LOOKING 5 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE
In September 2022 Irish Sailing created a new development team in the Female 49er FX Olympic class (double handed skiff, see below). This has come about from the demand created by a growing number of women coming up through youth sailing and wanting to develop further and strive for the opportunity of International and Olympic success.
After a year of the programme, it has grown from one double handed boat to three. We interviewed Erin McIllwaine and Ellie Cunnane at the programs birth. So it is great to see how interest and enthusiasm for this section fo the sport has grown.
WATCH HERE
It requires immense commitment and desire from the individual to train and compete at this level, especially whilst balancing school or college. Charlotte Eadie and Jenna Ried are the youngest in the team at just 18, still balancing their A levels whilst honing the skills of an Olympic boat, Ellen Barbour and Erin McIlwaine are first and second year physiotherapy students from Trinity College Dublin. And to complete the team Ellen sails with Elysia O’Leary and Jenna sails with Lauren O’Callaghan, both of Dublin. The team is very young and enthusiastic to the road that lies ahead.
Their have been many a cold early morning down in Irish Sailing HQ, to allow these girls to get their conditioning training in before their respective days of study. Showing the commitment it takes to work towards the goal that lies 5 years away.