SAILING:Eamon Conneely's Patches starts her third regatta in the Breitling MedCup circuit this morning when the first race for the Transpac 52 fleet of 24 boats gets under way in the Copa del Rey off Palma de Mallorca, reports David Branigan.
The Galway man is defending his 2006 victory in this event racing his previous Patches when it sailed as Siemens.
Under skipper Ian Walker, Conneely's team is one of the most competitive in the class and yesterday led the practice race from the outset for two and a half legs before retiring in keeping with superstitious beliefs that to win a practice race is bad luck.
That race saw Patches dice with the Copa del Rey's own patron as the King of Spain on Bribon was the nearest contender once Walker's team won the vital start and first windward leg.
This has been identified by the British double-Olympic medallist as their major hurdle when reaching clear air from a front-row position on the starting line is the difference between leading at the first mark or being forced to try to play catch-up in an increasingly unforgiving fleet.
Five days of racing lie ahead before Saturday evening's prize giving and a pool of six boats, including Patches, that have dominated the six-week-old series to date are in the running to lift the Copa del Rey.
Paul Cayard became the latest top professional to join the ranks of the event that already counts 153 professionals recently released from contracts in the America's Cup as well as triple cup winner Russell Coutts.
TENNIS: Spectators didn't have to wait too long for a surprise result when the International Tennis Federation's Junior Series moved to the Rushbrooke Club, Cork, yesterday, reports Pat Roche.
American contender and Top seed Emilia Monell crashed out against Dublin's Maria Morrissey, 6-4, 6-4, in just over an hour.
Top seed in the boys event Mark Bowtell, born in Wicklow, won 6-1, 6-1 against Holland's Bobby De Goeijen.
Italy's entry Alessandro Bega, seeded at two, was too adroit for Scotland's James McKie, 6-2, 6-2.
Last week's winner in the opening ITF series, Lisa Whybourn of Britain, advanced in comfort while local girl and top-ranked Irish prospect Niamh Coveney also got through, beating Scotland's Susan McCrann 6-2, 6-1.
