Sailing News round-up: The cold northerly gales this week served as a reminder that while improved access to the water and better organisation has extended traditional sailing into a year-round sport, December until mid-February is still the preserve of the hardiest dinghy crews and even these are under notice from the weather and must take whatever lulls are offered to get afloat.
So for the majority of sailors, winter centres on hanging up oilskins or looking for an alternative in warmer climes.
First up is the annual Key West Race Week in Florida which gets underway on Monday with an expected 300 boat entry from around the world. Irish attention is centred in the Melges 24 Sportsboats where boats from Dublin and Cork will be up against a strong 58-boat fleet in the home of the class.
David Dwyer and Roy Darrer from the Royal Cork YC have entered Jessica while Des Faherty and Enda O'Coineen will compete on Kilcullen.
Florida continues to draw the crowds with the Miami Olympics Classes Regatta (OCR) looming large at the end of January where the selection trial for the single Irish nomination in the Star Keelboat will commence.
With 2003 mired in controversy between incumbent Mark Mansfield with Killian Collins and newcomers Max Treacy with Anthony Shanks, the three event trial is expected to decide the contest afloat rather than in protracted shoreside disputes.
While opening salvos have yet to begin this new year, the three-race Levin Memorial Trophy saw Mansfield score fourth overall with consistent top-10 results.
Their Dublin rivals placed mid-fleet in 27th overall having been obliged to carry an On-Course-Side starting penalty in the no-discard series. However, the event is clearly a warm-up opportunity ahead of the OCR as Sydney 2000 gold medallist Mark Reynolds was 37th while America's Cup veteran Paul Cayard was 46th.
The warm weather venues offer yet more options. The long-running Southern Ocean Racing Conference series in Miami at the end of February also attracts the serious keelboat sailors.
However, the various Caribbean Regatta series has tapped into a useful option for travelling crews without their own boats based in the region.
The major international events begin in early March with the Heineken St Maarten Regatta followed by the BVI Spring Regatta a month later and the huge Antigua Race Week at the end of April.
The major charter companies all offer bareboats to take part in special classes that get individual starts at the major events with packages to rival Ski holidays.
In IBEC headquarters in Dublin yesterday, a new group, to be known as The Marine Forum, held their first meeting to promote a coordinated approach to promoting their common interests.
Representatives of the marine industry and from the water safety, sailing, diving, inland waterways, lifeboats and boat rental sectors plan to combine their resources to present a cohesive plan to the Government.
An Irish Marine Federation survey of all the bodies is to be compiled, emphasising tourism, marketing, navigable waterways and infrastructure as well as the economic and employment benefits.
