Youth Sailing

 

KINSALE'S SUCCESS AT THE ISA YOUTH NATIONALS AND OPTIMIST TRIALS

2011 May Bank Holiday Weekend

Kinsale had a strong representation at the recent ISA Youth Nationals and Optimist Trials which were held in Dun Laoghaire. We had seven sailors competing in the Optimist trials, three in Laser Radial, six in Laser 4.7 and one sailor competing in the 420 class. A big thank you must go to the Royal St. George Yacht Club, The National Yacht Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Mitsubishi Motors and the ISA for a fantastic event. The race committee set great courses in conditions that were very difficult in a big easterly swell, strong tide and a wide range of wind conditions

In the Laser 4.7 Darragh O'Sullivan hoping for back to back titles performed magnificently to finish 2nd overall closely followed by Dara O'Shea in 10th, Conor Murphy 11th and Ross O'Sullivan in 15th. Our two girls Sorcha Ni Shuilleabhain and Cliodhna O'Regan battled the tough conditions in this their 1st youth Nationals in Laser 4.7. This year’s event was won by Seafra Guilfoyle.

KYC was also well represented in the Laser Radial class of 43 sailors which is the chosen ISAF boat for the next two years. Colm O'Regan finished the event in 8th place followed by Eoghan Cudmore 10th, Sean Murphy 12th and Katie Gambier-Ross in 29th. Eoghan and Colm will get another chance at this event next year as they are both underage for 2012. This year’s event was won by Phillip Doran who sailed a superb series and is one to watch out for in Croatia later this year.

In the 420 class Kinsale Aodh Kennedy was flying the KYC burgee. This season Aodh has teamed up with Daniel Brown of TBSC. This pair have being training hard all winter and were rewarded with 2nd place overall, only beaten on a count back which had to call on 2nd places - how close can it get?

In the ever super competitive Optimist trials Kinsale had great success with Scott O'Sullivan making the U12 team to travel to the UK Nationals later this season. Sean Gambier-Ross, brothers Daire and Ronan Cournane all sailed a great series to make the International Development team which will compete later this summer at the German Nationals which are to be held in Kiel. Scott Levi just missed out on a place for Germany but we all know he has the talent and ability to win a place next season. Peter Healy also sailed a great event and is now looking forward to the next class where he will make his mark. However, the star of the event for KYC has to be Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain who sailed a very consistent series to finish 2nd girl to overall winner Sophie Browne. Cliodhna joins a growing list of Kinsale sailors who have made their mark in the International Optimist class and she will go on to represent Ireland in the European Championships this summer in Portugal. 

In wishing all our sailors success in the international events this summer, congratulations must also go to Sophie Browne TBSC winner of this year’s trials who has made the decision to attend the World Championship in New Zealand in January of next year. 

The travelling Teams are as follows:

The European Team - Eoin Lyden, Harry Whitaker, Sean Donnelly,Peter McCann, Jil McGinley. Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain, Megan Parker.
This team will attend the European Championships in Portugal this summer

The International Development Team - Richard Hogan, Ronan Cournane, Alacoque Daly, Sean Waddilove, Sean Gambier-Ross, Robert Dickson, Fergus Flood, Aoife Hopkins, Daire Cournane.

The Under-12's Squad - Isabelle Delamer, Evie Byrne, Niamh Henry, Rebecca O'Shaughnessy, Ewan McMahon, Eoghan O'Buachalla, Kate Lyttle, Scott O'Sullivan, Ronan Cournane, Harry Craig. This squad will attend the British Nationals in Wales this summer.

All photos courtesy of Gareth Craig www.fotosail.com

PHOTOS OF THE TEAMS AND ON THE WATER ACTION ARE AVAILABLE HERE:

A big thank you again to the Royal St. George Yacht Club, The National Yacht Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Mitsubishi Motors and The ISA for a fantastic event.