Young sailors at the Irish Sailing Investwise Youth National Championships will have the opportunity to hear directly from Olympians – talks from silver medallist Annalise Murphy, as well as Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove are scheduled for the evenings after racing, with Dickson and Waddilove and Dickson being joined by Cork 49er teammates Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan.
After a gap of over two years due to the COVID pandemic, Ireland’s biggest youth regatta is back with a bang. Over 100 young sailors will gather together at the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, later this month 28-31 October.
The Youth National Championships are unique - not only is it the biggest youth event held in Ireland, it’s the only time that different youth classes come together to compete, gain valuable experience on the water, hear from Irish Sailing coaches, and, along with their families, learn more about the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway.
Racing is scheduled across four classes: 420, Topper, ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and ILCA 6 (Laser Radial). These are the classes identified as the best to facilitate progression through the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. Although normally part of the event, this year due to COVID safety measures, Irish Sailing and the IODAI (Irish Optimist class) decided to organise a separate training week. The IODAI National Training Week is part of an overall plan to kick-start the junior pathway and as such is being supported by Irish Sailing. This year’s training week is in Malahide; future editions will rotate nationally. The remaining four classes will be joined for the first time by the 29er class who are in discussions with Irish Sailing about becoming a full Performance Pathway class.
In addition to the racing programme there are three exciting evening talks open to all participants and their families. We encourage ALL young sailors to attend these talks (within COVID guidelines), even if not competing.
- Thursday 28 October
- Race Course debrief with Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Academy Coach
- Friday 29 October:
- Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove along with 49er teammates Johnny Durcan and Seáfra Guilfoyle will run a debrief session after being on the water to watch the racing followed by a Q&A session
- Saturday 30 October:
- James O’Callaghan (Irish Sailing Performance Director) and Olympic Silver Medallist Annalise Murphy discuss her journey on the Performance Pathway.
If you are NOT competing, but would like to attend the evening talks – please email susanna.mollen@sailing.ie indicating which talk(s) you would like to attend and whether you have a question.