The Irish Sailing Association has released the lost of qualifying helms for next week's Church and General-sponsored Helmsman Championship, being hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club.
The competition gathers the best helms from the various classes around the country in an effort to find the `champion of champions.'
Tom Fitzpatrick will be taking time out from Olympic 470 competition to defend his 1997 title that was won in his native waters off Howth in Squibs. This year, the event moves south and the 1720 Sportsboat is the selected class to decide Ireland's "Champion of Champions" title.
The line-up includes various sailors of different skills, reflecting the range of talent in the different classes in Ireland. Fellow 470 campaigner for Sydney 2000 Gerbil Owens won the Halidon Junior title in September, though Fitzpatrick recently competed as a 1720 helm in the Autumn league at Howth which should boost his chances in Cork.
Fitzpatrick will need all the time he can get when you consider that the event favourite must certainly be Mark Mansfield. Not only will this two-time Olympic veteran be racing on home waters, he will be sailing a class in which he is the undisputed master. Earlier in the year, he became the first 1720 European Champion, which is the basis for his qualification. Finn class hopeful David Burrows must pose a serious threat as he crewed for Mansfield in the Star at the Savannah Olympic Regatta, so will know his form. Two flights of 12 boats will sail on the Saturday before the two top-six boats sail a final flight to determine the winner on Sunday. Each invitee is permitted to bring one crew member and, in a new development for the event, the combined weight of the two must not exceed 180 kilos. The ISA point to the qualifiers for this year's Dubai Sailing World Championships when the boat proved itself to be a great "equaliser".
Meanwhile, the final event in the Heineken Windsurfing Tour takes place this weekend at Roundstone, Co Galway, where a fleet of up to 100 boards is expected to take part. Oisin Van Gelderen is already confirmed as the Irish national champion - for the fourth time.
