At this year's games, Ireland will have six representatives in four boats. Athens Olympian Ger Owens has qualified again in the 470 class, and is accompanied by Phil Lawton. Tim Goodbody will compete in the Finn and Ciara Peelo, who will be carrying the flag for Ireland at the Opening ceremony will compete in the Laser Radial.
Ireland will also be represented in the Star class by Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne, who qualified at the world championship in Miami in April this year.
Ireland will also be represented in the Star class by Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne, who qualified at the world championship in Miami in April this year.
Ciara Peelo who is the smallest and lightest of the Irish contenders is said to be ideally suited to the Qingdao conditions, where physical strength will be less important, and tactics more so. She proved this theory in 2006 during the pre-Olympic test event where she finished 8th and she will be no doubt looking to improve on that this year.
This is a team that is very much looking towards the future, London 2012 and beyond.
Tim Goodbody has only been sailing full-time for just over a year and hopes to be competitive in Beijing but feels that his first Olympics here will give him much needed experience for London where he feels that he will have a medal chance.
Predictions
It will be hard for the Irish sailors to get a medal but I have a feeling that someone will sneak a medal. A medal may come in the form of the 470 boys as Ger Owens already has Olympic experience or perhaps from one of the Olympic first timers but as I said most of them will be seeing this as a learning experience rather than a realistic chance of winning.
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