The trend towards one-design yacht racing witnessed in recent years is set to continue and even accelerate this season, fuelled by increasing uncertainty surrounding handicapping and new measurement developments. A quick glance at several of Ireland's most popular classes shows impressive growth and particularly in regional fleets, away from the mainstream urban sailing centres.
The world's largest one-design racing class, the J24, is at the centre of what may be the most significant change. A slight haemorrhaging in numbers of the Dublin fleet can be attributed to the massive uptake in 1720 Sportsboats. However, the class is quick to point out that the secondhand fleet cannot meet the demand and inquiries for new boats are estimated at one a week.
This class is now the ideal entry level racing boat where older boats can be purchased for around the £6,000 price range. Crucially, the supply of such boats is insufficient and prices for UK craft are significantly higher. Growth areas outside Dublin include Lough Ree where there are now eight J24s while Sligo currently has one boat.
More importantly, J24 crews are now more willing to travel and around 30 boats are active nationally, though the fleet is concentrated in the northern half of the country.
The three-man Dragon, an International classic design, whose Gold Cup event was staged in Ireland for the second time in less than ten years in 1997, is also experiencing strong growth. While six new boats are expected in Dun Laoghaire this season, including Ward Woods who has moved from the J24 after a long residency at the front of that fleet, Glandore in West Cork is fast becoming a major centre for Dragon racing.
With ten boats active in neighbouring Kinsale, Glandore now rivals the gourmet capital for Munster and national events and expectations are that it will have a definite annual fixture from 1999 onwards - if not sooner. There are also three boats in Lough Ree which hosts the annual Lisney Cup at the front end of the season.
The explosive growth in the 1720 Sportsboat class is by now well-documented and few sailors in Ireland would be surprised to read of its continued development. In Dublin, at least six new boats are expected in 1998 with a further four possibles. The home of the class in Cork will also have its numbers boosted by at least another four and there are now five boats in Bangor and this is still not counting all the fleets appearing abroad.
In particular, two of the new arrivals in the Dublin fleet are of significance. The return of Nobby Reilly to the sailing scene after his departure from "big boat" racing several years ago is a positive sign; Tom Murphy and the all-winning crew of the Waterford boat XClaim from the '97 season are also moving to the 1720s.
Roger Cagney of the class summed up the interest: "The whole idea of bringing in a new rule (£2,000 for handicapped racing) is going to frighten anyone off. No one in their right mind is going to build a new boat only to have it trashed by a new rule in two year's time," he said.
Meanwhile, the Irish Sailing Association's third cruising symposium will again be held at the Royal St George Yacht Club on Saturday, February 28th. The day-long gathering will focus on long-distance voyaging and will feature Capt Tom O'Connor of the Air Corps, who skippered Pause to Remember in last year's BT Global Challenge. A range of topics will be discussed and full details are available from the ISA at 01 280 0239.
