (Mills 39) David Dwyer Checkmate (Ker 32) McCarthy Bros Royal Cork YC
Orange: Magic Glove (Ker 50) Colm Barrington Royal Irish YC Jump (Ker 37) Conor and Denise Phelan Royal Cork YC Antix (Corby 35) Anthony O'Leary Royal Cork YC
