Gold fleet secured for Irish sailors in men's skiff European Championship
Ireland's Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) have qualified for the Gold fleet series at 49er class European Championship today (Thursday 5th June 2025 - Thessaloniki, Greece) after another strong showing by the pair in their 54-boat event.
Wind or the lack of continues to dictate the progress of the regatta and Thursday saw the men's event waiting for over seven hours to complete three races.
Dickson and Waddilove delivered a solid second place for the first race of the day but were caught out by a light patch of wind in the next.
The snakes and ladders game continued for the final race sailed close to sunset. The Irish crew started well and steadily built their position to tenth place and eventually sixth at the finish.
The two top ten places for the day leaves them fifth overall, unchanged since Tuesday's opening races of the qualification round.
"The boys did well and a decent enough day all round," commented Matt McGovern, Irish Sailing's 49er skiff coach. "It was a very, very long one - we're happy to be finished."
Underlining how close the competition is, Dickson and Waddilove were in first overall after the tiebreak following their second place finish at the start of Thursday's racing.
The entire day was sailed in light, patchy conditions where positioning on the course in anticipation of wind changes was vital.
The qualification series has now concluded and the Irish boat has easily qualified for the Gold fleet series that will be sailed on Friday and Saturday with six races scheduled.
The top ten boats after that round ends will go forward to Sunday's medal race final that count for double points.