Lynch Storms to Race Win as Irish Sailors Secure Gold Fleet
Carlow’s Finn Lynch delivered a standout performance on day three of the ILCA European Championships in Croatia, winning his only race of the day before racing in Kaštela Bay was abandoned as a forecast lightning storm swept into the area.
The National Yacht Club sailor is now seventh overall in the Men’s Dinghy / ILCA 7 fleet heading into the Final Series tomorrow. Teammate Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) also impressed, securing a fourth-place finish in his fleet to move into 14th overall.
With unstable weather conditions forcing organisers to send sailors ashore early, only one race was completed before competition was halted for the day.
Irish Sailing ILCA 7 coach Ben Walkemeyer praised the performances of both sailors following a challenging day on the water.
“Finn and Ewan both had really strong races today,” said Walkemeyer. “Finn won his race with some dominant downwind speed and Ewan was also quick around the course to finish fourth. We’ve put a big focus on strong-wind sailing and boat speed over the winter and that really showed today. We’re looking forward now to Gold Fleet racing from tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Irish Sailing Development Squad sailor Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) continued to gain valuable experience at senior championship level, finishing 22nd in his race of the day in the highly competitive fleet.
With four qualifying races now completed, the fleet moves into the Final Series tomorrow, where both Lynch and McMahon have secured places in Gold Fleet competition.
Ireland’s Eve McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) completed two races before racing in Kaštela Bay was abandoned, posting finishes of 10th and 13th. The latter result now becomes her discard, leaving McMahon ninth overall and third in the Under-23 standings heading into Gold Fleet racing.
Reflecting on the day, McMahon said conditions on the racecourse proved difficult to read.
“It was a tricky day today with a lot of mixed conditions,” she said. “In the first race I didn’t get the start I wanted and had to fight back through the fleet to finish 10th. In the second race there were dark clouds building on the right-hand side, so I committed to that side of the course, but unfortunately the shift didn’t arrive in time for the top mark and I ended up mid-fleet again, which wasn’t ideal.”
Despite the frustration, McMahon remains firmly in contention as the championship moves into the decisive stage.
“We’re into Gold Fleet tomorrow, so it will almost feel like a new event,” she added. “I’m hoping to step it up from here and put together consistent top-five results over the rest of the championship.”
Racing continues tomorrow in Kaštela with six races scheduled for the Final Series and Gold Fleet racing. Tracking will be available for Gold Fleet here: MetaSail for web | MetaSail for web and full results can be found here: Results - 2026 ILCA Senior Europeans