Irish sailor Justin Slattery was lowered overboard 1,700 miles from land or rescue yesterday after Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s hull started to delaminate and required a complex repair operation in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Relatively benign condition off the Chinese port Sanya this morning where the Volvo Ocean race returns to racing appear to mask the what lies ahead for the 6,000 mile fourth stage to Auckland and the halfway mark of the race.

CORK sailor Justin Slattery was celebrating breaking his own record in the Rolex Fastnet Race last night after arriving into Plymouth on board Azzam, the Abu Dhabi entry for this year’s Volvo Ocean Race.

SPORTS Minister Martin Cullen has spoken of the ‘comfortableness of the relationship’ between Ireland and China, a country long criticised for its human rights violations and policies.

Ireland’s top sailors will be honoured at the presentation of the 2004 Cork Dry Gin Sailor of the Year Award at the Dublin International Boat Show on Thursday, February 24.

THEY FINALLY touched land late last Monday afternoon, felt terra firma for the first time in almost two months, but even then they were dizzy and unsure of themselves.

By Andi Robertson, DOUBLE Olympic Medallist Ben Ainslie made a key difference to the fortunes of David MacLean's Welsh flagged IC 45 Babbalaas in the showcase IRM High Performance Class at Ford Cork Week yesterday as light winds continued to affect racing.