Dockside in Malta and Royal Cork's Peter O'Leary was preparing for October's Middle Sea Race. The Mediterranean is a long way from home but O'Leary's thoughts are not far from London 2012. His plans for a second appearance at an Olympic regatta are still on course in spite of the split with Tim Goodbody after this year’s World Championships.
On the basis that the Star keel boat demands crew to weigh in at over 110kg, an Irish shortlist would not be hard to draw. O'Leary remains tight-lipped about the identity of the replacement he maintains has already been picked.
"This is a set-back for the programme but it's better it happened now than later", Olympic team manager James O'Callaghan said.
The privacy is understandable, though because O'Leary needs to be sure that whoever fills the role has the staying power for a three-year campaign. Rivals Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks have already taken the upper hand at both the European and World Championships this season.
The next big Star event is the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in January 2010 followed in March by the Bacardi Cup in Miami. Both Irish boats are expected to attend.