Day 4 - 24 Apr 22
World title holder tops fleet as Irish Sailing Youth Nationals celebrates new champions
After four days of intense competition on Belfast Lough for 205 competitors, the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships ended today (Sunday 24th April 2022) in all six disciplines and several outstanding performances over the 10-race series.
Counting all top five results over the series, World Youth Champion in the single-handed ILCA6 (formerly the Laser Radial) class Eve McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) won her 38-strong event in convincing fashion by winning both races to bring her tally to five bullets.
However, her victory was far from assured even going into the finals as clubmate Rocco Wright has been leading the class and a group of six challengers since racing started on Thursday.
McMahon and Wright have now reached the standard to be nominated to represent Ireland at Youth World Sailing Championships in The Hague in July.
There were further celebrations in the Howth YC camp when Sienna Wright, younger sister to Rocco won the ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) class by a comfortable 13-point margin.
Ben O Shaughnessy with Eimer McMorrow Moriarty (Royal Cork Yacht Club) the 29er skiff event with a highly consistent run of first and second places in this fleet while it was a similar story in the 420 class where Malahide's Jack McDowell with Henry Thompson won with similar form.
The two double-handed classes are the smallest of the 190-boat regatta with eight and eleven boats respectively entered.
Local sailor from the hosting Ballyholme Yacht Club Bobby Driscoll, son of Atlanta '96 Olympian John was a clear winner ahead of clubmate Emily McAfee in the Topper 5.3 event, one of two large fleets in the series.
Two race wins on the final day for Oisin Pearce (Royal Cork Yacht Club) sealed the series in the 49-boat Optimist class despite sustained pressure from Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell (Royal St. George Yacht Club). The class will now decide on the composition of the Irish squads for class World and European championships this year.
"A north-easterly in Ballyholme with big winds and waves tested everyone's sailing skills but we've also had a range of conditions with dropping winds on two days so sailors had to adapt to that and improve their all-round skills," said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Development Manager. "It allows sailors who are good in all conditions to rise to the top and perform to their maximum ability."
Aside from the results, this year's championship will also be remembered for Saturday's conditions that are widely regarded as 'epic' due to the mixture of breeze, big waves and warm sunshine though not everyone opted to continue with the day.
"Look, we've all gone through days like that ourselves; there are certain times that your abilities are pushed and days when your abilities aren't quite up to the conditions but that doesn't mean it should have an impact on the enjoyment and happiness you have from sailing," said Evans. "It was a sign of great courage that every sailor went out yesterday and made smart decisions."
The 2023 championship is scheduled to be sailed at Howth at the usual fixture of immediately after Easter.
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Day 3 - 23 Apr 22
Big waves make spectacular penultimate day at Irish Sailing Youth National Championships
Brilliant sunshine and winds gusting up to 20 knots delivered spectacular conditions on Belfast Lough today (Saturday 23rd April 2022) for the penultimate day at the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships.
Once the wind direction had settled, four races were sailed bringing most of the series back up to schedule ahead of Sunday's finale two races.
Few classes have absolute favourites but the front-runners have become established and Sunday's racing will be critical in all six classes.
"The big contenders made their way towards the front today after four races and a real physical challenge with big wind and big waves - epic conditions on the race course!" said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Development Manager. "The top runners came to the top of their abilities and are pushing hard."
Although the weather forecast hasn't been very reliable all week, Sunday is looking slightly less windy than the opening days which may yet upset the running-orders.
"It'll be a little bit lighter tomorrow so the smaller sailors will still have a chance to hack at the top guys - it's all still to sail for, nothing is guaranteed," said Evans.
ILCA6 Under 17 world champion Eve McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) took over the lead of this class with a highly consistent day where she won three out of four races as well as placing second. She has edged ahead of clubmate Rocco Wright and Cork's Jonathan O'Shaughnessy (Royal Cork Yacht Club) with a big showdown likely for Sunday.
"Congratulations to all the sailors in these epic but challenging conditions. Their perseverance and attitude that every sailor showed out there on the water today was amazing to see," said Evans. "Everyone who actually went out, challenged and tested themselves so it's a great show for our youth sailing."
Meanwhile, the event's incident plan agreed between Irish Sailing and Ballyholme Yacht Club was also utilised when a small number of competitors had minor injuries and one person was taken to hospital for observation following a concussion.
A number of competitors also opted themselves to retire from racing and sailed ashore without incident.
Wind against tide conditions for a short period created a difficult but manageable surf at the landing slipway where one official rigid inflatable (RIB) was capsized in shallow water.
"We are grateful to the RNLI and HM Coastguard for their response and support when they were alerted as part of the event safety protocols," commented Harry Hermon, CEO of Irish Sailing. "We plan for possible incidents such as today and the team of volunteers at Ballyholme YC have done an incredible job ensuring a safe event for all."
Day 3 - 23 Apr 22
Incident plan in operation at Irish Sailing Youth National Championships in Ballyholme
On the third day of racing at the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships in Bangor, Co. Down (Saturday 23rd April 2022) a number of minor incidents are being managed by the contingency arrangements agreed with Ballyholme Yacht Club.
No serious injuries have occurred and all competitors are fully accounted for.
Racing has been underway since 11am today for the 202 entered competitors with forecast north-east wind of Beaufort force four to five. Six sailors were brought ashore on safety ribs, and a number of other competitors opted themselves to retire from racing and sailed ashore without incident. One person was taken to hospital for observation following a concussion.
