SAILING:A fresh breeze for tomorrow's practice race on Dublin Bay will be welcomed by the fleet of 70 keelboats when the Aberdeen Dragon World Championship decides its premier international title. On home waters for the first time, Irish helms have their best chance to capitalise on years of intensive preparation on the international-class circuit.
But little quarter can be expected from within this star-studded line-up of past champions and multiple Olympic medallists, and local knowledge alone will be of minimal advantage to the 18 Irish crews over the next seven days.
The selection of an Irish venue is, however, testimony to the commitment shown by the Irish Dragon Association members in doggedly pursuing the class's continental event circuit that has attracted a considerable following over the past decade.
That commitment was recognised first four years ago when Kinsale Yacht Club hosted the Setanta European Championship.
This year, for the first time since the Perrier Jouet-sponsored Gold Cup in 1988, the fleet returns to Dún Laoghaire and the Royal St George Yacht Club for a major title decider.
Picking a favourite from the entry list is an impossible task; fleet insiders suggest any one of a dozen sailors could pull off a victory on the bay.
But ask any non-Dragon sailor to pick a winner and nine out of 10 are certain to reply, "HoJo" - and with good reason; the Dane is simply regarded the class maestro, win or lose.
Though the Dragon is a former Olympic class itself, it lost this status in 1972 when the Soling keelboat took over, which is the class in which Poul Ricard Ho-Jensen went on to win two gold medals. He also has four Dragon European titles, the 1989 world championship and four Gold Cup wins (regarded as the other/unofficial class world championship).
On top of that, he has emerged as the builder of choice for the high-tech yet traditionally styled one-design 29-footer, having eclipsed most of the best builders since the first boat emerged in 1929. And he's no stranger to Ireland, whether in his own boat or crewing with locals.
But the Danish supremo has plenty of competition, from overseas and home-grown.
His compatriot Jorgen Schönherr, defending world champion, winner of three consecutive Gold Cup titles and world title winner in the Flying Dutchman and 505 classes, must rank top of the contenders.
Other regular visitors to Ireland include Frank Berg, who has six Danish national titles plus various runner-up placings in various class championships over the years.
Germany's Thomas Müller is a former Irish championship and Gold Cup winner, while Markus Wieser won the recent Volvo European Championship with a day to spare and must be fancied on this form alone.
Of the home side, Neil Hegarty, the Irish champion, is one of many likely to feature. Also of the host club, Andrew Craig will be doubly-determined after an accident earlier this week saw his finely tuned rig temporarily dismasted.
As for Johnny Ross-Murphy, he was overall winner when the class staged a massive 300-boat race to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2004.
