SAILING: With the exception of the various Autumn Leagues still running, the official Irish Sailing season reaches its azimuth this weekend when the Allianz ISA Helmsman Championship is staged at the Royal St George Yacht Club. With the shortlist of national champions and international competitors confirmed, the 2002 event is set to be a close affair.
Defending champion Feargal Kinsella is one of several sailors fresh from competition following his third event in the single-handed 2.4 metre class on the Ijseelmeer, Holland, last weekend. A result of 26th out of 31 boats in the class world championship marked the bottom end of what is certain to be a learning curve in his campaign for the Athens 2004 Paralympics.
Sydney 2000 veteran John Twomey with Sean McGrath and Brian O'Mahony finished sixth overall in the Sonar World Championship at Medemblik to qualify Ireland for a place in Athens. Fellow Kinsale Yacht Club members, Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Chris Doe finished eighth in the 23-boat Sonar fleet - an overall good showing for Ireland.
Twomey is also confirmed for this weekend's event and as a former Dragon sailor, is certain to feel comfortable among the leader group of 26 helms.
Also fresh from racing last weekend will be Maurice O'Connell who must rank as a contender for the Cork Dry Gin/Afloat Sailor of the Year following a tremendously successful season. The former IT executive decided on a full-time sailing career this year and is involved in a mixture of racing and coaching. He has been closely associated with Maria Coleman, Ireland's top ranked Olympic sailor as well as support for Twomey's campaign.
His nomination for this weekend's championship stems from success on board Des Faherty's Aquatack in the 1720 National Championships when the Howth boat won the title in an exciting battle.
Later in the season, O'Connell went on to take the class European title on the Solent in another exciting series.
His season also included calling tactics on board Chernikieff 2 owned by British America's Cup Team GBR backer Peter Harrison during the Rolex Commodores' Cup in Cowes. His introduction to the J24 class earlier in the season on board Tony and Franco Magliocco's "Taz" from the UK paid handsome dividends last weekend when he won the class Irish Championship sailed at Lough Ree Yacht Club.
O'Connell led a team consisting of David Hassett, Aidan O'Connell, David Meagher and Mark Jardine and won the event by scoring two firsts, three seconds, a fourth and a fifth.
Absent from the event will be triple Olympic veteran Mark Mansfield with Killian Collins and Max Treacy with Anthony Shanks. Mansfield would most probably have received a wild card nomination but for the Star class European Championships at Genoa this weekend.
ISA HELMSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 (at Royal St. George YC); Final Nominations List: F Kinsella Holder Howth YC; D Burrows Olympic Malahide YC; G Dempsey Enterprise Bray SC; D Dickson Shannon One Design Lough Ree YC; T Fitzpatrick Olympic Howth YC; D Fortune J24 Royal St George YC; H Gill GP14 Sutton DC; T Goodbody Wildcard Royal Irish YC; N Hegarty Dragon Royal St George YC; S Hyde 420 Royal Cork YC; P Killen Wayfarer East Down YC; N Mangan Multihull Blessington SC; R McGovern Laser Ballyholme YC; M O'Connell 1720 Royal Cork YC; B O'Neill Cruiser 3 Howth YC; R O'Tiarnaigh Squib Royal North of Ireland YC; G Owens Wildcard Royal St George YC; C Peelo Wildcard Malahide YC; N Powell Wildcard Howth YC; S Shiels Mermaid Skerries SC; L Smythe Fireball; J Twomey Paralympic Kinsale YC; C Walsh Laser Radial Ballyholme YC; N Walsh National 18 Royal Cork YC.
