FINAL DAY: Race win for Aoife Hopkins seals top 20 result and personal best at world championships
Aoife Hopkins achieved a personal best outcome at the women's Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman today (Monday 6th December 2021) after winning the tenth race of the series.
The Howth Yacht Club sailor had gone into the final day holding 20th overall and convincingly won the penultimate race before placing 17th to end the regatta 17th overall.
Hopkins started well and was first boat into the steadier breeze on the course before leading the 63-strong fleet around the first mark. As she has shown all week, her downwind performance was strong and she extended her lead for the remainder of the race for a very solid first place.
Belgium's Emma Plasschaert was crowned the new world champion after continuing the yo-yo battle across the fleet that saw her depose the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion from the overall lead.
Denmark's Anne-Marie Rindom had led the event twice during the six days but ultimately finished just outside the podium in fourth place.
"Aoife sailed an excellent regatta in very challenging conditions against the world’s best," commented James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing. “Under pressure to secure funding, she has delivered in style. It is no more than she deserves after a really tough few years.”
Hopkins is part of Irish Sailing's Senior Squad working towards qualification for Paris 2024 in the women's single-handed event sailed in ILCA6 dinghies (formerly known as the Laser Radial).
This event closes out a successful six-week period of world championship events for Ireland's Olympic sailing hopefuls leading up to Paris 2024. Rio 2016 Olympian Finn Lynch won silver at last month's ILCA7 (Laser) world championship in Barcelona.
Tokyo 2020 Olympians Robert Dickson (Howth YC) with Seán Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) took eighth at the 49er world championship, also in Oman, and counted two race wins.
The new Royal Cork pairing of Séafra Guilfoyle with Johnny Durcan landed them in 20th overall at the 49er worlds, marking a strong debut performance with some notable individual race results.
The winter training season awaits the senior squad before next year's full competition programme resumes in March.
See full results HERE.
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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Day 5: Aoife Hopkins holds 20th place overall going into final day
Aoife Hopkins managed to retain her overnight 20th place after a three-race day at the women's Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman today (Sunday 5th December 2021).
The Howth Yacht Club sailor opened the day with a 39th place before regaining her footing with a 23rd and 19th places in the 63-boat fleet on the penultimate day of racing.
A tenth race of the series on Monday will allow a second discard to be applied across the scoreboard. This will allow Hopkins’ 39th place to be dropped though other competitors currently ranked behind her have worse scores to discard so a shake-up of the standings is likely.
"This was another challenging day afloat for the entire fleet where calling wind-shifts could pay dividends - or take a toll," said James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing. "Once again, Aoife showed her mettle by moving on from a bad score and rebuilding her form in the following races."
Tokyo 2020 Gold medallist Anne-Marie Rindom regained the overall lead of the championships with two second places for the day coming after a 13th for the opening race.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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Day 4 Update: Aoife Hopkins moves to 20th overall at Laser Radial World Championships
Aoife Hopkins improved her overall standing at the Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman today (Saturday 4th December 2021) after two further races and a long day afloat.
Light winds continue to dominate the regatta with the fleet waiting at sea for two hours before just enough breeze filled in.
Hopkins sailed consistently in both races without major risks to place 16th and 15th for 20th place overall. Her placing has improved steadily from 31st overall since Thursday in the 63-boat fleet.
"In a regatta that is clearly a game of snakes and ladders, two results in the top 20 is a very solid performance," said James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing. "Keeping the head out of the boat, watching the breeze patterns and making good tactical decisions is delivering for Aoife."
The high scores continue to be a feature in the fleet so nothing can be taken for granted with two days remaining.
Organisers will continue to plan for three races on each of the remaining days to sail as many of the races as possible.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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Day 3 update: Aoife Hopkins has best day so far at Laser Radial world championships in Oman
Despite more problems with light winds at women's Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman, Aoife Hopkins placed 15th in the 63-boat earlier today (Friday 2nd December 2022) marking her best score of the series so far.
The light breeze that arrived for the day came after a delay of two hours and only permitted one race before darkness fell.
Hopkins is currently 27th having improved overnight thanks to her 15th place today.
Three races had been planned to get the event back on schedule but now organisers hope to have extra races on Saturday to catch before Sunday and Mondays' final races.
"Aoife set herself on an improving trajectory on Thursday and today’s 15th place continues that trend" said James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing. "The whole fleet is eager to get off the line as can be seen by ten black flag disqualifications for the single race today."
Belgium's Emma Plasscheart won the single race and has a narrow lead over Germany's Julia Buesselberg who was one of the disqualifications.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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DAY 2 update: Aoife Hopkins builds form
After a delayed start to the women's Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman three races were completed today (Thursday 2nd December 2022) with Aoife Hopkins in 31st place overall.
The Howth sailor had good starts in all three races and went on to place 40th then 23rd and 20th as she adapted to the challenging light winds.
Hopkins also showed good speed downwind so will be looking to improve her first mark rounding in the coming races to utilise this strength more.
"These conditions call for patience and concentration," said James O'Callaghan, Irish Sailing's Performance Director. "Aoife's results progressed each race - hopefully that trend will continue tomorrow."
With only one fleet and none of the leading sailors escaping a double digit result it already looks set to be a high scoring regatta. Denmark's Anne-Marie Rindom, the Tokyo 2020 Gold medallist had been first overall but dropped to eighth after a 16th placing in race three.
The championship organisers have again scheduled three back to back races for Friday which if completed will bring the event back on schedule with the final race planned for Monday.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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Day 1 Wed 1 Dec - No wind delays start of Laser Radial Worlds
The opening race of the women's Laser Radial (ILCA6) World Championships in Mussanah, Oman has been postponed due to no wind at the venue earlier today (Wednesday 1st December 2022).
A fresh attempt to start the series will be made on Thursday AND begin the qualification rounds for Gold and Silver fleets.
Ireland is represented by Aoife Hopkins of Howth Yacht Club and will be supported by Irish Sailing Head coach Rory Fitzpatrick.
Hopkins will be aiming for a strong result to follow on Finn Lynch’s (National YC) silver medal at the Laser Men’s (ILCA7) World Championship and the eighth place achieved by Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Seán Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) at the 49er World Championships.
Up to 12 races can be scheduled with provision to sail extra races daily when weather impacts the programme.
The final result is expected by lunchtime (Irish time) on Monday 6th December.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/
Photography: Sander van der Borch / Lloyd Images / Oman Sail
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Aoife Hopkins to compete at Laser Radial World Championships in Oman
Aoife Hopkins will represent Ireland at the 2021 ILCA 6 Laser Radial Women’s World Championship taking place in Oman this week from Wednesday 1 December.
It’s been a busy and successful month so far for the Irish Sailing Team. Hot on the heels of Finn Lynch’s outstanding 2nd place at the Laser Men’s World Championship and the 8th place achieved by Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove at the 49er World Championships, it’s now the women’s turn to shine. The 2021 Laser Radial World Championships begin on 1 December with six days racing culminating on Monday 6 December.
Aoife Hopkins of Howth YC will be supported by Irish Sailing Head coach Rory Fitzpatrick.
James O’Callaghan, Irish Sailing Performance Director commented “Aoife will be confident of getting a funding result after a strong performance at the Europeans last month and an excellent preparation period leading into the Worlds. No doubt the recent results from her teammates will also serve as inspiration”.
Racing begins on Wednesday 1 December. There will be two races per day, continuing until Saturday 4 December when the fleet splits into Gold and Silver fleets depending on rank. The final series then continues until Monday 6 December.
You can follow all the results here: http://2021-radial.laser-worlds.com/