AMONG the myriad of issues awaiting decision at next month's International Sailing Federation (ISAF) annual conference at Brighton will be the issue of Olympic classes selection for the Sydney 2000 games.

The outcome, however will not simply be the appointment of the latest class of racing boat. Given the massive political machine behind this world-wide representative body, the result will be a portent of the state of the sport and of what can be expected in the near future.

The selection of the new class centres on the venue for the next Olympiad and the fact that sailing is a feature of life in Sydney. The attraction of the local 18-foot Skiff and its recent explosion in popularity beyond its antipodean base has seen similar growth in smaller look alike boats that emphasise performance over fine technical attributes and the plain attraction of this high-speed boats to a wider sailing public and beyond.

A sailing event was organised at Torbole, Lake Garda. Entrants, were permitted to bring up to three boats. In addition to the Evaluation team members, 11 national authorities sent, at their expense, 22 highly experienced sailors to test and report on the boats. In addition to this event some of the leading contenders have been observed in open sea conditions not available at Torbole.

Entries were received from 11 classes, these being Bl4, BOSS, 505, Laser 5000, Flying Dutchman, 49er, 150, JET, International 14, One Design 14, Mach2.

Conditions varied from very light to gusts of 30 knots, but were generally in the range eight to 15 knots. Nearly all the sailing was with one of the selection team with one of the entrants' sailors on board. Consequently, most measurements were greatly affected by who was helming boats, and whether they had any experience of that type of boat before.

"The 49er has by a substantial margin the best racing performance of any of the boats. It was outstanding in a wide variety of conditions," concluded the evaluation team at the end of September. "In the judgment of the sailors who tested the boats, their preference for the 49er for selection was overwhelming and it was the only boat with more supporters than rejecters for Olympic selection . . . we recommend the 49er for selection."

Ken Ryan, the former Irish Sailing Association vice-president and current ISAF council member will he carrying Ireland's voting rights at Brighton. "If it becomes a question of Laser versus Finn, it is our intention to support the Laser," he told The Irish Times. The ISA is also supporting the selection of the 49er.

"The ISAF has to decide which way it wants sailing to go and in which boats.

"A lot has been learnt from the tests in Torbole - not only from the boats tested but also from the top skippers there and how they see the sport developing. It is the first time in the history of the ISAF that we had a test with so many top sailors involved. I foresee that the Torbole testing will be used again for the new breed of dinghies that are emerging," Ryan said.

Agreeing that this is a sign of the growing democratisation and accessibility of the world-wide authority Ryan said: "The ISAF is now looking at the whole design manufacture and distribution of boats on a worldwide basis and how criteria for international recognition is assigned and maintained. The ISAF realises that it cannot sit back and be passive but must take a lead in development."

Meanwhile, last weekend's stormy weather took its toll on sailing events although most managed to complete all or most of the planned programmes. At Dun Laoghaire, the absence of the defending champions from the Royal Alfred Yacht Club allowed UK visitors Spinnaker to emerge overall victors at the annual National Dinghy Team Racing Championship.

However, as the full knock-out series could not be sailed because of the conditions, a further final will be held a later date to determine the national winner. This is set to be between Trinity and Ballyholme YC and this final will also be used as an indicator trial for next year's second ISAF World Team Racing Championship event.

The outcome of the Viking Marine/Irish Times event was determined on the basis of the league and quarter finals performances. The runner-up plate was won by Schull B that defeated Royal St George B.

Seven sailors from Ballyholme YC and the Royal Ulster YC will crew David Best's Sidewinder at the inaugural Mumm 30 World Championship at Annapolis, Maryland, at the end of the month. The team are optimistic about their prospects in America's sailing capital and have their Cowes Week `94 victories, when they won the New York Challenge and Queen's Cup for Northern Ireland to boost their hopes.