#Olympics - Olympic sailing should look to the example of surfing in making the sport more relatable to spectators.

That's according to Mike Todd, writing for Sailing Scuttlebutt News about how a shift from traditional fleet racing to a 'Champions League' format would create much-needed buzz around the sport.

Similar to the new World Surf League, with its live-streamed races and bold personalities akin to Formula 1, Todd suggests the ISAF could develop a round-robin competition for the world's top 32 sailors to compete at events throughout the year featuring short, action-packed races.

"The positives are numerous," writes Todd, "among them being how sailors will have better name recognition."

He's not the first to suggest the league format as a shake-up for sailing, as Afloat.ie asked earlier this year if there was drive for a national sailing league in Ireland along similar lines.

Scuttlebutt Sailing News has more on the story HERE.

#SAILING–A new sailing league for 2012 to bring an 'extra focus' to yacht racing in Dublin Bay was the talk of last night's Royal Alfred Yacht Club (RAYC) black-tie awards dinner in Dun Laoghaire. The RAYC racing club will re-launch the 'Superleague' concept – first staged in the 1990s – to a new generation of sailors in 2012 with the aim of 'rewarding the best boats, skippers and crews', across the whole season, in each class in Dublin Bay, the country's biggest sailing centre.

The Superleague will be open to all classes of keelboats in Dublin Bay. In 2011 there were 15 keelboat classes with 300 boats. Visitors from Howth or elsewhere will also be welcomed in to the league. 

The Superleague will consist of 10 individual events/races - six club Regattas - Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Howth Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal St George Yacht Club - together with four Dublin Bay Sailing Club Saturday races - 1 in May, July, August and September. There will be four discards with six results to count. 

Royal Alfred Commodore Peter Beamish believes the Superleague will bring an extra focus to racing in Dublin Bay without adding to an already cluttered event fixture list. It will increase the incentive to all boats to participate in the individual events which make up the Superleague. The club will also be awarding crew prizes which they hope will help boats build and motivate crew panels.

The hope is to provide very close overall results with final results in the balance right up to the last race in the series.

Full details of the RAYC superleague are being finalised and will be available in mid-December. 

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. AUTUMN LEAGUE (RACE) 16/10/2011 Class 1 IRC: 1, Storm P Kelly HYC; 2, Crazy Horse Chambers/Reilly HYC; 3, Soufriere S O'Flaherty HYC; Class 1 ECHO: 1, Tiger Harris/Hughes HYC; 2, Crazy Horse Chambers/Reilly HYC; 3, Soufriere S O'Flaherty HYC; Class 2 IRC: 1, Dux A Gore-Grimes HYC; 2, Sunburn I Byrne HYC; 3, Toughnut D Skehan HYC; Class 2 ECHO: 1, C'est la Vie Flannelly/Others HYC; 2, Jokers Wild G Knaggs HYC; 3, Toughnut D Skehan HYC; Class 3 IRC: 1, Wild Mustard P & D Coyle HYC; 2, Goyave Camier/Fitzpatrick MYC; 3, Tobago T Ray MYC; Class 3 ECHO: 1, Wild Mustard P & D Coyle HYC; 2, Tobago T Ray MYC; 3, Goyave Camier/Fitzpatrick MYC; Class 4 ECHO: 1, Empress III Fitzpatrick/Glennon HYC; 2, White Lotus P Tully DunM; 3, Mystique R & R Michael HYC; Class 4 IRC: 1, Flashback Hogg/Others HYC; 2, Trinculo M Fleming HYC; 3, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham HYC; Class 5 ECHO: 1, Demelza Ennis/Laudan HYC; 2, Sandpiper A Knowles HYC; 3, Arctutus P & D McCabe HYC; Class 5 IRC: 1, Demelza Ennis/Laudan HYC; 2, Alphida H Byrne HYC; 3, Force Five R & J McAllister HYC; Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne HYC; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy HYC; 3, Trick or Treat A Pearson HYC; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Gold Dust Walls/Browne HYC; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy HYC; 3, Mr Punch Wilson/NiBhraonain HYC; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Chatterbox J Kay HYC; 2, Puffin E Harte HYC; 3, Shadowfax P Merry HYC; Squib HPH: 1, Puffin E Harte HYC; 2, Chatterbox J Kay HYC; 3, Shadowfax P Merry HYC; 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Leila R Cooper HYC; 2, Oona P Courtney HYC; 3, Aura I Malcolm HYC; 17 Footer HPH: 1, Leila R Cooper HYC; 2, Isobel B & C Turvey HYC; 3, Oona P Courtney HYC; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Dirty Protest J Bourke HYC/GSC; 2, Gelert J Flynn HYC; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles HYC; J 24 SCRATCH: 1, Hard on Port F O'Driscoll HYC; 2, Johnny Bravo C Shackleton MYC; 3, Crazy Horse M Shanahan HYC

