Dickson and Waddilove Finish Sixth of Europeans at Championships
Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove have concluded their European Championship campaign in ninth place overall and sixth among the European crews.
The final two races of the championship, which were due to decide the podium positions, were cancelled today because of insufficient wind, leaving the standings unchanged.
Weather played a defining role throughout the regatta. The event began in strong winds, heavy rain and low temperatures before developing into warm, sunny conditions with light and unpredictable shifts. This wide range of conditions tested every aspect of the fleet’s performance, demanding both resilience in the heavier breeze and patient, highly technical sailing in the lighter races.
Dickson and Waddilove made an impressive start to their regatta, opening their campaign with back-to-back race wins that suggested a strong week lay ahead. However, as the conditions changed, so too did their fortunes.
Speaking during the event, Dickson acknowledged that the pair are generally more comfortable in stronger breeze, and the results reflected that.
Their downwind performance proved to be the biggest area for improvement throughout the championship. Coach Benjamin Bildstein noted that downwind speed was a recurring focus each day, highlighting it as an important area of development as the team continues its build-up towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Reflecting on the championship, Sean Waddilove admitted the result fell short of expectations. "We're a little disappointed. Overall, it was a tricky event with a lot of strategy involved. We know we're capable of better than ninth overall. We've been working hard on certain areas of our sailing, and I think, though, we're starting to see improvements there which is encouraging."
The Irish duo now turn their attention to the USA, where they will compete at the LA World Cup on the waters that will host the sailing competition at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Looking ahead, Robert Dickson said the event will provide an important opportunity to gain experience at the Olympic venue. "This will be more of a training regatta for us. It's a chance to get familiar with the venue, learn as much as we can and get a good feel for the conditions."
In the Men's Skiff Silver Fleet, Ben O'Shaughnessy (Royal Cork Yacht Club) and Ethan Spain (National Yacht Club) used the championship as valuable preparation for the 2026 Junior World Championships, which will take place in Medemblik, the Netherlands, from 19–26 July.
The Irish Sailing Development Squad pairing had to contend with the full range of conditions throughout the week. A broken boom forced them ashore for two races, ultimately ending their hopes of qualifying for the Gold Fleet. Despite the setback, they produced several standout performances, including a third-place finish and two sixth-place results against a highly experienced international fleet.
Their performances throughout the season at senior regattas, coupled with the experience gained this week, leave the duo well placed heading into the Junior World Championships, where they will be among the crews to watch.
In the Women's Skiff, Erin McIlwaine (Royal St George Yacht Club/Newcastle Yacht Club) and Ellen Barbour (County Antrim Boat Club) leave the European Championships with valuable experience to finish off their first senior international season together.
The young Irish pairing faced a full array of conditions, providing an important opportunity to develop against one of the strongest fleets in the world.
FX coach Matt McGovern said the week had provided a clear benchmark for the team's progress. "With such a wide range of conditions, the best crews naturally rose to the top. We were hoping for a stronger result, but our starts put us on the back foot too often. That said, this is still a very new partnership, and there's plenty to be positive about. We now have a clear picture of what we need to work on over the winter, and I'm confident Erin and Ellen will come back stronger and more competitive next season."
Attention now turns to the Sailing Grand Slam in Los Angeles, where Finn Lynch, Ewan McMahon and Eve McMahon will compete from 19 July.
The regatta offers an important opportunity for the Irish Sailing Performance Team to gain valuable racing experience on the waters that will host the sailing competition at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, while also building familiarity with the venue, local conditions and racing environment as preparations for the next Olympic cycle continue.