Four Irish Sailors Set to Compete at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships
Four of Ireland’s top young sailors will represent the nation at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, from 12–20 December.
The Youth Sailing World Championships are the pinnacle of international youth sailing, bringing together the world’s best under-19 sailors. Ireland will compete in the ILCA 6 and the Mixed 420 classes.
Team Ireland Line-Up:
Men’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) – Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme YC)
Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) – Sienna Wright (Howth YC)
Mixed 420 – Cora McNaughton (Blessington SC) & Matt Mapplebeck (Royal Cork YC)
Team Staff:
Team Leader & ILCA Coach – Anna Wienzieher
420 Coach – Tom Mapplebeck
All team members had to win domestic trials and prove their international competitiveness.
Bobby Driscoll of Ballyholme Yacht Club heads to Vilamoura as the ILCA 6 Champion from this year’s Irish Sailing Youth Nationals, this will be Bobby's second time competing at Youth World's as he did last year in Lake Garda and looks to improve on his result.
Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club continues to impress on the senior circuit, making Gold Fleet at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma earlier this season, finishing 6th at the ILCA 6 Worlds in Los Angeles, and 15th at the ILCA U21 Worlds in Dun Laoghaire. This will also be Sienna's second appearance at the Youth World's after her impressive performance of winning a Bronze medal at the 2023 World's in Buzios, Brazil.
In the 420 class, Cora McNaughton, winner of the 2024 Irish Sailing Junior Champions’ Cup, teams up with Matt Mapplebeck, who claimed victory at the 2025 Junior Champions’ Cup in Schull this September.
Irish Sailing Performance Director James O’Callaghan said:
“There is a nice blend of experience and youth in the team for this championship, and we’re excited to see how they perform on the international stage. Our track record at recent Youth Worlds has been fantastic including a bronze from Sienna in 2023 and Gold from older brother Rocco and Eve in 2024”
Best of luck to all Team Ireland sailors, we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!