Though he went afloat for the first time only four years ago, it is the gritty determination gleaned from the motorcycle race track that is proving the key factor in Ian Switzer's winning form in class three of Howth Yacht Club's Autumn League this month.
Now at the halfway stage of the league, the former 500cc road race champion leads the 19-boat Channel hanidcap fleet by four points with two wins and a second place last weekend.
A continuation of what is now a seasonlong tussle is the forecast for Sunday's fourth race between Switzer's Super Seal 26-footer Gung-ho, David Greene and Richard McGoveran's S and S 30 Equity and Mossy Shanahan at the helm of the Bolero Pathfinder, who occupy first, second and third respectively.
More often than not it is Switzer, crewed by Cormac Smyth (mainsheet), Keith Cassidy (tactician), and Formula ford racing car driver Nicky Potterton on the foredeck, who has come out on top of the group this season, claiming five of six class trophies.
A discard will come into play at Howth this weekend for the 209-boat fleet. First gun off Ireland's Eye is at 10.0am.
Elsewhere, the Irish Sailing Association has reverted to a supplied boat system for the Church & General-sponsored Helmsman's championship at the end of this month. Publication of the notice of race and sailing instructions yesterday includes an invitees' weight limit rule for the first time.
The struggle to achieve an equitable format for the event has seen organisers make half a dozen changes in recent years and this year's competition at the Royal Cork Yacht Club will have the added spice of racing in the club's 1720 sportsboats.
Invited helmsmen must supply one crew man but their combined weight must be under 180 kg. The rest of the crew and the boat - without gennakers - is supplied ready to race.
Invitations have been sent to 24 national champions but the make-up of the fleet will not be known until late next week. Certain of inclusion are two Cork European champions, local man Mark Mansfield of the host class who must be a favourite, and Mirror dinghy duo Matthias Hellstern and Cathal O'Donovan of Kinsale.
A world championship event in Melbourne in January is the next target for Maria Coleman of Baltimore following her creditable seventh overall at the Pre-Olympic regatta in Sydney harbour last week.
Brandon Bay based windsurfer Jamie Knox intends to build on Co Kerry's growing reputation as one of Europe's top wavesailing venues when he hosts an international event at Castlegregory next weekend. The competition, which will include a number of top American windsurfers, runs from Friday, October 9th to Monday, October 12th. Tel: 066 39411 for a race schedule and entry form.
