The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is considering a form of event licensing in response to the on-going problem of congestion in the national fixtures list. The thinly veiled warning to clubs and classes is contained in ISA president Neil Murphy's regular column in the latest edition of Afloat magazine which goes on sale this weekend.

Murphy identifies two international events this year, as well as the Tall Ships race's visit to Dublin, that clashed with numerous national and regional championships. He cites difficulties for organisers, sponsors and the media as the main arguments for better co-ordination between clubs and classes.

Event licensing such as in motor sport has been suggested, though Murphy appears to shy away from this on the grounds of the bureaucratic workload that it might involve for the national authority. However, the "self-regulation" buzz-word that is commonly used when sensitive issues such as this arise also features in Murphy's address and the situation is poised for a major shake-up.

Murphy despairs at the seeming inability of clubs to look beyond their own interests when it comes to the fixtures list. "The ISA has been banging the drum for the last five years at the East Coast conference," he said last night. "It would be an admission of defeat (of self-regulation) if we have to bring in licensing, but you would think that people would have the basic cop on to avoid clashes.

"It is getting better in some areas such as junior regattas that are now being held on Mondays and weekdays," he said. "For some classes, the issue just doesn't arise as their numbers have fallen off. The sins of the past are coming home to roost."

Clearly, event licensing is viewed as an extreme measure but one that is increasingly likely unless the situation is brought under control.

At local level, clubs provide by far the greatest access and contact with the sport for ordinary sailors. For most, members' activities provide the basic income for each organisation while individual class events travelling around the coast are welcome high points with the larger events boosting revenue through visiting sailors and, with international events, sponsorship income that can even enable capital projects.

Traditionally, club organisers on the east and south coasts meet to arrange their fixtures list in the preceding autumn season. The ISA co-ordinates all the relevant parties prior to the meeting by issuing notices and draft calendars of event fixtures. In theory, all get together, first in a preliminary session followed by a second meeting with all representatives gathered together.

However, the ISA merely facilitates the discussion and groups are not compelled to co-ordinate. With more and more events demanding space on the fixtures list, this situation is set to change with the national authority preparing to flex its muscle. Only affirmative action by clubs to improve co-ordination is likely to avert a scenario where dates and conditions are imposed on clubs.

Historically, at least on the east coast, the conferences have been fiery at times as conflicting dates are resolved and compromise reached. A fixtures list remains provisional until early in the New Year before it is published as final.

However, anomalies are now rife within the sport that is bulging with events of all kinds, all competing for entries, often drawing on the same limited pool of potential entrants, all trying desperately to fit into a narrow band of the most attractive dates.

To the average sailor, all this back-room manoeuvring may seem largely irrelevant. Mostly it is until the season arrives and that is when the problems set in. Clashes between keelboat events and dinghy classes are inevitable, but where two neighbouring clubs both plan events for the same weekend for the same class, crews are forced to decide. Usually, both events lose out as the potential fleet is split. Sailors lose as well because the competition may be at the "rival" fixture.

Further problems arise with race management issues such as radio channels, shared equipment, rescue, personnel, to name a few. Conflicting dates, particularly for major events are inexcusable and dangerous for sailing in the longterm.

Regardless of the prospects for 1999, the ISA is set to increase its involvement with international events held in Ireland by setting standards for race management and shore facilities as well as administering grant allocations on behalf of the Sports Council.