THREE QUARTERS of a point separates Sarah J from Surfin' Shoes after five races in class zero of the Carlsberg Superleague, which heads for its sixth outing under the burgee of the Royal St George Yacht club regatta tomorrow.
But while crews are counting the points, the cruel irony is that a clash of fixtures, and not the racing itself, may be the ultimate decider of the series, as yachts sailing in the 500 boat Ford Cork week extravaganza from July 5th to July 19th will be unable to make it back in time for the ninth race at Howth Yacht Club on July 20th.
Although the series has four discards, Cormac Twomey, skipper of Sarah J points o0t that by not competing in one of the races you leave your position vulnerable. Six straight wins will win the epics and this of course is the agenda of both fleet leaders Surfin' Shoes (Colm Barrington) on 9.5 points and Sarah J on 10.25 points.
The decision, therefore, if some competitors are not faring as well as they might at Crosshaven, may be to quit the world's biggest fun regatta half way through a dreadful prospect, and head back to Dublin in order to maintain their Super league points.
The high number of discards in the 10 race series means third placed Cracklin' Rosie on 22.50 points and Richard Burrows Prospector, an IMX. 38, in, fourth place, are still within striking distance of the title in class one. The first of the discards will be, applied after this weekend's racing.
An inter navy battle will take place in class one of the 300 boat George regatta, when the Irish Navy race aboard Errislannan, club commodore Bruce Lyster's yacht. They will compete against crew from the US navy's JFK aircraft carrier, who will race with vice commodore Richard Hooper on his yacht Hobo V.
Skiff sailors make their debut at the regatta when they join an expected 100 boat dinghy fleet competing in a two race, 10 class regatta series.
The sportsboat class also makes its first appearance on the one design course and a combined fleet of 1720s, Melges 24s and Hunter 707s are entered.
Staying on the American yacht.
Irish Commodore's Cup team member Ciaran Foley's Stormbird finished second overall in the racing division and seventh overall in the fleet in the recent Newport Bermuda race, also winning the Mayor of Newport trophy for the best non American yacht.
Stormbird left Crosshaven on May 14th and returns to Cowes following her American exploits, after a 9,000 mile round trip, on July 20th to join the Irish Commodores Cup challenge.
Ireland is sending a six strong team to the IYRU Youth World Championships which are being held from July 8th to July 18th by the New York Yacht Club off Rhode Island. More than 174 boats from more, than 40 countries are competing.
With two years in the single handed Laser, Malahide's Jerome Devitt (17) has already represented Ireland in UK and European events and steps up a class again to race at the World Youth Championships.
Devitt is joined by the Crosbie brothers from the National YC who race in the Laser II. Eighteen year old Ayan and younger brother David, who previously raced Optimists at European and World Championships, are relative newcomers to the double handed Laser, but have picked up a second place in the Western Championships in their first year.
The Crosbie's female counterparts in the Laser II competition can claim as much experience. Howth's Laura Dillon started in Optimists, and in 1992 was the second placed girl in the World's in Argentina. Last year she switched to Lasers and won the Junior Helmsman's Championships and the ISA President's Award. She is partnered by Ciara Peelo from Malahide who at 17 has already raced Optimists and Mirrors at European and World standard.
Racing on the IMCO One De sign Mistral, Aaron Stewart (18) from Ballyclare, Co Antrim was first Youth in last year's Irish National's and has been winning on boards since 1991 when he won the Northern Ireland Rally.
