With the countdown to Sydney 2000 well under way, Ireland's potential to field a third discipline as part of the national squad is growing stronger in Miami this weekend. Star class veteran Mark Mansfield with Olympic newcomer David O'Brien are preparing to compete in next week's Bacardi Cup against a 115-boat fleet from almost 30 nations.
So far, the pair have progressed well in their preparations in spite of only 10 months together. While Mansfield is proven in the two-person keelboat, it is O'Brien's debut campaign and he freely admits to being on a vertical learning curve.
Nevertheless, with disarming ease, the two secured the two nomination standard results required to meet the Olympic Council of Ireland's criteria for the national squad.
As regards eventual qualification, Mansfield is calm but highly focused on what lies ahead and very certain about what is about to happen. Currently 35th in the world ratings, a top-15 result at the next two events will move the pair into the mid-20s in the rankings; 17 places for the Olympics have been allocated for the Star, nine have been taken - the rest will be decided at the worlds in Annapolis.
Of the contenders for these places, all were sailing at the recent Miami pre-Olympic regatta: Mansfield and O'Brien finished second. If this form continues, the final hurdle will be attained "easy, for sure" according to the Cork sailor.
In Miami next week, they will be concentrating on building their big fleet experience towards the crucial world championship. Beyond that, hopefully, lies a summer of intensive training, more pre-Olympic regattas in Europe and then the move to Sydney.
Yet the realism of yacht racing remains to the fore. "It's all down to one regatta," admits Mansfield. "Anything could happen - an OCS (on-course-side penalty), a mast-breakage, bad protest etc., - just a bad regatta." And added to the mix of possible misfortunes, the venue for the worlds, in spite of its reputation as a sailing mecca, Chesapeake Bay is also notorious for its fickle wind conditions.
Meanwhile, Olympic sailors of the future have started the process of slimming down a large fleet of potentials for the Optimist World and European championships later this year. At Swords last weekend, the final pre-qualifying trials series ended with the field now down to 50 boats for the selection series.
TOP 10 FINISHERS: 1, Stephen Knox (EABC 19.00); 2, Simon Mitton (RStGYC 19.75); 3, Ian Croxon (RStGYC 20.75); 4, Angela McSweeney (RCYC 25.75); 5, Jack Stanley (HYC 27.00); 6, Fionn Jenkinson (SSC 27.75); 7, Kate Dolan (RCYC 29.75); 8, Simon Rattigan (HYC 34.00); 9, Tristan McMillian (SLYC 35.00); 10, Ian McNamee (RCYC 35.00).
