Champagne Sailing for Day Three at the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals
There were champagne sailing conditions on Dublin Bay for day three of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships in Dun Laoghaire today. This allowed for all fleets to get on the water for a productive day. Blue skies abounded with a light building breeze throughout the day enabling fleets to catch up on races missed from previous race days.
Three races were sailed on the Optimist course under a light, building breeze. The trio of the Donagh sisters, Maeve, Emily and Lily (Royal St George Yacht Club / Lough Derg Yacht Club) continued their dominance in this class, leaving them in first, second and third place respectively. They are closely followed by Charlotte Crosbie (Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club) and Dylan Sullivan (Royal Cork Yacht Club).
420’s enjoyed the perfect conditions throughout their three races with Isha Duggan and Tommy Hiras of Royal Cork Yacht Club maintaining their lead but it’s tight at the top and Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin (Blessington Sailing Club, Malahide Yacht Club) are close on their heels. Margherita Ruggari and Matt Mappleback, also of Royal Cork Yacht Club are third but it will be still all to play for tomorrow.
The 29er fleet were delighted to be back on the water, making the most of the conditions getting their full three races in. Emily Conan and Fionn Daly of the Royal St George stay at the top in this class, following a third, first and a second with William Walsh and Eoin Byrne of the National Yacht Club in second and Gemma Brady and Grace Keating, also of the National Yacht Club, in a solid third.
Emily MacAfee (Ballyholme Yacht Club) was demoted to second overall today in the ILCA 4 fleet with Irish Sailing Youth Sailor of the year nominee Leo O’Doherty (Sligo Yacht Club) moving up from third to first place. Rory Brennan-Hobbs (Royal St George) now moves down to third position and Max O’Hare, also of the Royal St George, stays in fourth. There are only five points between the top four sailors in this class so tomorrow promises to be an exciting day.
The ILCA 6 fleet completed three races with Bobby Driscoll and Daniel Palmer, both of Ballyholme Yacht Club, maintaining their first and second places. Lucy Ives of host club Royal St George remains in third. Every race will count tomorrow with the top two having high discards, all is still up for grabs.
Toppers were back on the water and making it count this time with four races completed. Leading the fleet after today is Ben McCaldin of Lough Erne Yacht Cub with two bullets and two thirds and John Kenny of the National Yacht Club in second. Alexandra Eadie (Ballyholme Yacht Club) took a first in her final race of the day leaving her in third place overall.
Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Development Manager said, “It was very refreshing today to get to see the depth of these fleets in such superb sailing conditions. There were some very impressive performances today and many fleets are still tight at the top leaving an exciting day’s racing for everyone tomorrow.”
Tomorrow will be the final day of racing at the Royal St George Yacht Club with Youth National Champions crowned at a prizegiving taking place following sailing.