Two major international sporting events serve as an interesting contrast for a young Irish sailor who is quickly proving to be one of the rising stars on the continental racing scene.

For the last two years, Kerryman Damian Foxall has been competing in La Solitaire du Figaro, Sailing's equivalent of the Tour de France which is reaching its climax this weekend.

So too is the Admiral's Cup as the yachts of the eight competing nations reach the end of the Wolf Rock Race at Plymouth. Many will remember the Admiral's Cup for its timing closer to Cowes Week at the end of this month.

However, a radical overhaul of the event saw the dates for the 43-year-old series moved with the dropping of the classic 605 mile Fastnet Race from its format proving the most controversial change.

This year sees precious few Irish connections with the Admiral's Cup as involvement has been gradually diminishing since the peak of interest in the event a decade ago.

In 1997, Tom Roche's Mumm 36 footer Jameson was the small boat member of the victorious United States team. This year, Gordon Maguire racing on the Australian Sydney 40 footer and James Hynes racing with the US team are the major Irish players.

Ironically, Foxall was bowman for Roche in 1997 before heading off to compete in the single-handed Figaro Race. Having concentrated his efforts exclusively on short-handed since then, he has risen to become a household name in France where sailing rates among the major sports. His fame is based on winning a leg of the race last year and also winning the trophy for the best newcomer in the series in his debut season.

In other events such acclaim might seem misplaced. However, in the context of France and the Figaro, the fact that he was the first non-French national to achieve either honour explains his high-standing.

Having made an impressive start to last season with his leg victory, his hopes for improving to a leader's position were dashed when he fell overboard from his boat departing the British stopover of the race.

Although safely rescued by a rival who spotted his misfortune, the incident was clearly outside assistance and he was disqualified.

On a more serious note, that incident alone only fuels the fire led by opponents of single-handed sailing. Under international maritime law, all vessels at sea must maintain a proper watch at all times.

Single-handers argue that they sleep for 20-minute periods, allowing them adequate time to respond to situations in addition to advanced electronic aids.

Nevertheless, had Foxall fallen overboard at night he would almost certainly have lost his life while his auto-piloted yacht would have continued sailing as a real hazard to other sea users.

Such serious issues fuel the debate about this type of sailing which explains the lack of awareness of his achievements at home as few national bodies choose to get involved.

In the meantime, the event happily continues as the highlight of the French offshore racing scene. In further Admiral's Cup irony, having made strenuous efforts to attract France to this year's event at Cowes, that nation actually pulled out of the event the night before the last race because of a rating row over the radical "wing" mast on the team's big boat.

The remaining two boats subsequently continued as a reduced and impotent squad to maintain the national presence but without a hope of repeating their 1991 victory.

While Foxall returned home for a brief visit this week, his thoughts are now firmly fixed on avoiding a repeat of his bad fortune last year. Now back in France, one of four non-nationals, he is ranked 12th overall before the series gets underway on August 1st.

Described by some as the Holy Grail of French sailing, both amateur and professionals compete in the circuit that effectively is a tour of ports around the English Channel and Biscay area.

Amongst the 58 competitors are three very experienced women: Karine Fauconnier, who is on her third Figaro along with Michele Paret and Anne Monmousseau all of whom present an equal challenge to their male rivals.

Old hands on the circuit include such outstanding figures as Philippe Poupon, three times winner of The Solo Figaro; Jean Le Cam, who has participated 16 times and won twice. Eric Drouglazet, leads this year's Championnat de France Solitaire.