Wind against tide conditions for a short period created a difficult but manageable surf at the landing slipway where one official rigid inflatable (RIB) was capsized in shallow water. The event safety boats are fully deployed on all three course areas located off Bangor at the entrance to Belfast Lough.
"We are grateful to the RNLI and HM Coastguard for their response and support when they were alerted as part of the event safety protocols," commented Harry Hermon, CEO of Irish Sailing. "We plan for possible incidents such as today and the team of volunteers at Ballyholme YC have done an incredible job ensuring a safe event for all."
Fleet drone pic (22/04/22) - Mark McKee (Aerobot Drone)
Photo: David Branigan: Oceansport
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Day 2 - 22 Apr 2022
PRESS RELEASE
Weather delivers challenging conditions for second day of racing at Irish Sailing Youth National Championships
Steep rolling waves and wind gusting close to 20 knots marked the start of day two at the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships today (Friday 22nd April 2022) on Belfast Lough where 213 competitors are in action.
At least four races have been completed in the series so far but in spite of a promising start and the hoped for four-race day, the wind quickly died and just two races were sailed.
Most of the six events have closely packed leaderboards with the exception of the Optimist class where Crosshaven's Oisin Pearce (Royal Cork Yacht Club) has established an 18-point lead after five races in this 49-strong fleet.
"Today was a very tough day that started out with loads of breeze, very challenging for the race officers with the dying shifting breeze but each fleet managed to get two races in," said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Development Manager. "But it's too early in the regatta to be looking at overall results, it's important for everyone to focus on the process."
The steep rolling swell made for difficult launching at Ballyholme but all sailors managed to avoid the heavy surf before reaching the open course area. But the breeze steadily died leaving a sloppy seaway for the rest of the day.
Coaches are advising sailors about hydration, eating and sleeping plus get some recovery like stretching and walking after a very physical day.
"It was bizarre; yesterday the forecast was a surprise and today was even bigger. All the forecasts had exactly the same data and the wind just went away!" commented Ballyholme's Bill O'Hara, former Olympian and assisting with Race Management this week. "We went out and had 16/17 knots while at anchor waiting for the boats. When we started, the wind went down to 2.5 knots in some areas and had to be abandoned."
"Tomorrow (Saturday) is meant to be the same (forecast) but I don't understand where the wind is going. There was meant to be loads of breeze and it was the day I was worried about but now who knows."
Of the classes that started racing today, Ava Ennis (Royal St. George Yacht Club) narrowly leads the 28-boat ILCA4 event with a one-point advantage over Ballyholme's Daniel Palmer. Another Ballyholme sailor, Bobby Driscoll leads the 48-boat Topper 5.3 event ahead of a string of local rivals.
"On the ILCA6, 420 and 29er course it was interesting to watch from a performance point of view some dark horses coming through," according to Evans. "But first things first, head out of the boat on a day like today - patience is a big thing when it gets light."
Racing continues on Saturday before the final races scheduled for Sunday.
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Day 1 - 21 Apr 2022
Weather matches stunning turnout for Irish Sailing Youth Nationals in Ballyholme
Glorious sunshine and a fresh easterly breeze saw the annual Irish Sailing Youth National Championships get underway on Belfast Lough today where 213 sailors have gathered at Ballyholme Yacht Club.
Racing has started in four out of the six events with all classes due on the water from Friday.
Jack McDowell with Henry Thompson (Malahide Yacht Club) proved most consistent for the day in the 420 event with two race wins in the eleven-boat class.
The 50-strong Optimist single-handers had a false start of sorts to their series as all boats sailed to the wrong first mark and the race had to be abandoned. In the two races that followed, Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell (Royal St. George YC) emerged as overnight leader from Cork's Oisin Pearse (Royal Cork Yacht Club) with a slim two boat lead.
Three races had been planned originally for all four classes but the fresh breeze unexpectedly dropped off by mid-afternoon.
Nevertheless, two races were enough for the Irish Sailing Academy’s Jonathan O'Shaughnessy (Royal Cork YC) to establish a six-point lead over no fewer than five Dublin boats tied for second place amongst the ILCA6 single-handers.
The group includes Howth's Eve McMahon, the Under 17 World ILCA6 World Champion who was beaten into third place in the opening race right at the finish by O'Shaughnessy and would otherwise have edged ahead in the standings.
"We got two races, it didn't rain so I think everyone's pretty happy," said former Olympian and International Umpire Bill O'Hara who is on the race management team this week. "When we went out we were expecting it to be full on with 15-16 knots and some gusts to 20 and we didn't have any reason to think it wouldn't drop til five o'clock. But the forecast is brilliant (for the next few days) with wind from the north-east and nice, big rolling waves."
Meanwhile, the 29er skiff event is tied for the lead between Ben O Shaughnessy with Eimer McMorrow Moriarty and James Dwyer with Andrew Conan both from the Royal Cork YC in Crosshaven.
"It was absolutely fantastic to see all of the boats on the water again after a long winter," commented James O'Callaghan, Performance Director with Irish Sailing. "It's really only opening up again after Covid and the numbers are really impressive."
Racing continues on Friday with extra races expected to sailed when racing resumes at 11am.
The Irish Sailing Youth National Championships are hosted by Ballyholme Yacht Club with support from Ards and North Down Borough Council. They run from Thursday 21 April to Sunday 24 April.