Gold for Eve McMahon at the Princess Sofia Olympic classes regatta in Mallorca
Ireland’s Eve McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) delivered an incredible performance to win Gold at the prestigious Sailing Grand Slam event on the Bay of Palma this morning (Saturday, 4 April).
The Howth sailor qualified for the Final Series after 11 races, which included a race win and three second-place finishes. She advanced in second overall, with scores then equalised for the final series, reducing the margins and leaving all qualifiers in contention for a medal.
McMahon required consistency to secure a podium finish which has been a focus of her winter training that clearly paid off. A fifth-place result in the opening final race guaranteed her at least silver. In the second race, McMahon made no mistake and with ice cold nerves, she opted for the right-hand side of the course, rounding the bottom gate in fourth. The decision proved decisive and a favourable wind shift propelled her into the top two at the final mark, and she powered through the downwind to take the race win sealing a superb gold medal performance.
In second place was Britain’s Daisy Collingridge and in third was double World Champion Emma Plasschaert from Belgium.
“It’s an incredible result,” she said ahead of the prize-giving this evening beside Palma’s iconic cathedral. “It all came down to two final races, each decided by a single point. The British sailor tried to match race me in the first, but I managed to break free, and then had the race of my life in the last.
“My coach, three-time Olympic medallist Vasilij Žbogar, and I have put in a huge amount of work towards this. It’s fantastic to see that effort reflected in the result and it’s an important step on the road to LA. Now it’s about getting home, putting in more work, and building on this momentum.”
It’s been 10 years since Ireland last topped the podium at this regatta, when Ryan Seaton and Matthew McGovern claimed victory in the men’s skiff. McMahon’s result underlines Ireland’s strength on the sailing world stage and points to even more to come from the young sailor.
Irish Sailing Performance Director James O’Callaghan welcomed McMahon’s result: “This is a hugely significant achievement for Eve and a clear demonstration of what Irish sailors can do,” he said. “Competing against the very best in the world, she showed exceptional composure throughout a challenging week, staying calm, consistent and making smart, strategic decisions. It was hugely impressive.
“Our squad at this regatta also included sailors from our youth and development programmes who delivered very strong performances which is very exciting to see.”
There was a large Irish Sailing squad competing at the regatta. Also in the women’s dinghy was 18-year-old Sienna Wright (Howth Yacht Club). Wright sailed in Gold Fleet alongside McMahon throughout the Elimination Series, and finished an impressive 36th overall out of 143 boats.
In the men’s dinghy Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) only narrowly missed out on the final series by just seven points.
Development squad sailor Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) delivered promising performances through the week, including a seventh and a 13th-place finish.
Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) was forced to retire early from the regatta due to illness but is expected to return to full fitness.
In the women’s skiff circuit, Erin McIlwaine(Royal St George YC / Newcastle Yacht Club) and Ellen Barbour (County Antrim Boat Club), concluded their first senior-level event with a 37th-place overall finish.
In the men’s skiff, Development Squad sailors Ben O’Shaughnessy (Royal Cork Yacht Club) and Ethan Spain (National Yacht Club) completed their regatta in the Silver Fleet, finishing 61st overall.
Olympians Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) concluded their participation at the event early as they failed to qualify for Gold Fleet.
Next up for the team is the second Sailing Grand Slam event of 2026, Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères (18–25 April), where Ireland will be represented across the men’s and women’s dinghy fleets, the women’s skiff, and by members of the Irish Sailing Development Squad.
The men’s skiff team will then turn their focus to the 49er World Championships in Quiberon in May.