Strong Southerly winds were again a feature of the continuing ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club on Sunday. Photos HERE. Due to a building force 6 breeze prior to the start and in order to moderate its influence, the Race Committee lead by PRO Bruce Mathews decided on a windward-leeward course to the north of Money Point. With the headland offering some respite to the right-hand side of the course; the opposite hand exposed to the mainly Southerly sweeping in from the mouth of Kinsale Harbour against the ebbing tide.

With the Laser Fleets not launching until the last minute, they however mistimed the 11.55 First Gun. After a short postponement, the Squib Class who had been reveling in the pre-start conditions was the first fleet to compete. The strong winds persisted throughout the first race with each squall prompting a flurry of capsizing Lasers as one Squib got into difficulties against the lee shore at Jarley's Cove. As the winds moderated to a force five, with the slackening tide and a calmer sea the remaining two races enjoyed easier if still challenging conditions. The decision to combine the three Laser fleets into one start, and the Squibs with the Mixed Dinghies led to the better management of the last two races given the conditions.

The previously unassailable form of Marcus Hutchinson (KYC) helming 'Sensation', was put under greater pressure in the Squib Fleet, with Victor Fusco and crew James Bendon (KYC) on Gemini notably claiming a first place in the second race. However with his crew Ben Fusco, Marcus took line honours in the other two races bringing his total of wins to five out of a possible six; as two discards now apply. Realistically, with next Sunday being the final day of racing and with eight points behind the leader, Gemini will be hoping to secure the second place overall. With a second in the first race adding to his overall score, he is now just two points ahead of the consistent Colm Dunne and Mark Buckley (KYC) who have moved up a place aided by an excellent second in the third race. Having an unsuccessful day due to a sixth in the first race and not completing the last two, Paul McCarthy (KYC) in Mack drops two places to a fourth overall. On only one point adrift he is still very much in contention for a top three placing.

In the Laser Standard Class Rob Howe (RCYC), though obviously comfortable in the strong breeze, did not quite repeat last week's clean sweep of wins. Nevertheless, with one second and two firsts he retains his overall position in the fleet on seven points overall. David Kenefick (RCYC) took advantage by winning the first race, and his subsequent two seconds puts him on just two points behind the leader going into the final day next Sunday. Having now discarded his worst two scores due to missing the first race day, Paul O' Sullivan (RCYC) continued his consistent form with a further three thirds, and is now in third place overall.
Eoin Keller (LDYC), the previous clear leader in the Laser Radial Class and unable to compete this week, slips dramatically from a total of four points to fifteen points and into second place overall. Eoghan Cudmore (KYC) with a splendid second and two wins on Sunday leaps from third into first place overall. Sean Murphy (KYC) who scored a third and two seconds positions himself just one point behind Keller. With very little between the top three, it will take the remaining races to decide final outcome.
Due to other sailing commitments for the young Laser 4.7 fleet, there has been much changing in the league position over the past few weeks; apart from Cian Byrne (KYC/RCYC) who has resolutely held onto the top position from day one. A close and exciting tussle has finally emerged between Cian and Dara O'Shea (KYC), who despite being on the wrong side of a protest decision in the first race, recovered well to gain a subsequent second and first. He has given himself a chance being well positioned just three points behind overall. Conor Murphy (KYC) with an excellent day's achievement of a first and two seconds has shot up the league table into third place overall.
Brian Jones and Gary Frost (MBSC) in their 505 continued unchallenged with a further three bullets in the Mixed Dinghy Class, with the Fevas of David Marshall/Rob Scandrett and Fiona Lynch/Sofie Kelleher in second and third overall.
The ASM Frostbite League at KYC will be completed next Sunday, 27th February 2011. First Gun is at 11.55 a.m.