SAILING/News round-up: Top Mirror sailor Andrew Woodward (20) is seeking the support of the national authority in appealing a decision of the International Jury at last week's Mirror European championships on Lough Derg that upheld a British competitor's protest that, says Woodward, cost him the European title.
The protest, taken by London's Guy Wilkins (44) under the fair sailing rule, alleged that Royal Cork's Woodward had attempted to intimidate him during the fifth race of the Waterways Ireland sponsored championships.
The claim is denied by Woodward, who says that the jury's finding has tarnished his sailing reputation and he wants fresh evidence to be heard and has put his case before the Irish Sailing Association.
In a well-run event at the freshwater venue, hosted by Lough Derg Yacht Club, this and 21 other protests marred the predominantly light air championships that attracted a fleet of 120 boats.
Witness reports of the incident include accounts of a series of hails between Woodward and Wilkins on the approach to the weather mark and on subsequent legs of the course. One of the witnesses was the overall winner and defending champion, England's David Gebhard.
The jury decided that Woodward "failed to comply with the recognised principles of sportsmanship and fair play" arising out of the exchange.
Woodward, a consistently top Irish performer in International Mirror sailing says that if the result from the fifth race had stood - he crossed the line in second place - he would have won overall by a margin of some 30 points.
Instead, under the fair sailing ruling, he was forced to count maximum points in his overall score tally putting him down to 21st overall.
Following his disqualification from that race, Woodward applied to have the hearing reopened but the request was denied.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, George Kingston's (17) win in the Laser radial youth European championships in Bangor has been applauded by Irish officials as one of the most promising results to come out of Irish youth sailing in recent years.
Kingston, emerged from a week of shifty winds with the European title, a first for Irish Laser sailing and a major boost to the national youth sailing academy.
Staying on the east coast, after 10 races in the 420 European youth championships, and with two final races today (Friday) Greek crew George Vassilas and Evangelos Mitakiz lead, though by just a single point.
There are two Irish gold fleet crews, both of the host club, the Royal St George YC Simon Mitton and Cillian Magee lie 27th and Kenny Rumball and David Moran are 39th.
