IT SEEMS that it was only yesterday when, for most keelboat sailors, offshore racing was the pinnacle of the sport.

But with almost indecent speed, this once glamorous, albeit rugged, face of sailing has been replaced by the instant cut and thrust of inshore or round the cans racing. Even events such as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing, the biennial Admiral's Cup, is dominated by day races.

With a few obvious exceptions, such as the round Ireland and Fastnet Races, the emphasis is firmly on the `short, sharp, shock' of the straightforward windward/leeward or similar courses.

But offshore enthusiasts are not all extinct, although crew compatibility seems to be the keyword in determining interest levels - if no other day event conflicts with an offshore race, then a crew can usually be mustered.

Critically, the fixtures list of events has such a range of regattas on offer that distance sailing is frequently the last choice for many crews.

In spite of the recent drift to the inshore course, offshore racing is thriving, according to one aficionado. "It's very much alive and well and membership hasn't gone down - if anything it's up," Kieran Jameson, the Irish Sea Off shore Racing Association's (ISORA) Howth YC representative, said yesterday.

"A few guys in Wales have new boats, including a new Corel 45 footer and ISORA Week is expecting about 100 boats with about 45 received already."

According to Jameson, Welsh membership numbers have stayed constant and they now account for 75 per cent of the association. In the first race of the season two weeks ago, fewer than six of the 30boat fleet were Irish.

"People won't sacrifice the superleague or regatta events unless there isn't a clash. The Welsh don't have as much inshore racing - we have such a good programme that Irish people can pick and choose," says Jameson.

But in spite of the move closer to land, the Royal Alfred Yacht Club are continuing their experiment from last season when they held a short overnight race that attracted eight boats.

Tonight sees `the Alfred' repeating the effort to stimulate interest and an overnight race from Howth to Dun Laoghaire in time for a fleet breakfast at the National YC.

Meanwhile, the short overnight race will contrast with the RAYC Carlsberg Baily Bowl which will also be held this weekend. Racing will be for the 1720s and Dragons, while the J24 fleet will use the event as their Eastern Championships.

The 1720s are looking set to be the focus of high end racing action this season and are expecting a massive 40 boat turnout for their Nationals at the Cork Dry Gin Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale in mid June.

A similar number of mid size and 40 foot keelboats are also expected, defying predictions that the new Irish sportsboat class would decimate the largest keel boat classes. The closing date for the event has passed, but late entries for all CHS classes will still be welcomed by the KYC organisers.