SAILING: NEXT week's Brewin Dolphin Dragon Gold Cup at Kinsale Yacht Club will be missing one of the fleet's regular competitors due to the timing of the Paralympic Games as Ireland's veteran competitor John Twomey will be returning from Weymouth.

The former KYC Commodore along with crew-members Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costello finished the Paralympic Games in 11th place after yesterday’s final was cancelled due to light winds off Portland.

The trio were disappointed with their final result and Twomey especially so as all his previous visits enjoyed the fresh conditions the venue is known for and which prevailed for the Olympic Games last month, whereas this time they experienced moderate, shifting winds for the last week.

Ironically, Twomey has a specially adapted Dragon, although in wind strengths above 15 knots he is unable to hike but he reckons he can be competitive in moderate breezes and that allows him take part in regular regattas and championships.

Racing gets underway on Sunday for the six-race, no discard series that concludes next Friday.