Around this time every year, Irish sailing regattas and championships crowd into the calendar. This raises the thorny and, at times, divisive issue of conflicts within the fixtures list - a perennial bugbear of this column.

Week-long events, combining great racing in large fleets afloat with good social programmes in attractive locations ashore have taken hold in Ireland.

Championed by the likes of Cork Week and the Scottish Series, these provide a real competitive challenge for keelboat crews that often lack a yardstick of national performance.

Leave to one side the jumbled image this perception-beleaguered sport presents, of national championships taking place ahead of regional events, of "major" regattas scheduled for the same dates, of fleets being dragged from one end of the island to the other and back again for another event, what exactly is going on?

There is no issue claim the proponents of the status quo - we have received no complaints from our participants. That's fine if all you want is a notional minimum turn-out to fill the starting-line.

Make no mistake about it, with a few exceptions, the primary motive of event organisers in this country is driven by the need for revenue to keep clubs going.

Two schools of thought apply in this part of the debate. The first applies to events for the sake of it - get as many hosted by your club, organise and fund the organisation well and the receipts ashore will keep all and sundry happy.

The second suggests that member activity is core-business and should have priority with just occasional events providing a bonus. The former is a source of considerable competition amongst better-organised clubs and classes in Ireland. There is no restriction other than practical issues on any one venue hosting as many competitions as possible.

The alternative, as practised by many smaller more family oriented clubs around the coast is on a range of fun activities, some competition and with all expected to row in and give a hand.

This week sees the Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale in full swing with 124 boats. But with a reasonable contingent from the east, surely there is the potential for more giving rise to better competition that most sailors would appreciate? But this event clashes with the Dublin regatta season.

Even before this ends, next Monday sees the start of the D·n Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D) that has attracted a 56 per cent increase in entries to 26 boats over the 1999 race. But could there be more boats for this 180-mile course if it was timed better?

At a time when the Minister for the Marine is announcing marina developments on the south-west and west coasts almost monthly, it seems that government is waking to the potential of marine leisure.

If this really is the case, is Irish Sailing ready to meet this challenge and agree to put the interests of the sport first with benefits to clubs certain to flow as a result?