Irish Sailing Youth Nationals Conclude after Four Days of Thrilling Competition
There were challenging but exciting conditions today, Sunday 27 April, on Dublin Bay for the final day of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships in Dun Laoghaire. Sponsored by Waterman Tecsar, the regatta ran from Thursday until today, Sunday, and witnessed a number of exceptional days’ sailing.
Today there was plenty of fun to be had downwind on all courses and this was obvious on the Optimist Class where it continued to be a family affair amongst the Donagh sisters. Maeve, Emily and Lily (Royal St George Yacht Club / Lough Derg Yacht Club) had led the charge throughout the competition and finished in first, second and third overall respectively. Charlotte Crosbie of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club took fourth place and Patrick Fegan (Royal St George Yacht Club) was fifth.
The 420’s course was testing but it was Irish Sailing Junior Champion Cup winner Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin (Blessington Sailing Club, Malahide Yacht Club respectively) who came out on top with two bullets to win the class overall. Isha Duggan and Tommy Hiras of Royal Cork Yacht Club could only finish second in their two races, leaving them second overall. Margherita Ruggari and Matt Mappleback, also of Royal Cork Yacht Club finished in third place following a great series for them. Overall, there was great skill on display from the frontrunners of the 420’s but equally impressive was the courage and commitment of the entire fleet.
Emily Conan and Fionn Daly of the Royal St George and Royal Cork Yacht Club remained at the top in the 29er class as they completed their final two races today with a first and a second place. William Walsh and Eoin Byrne of the National Yacht Club were hot on their heels, also with a first and second place but it wasn’t enough to catch the leaders. There was a shake up for third place with Riona McMorrow Moriarty and Bella Waterman (Tralee Bay Sailing Club and Monkstown Bay Sailing Club) coming into the fray with a third and fourth place leaving them third overall.
In the ILCA 4 fleet, it was Leo O’Doherty (Sligo Yacht Club) who maintained his lead from yesterday to take the honours. Emily MacAfee (Ballyholme Yacht Club) finished second overall whilst Rory Brennan-Hobbs (Royal St George) stayed in the frame to take third position and Max O’Hare, also of the Royal St George, finished in fourth.
Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) led the ILCA 6 fleet since the regatta began and today was no different as he finished his last race with a substantial lead on the rest of the class. Bobby’s clubmate Daniel Palmer held on to his second place whilst the Royal St George’s Lucy Ives took third overall and up and coming sailor Conor Cronin (Royal St George Yacht Club / Malahide Yacht Club) was fourth.
Toppers sailed two races today with Lough Erne Yacht Club leading the charge with Ben McCaldin and Adam Green of the club taking first and second place respectively following a regatta of consistent results. In third place was Paidi O Coistealbha of Malahide Yacht Club and John Kenny of the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire was fourth.
Liam Glynn, Irish Sailing Head Junior Coach said, “It was amazing to see such enthusiastic sailors finish off the regatta with some close, action-packed racing. It was a tricky day with big swings in the wind which really paid for the tactical sailors and with the wind whipping up it was testing for both boat speed and handling. After a week of variable sailing conditions and the pressure of the final day it was a real achievement for the sailors to seal out their podium finishes. There were promising signs across all fleets with sailors really getting stuck in during the whole event.”
Apart from the Class prizes and winners, there was a new trophy up for grabs this year at the Youth Nationals in the form of the Dillon Trophy. This prize, donated by the Dillon family, is a perpetual trophy named in honour of Laura’s late brother and father, both Frank Dillon, both of Howth Yacht Club and valued supporters of sailing in Ireland.
The trophy was presented to the sailors that best represent the spirit of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships – that of sportsmanship, camaraderie and the joy of participation. It was presented by Laura Dillon, no stranger to the podium herself, to Niamh Lynch and Grace Kelliher of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club who competed in the 420 class.
Full results are available here: Optimists - Sailwave results for Irish Sailing Youth Nationals 2025 at Royal St. George Yacht Club 2025
420, 29er & ILCA 6 Fleets - Sailwave results for Irish Sailing Youth National Championship 2025 at Royal St George Yacht Club 2025
Toppers, ILCA 4 Fleets - Sailwave results for Irish Sailing 2025 Youth Nationals at Royal St. George Yacht Club 2025