SAILING:WITH BARELY a week to go before racing begins in the Mitsubishi Youth National Championships in Dún Laoghaire, 250 boats have entered so far with at least 300 sailors expected on the water for the four-day series.
The series has switched from its traditional July fixture and has been merged with the International Sailing Federation (ISA) Junior and Pathway championships to create a larger and more competitive event.
But as well as the five national titles in both boys and girls’ classes, organisers are also being tested by the ISF ahead of the Youth World championships which will be jointly hosted by the National, Royal St George and Royal Irish yacht clubs on the Dún Laoghaire waterfront next year.
However, this year’s world event in Croatia will be foremost in the mind for the top Laser Radial and 420 girls crews who will qualify in Dún Laoghaire next week.
With the Pathway formula starting to bear fruit internationally, notably with Irish Olympic hopeful Annalise Murphy, ISA high-performance director James O’Callaghan will be watching the emerging talent on Dublin Bay.
In the Laser Radial (boys) single-handed discipline, several sailors have already reached the international standard for selection to go to Croatia. However, with just one place available to Ireland, competition next week will be intense.
Courtown’s Philip Doran heads the list of favourites for the class thanks to his Under-17 World title, though he would also like to acquire his first national championship.
Blessington’s Rory Lynch is also a strong performer and will be trying to improve on his second place overall at last year’s Irish championships. Ballyholme’s Robbie Gilmore is also tipped by O’Callaghan after his winter training programme, as is Lough Derg’s Eoin Keller.
Less certain is the girl’s fleet. Last year’s winner, Sophie Murphy of Quoile YC, went on to represent Ireland at the Youth Worlds in Turkey as well as the Youth Olympics in Singapore.
However, 2009 Irish champion Saskia Tidey of the RIYC has been working hard to win the place for Croatia.
In the double-handed classes, Ireland has not qualified in the 420 boys due to “a large transition at the moment with a lot of sailors ageing out” from previous years, so in this fleet particularly the title is wide open.
Topping the girls’ class is the Baltimore and Kinsale duo of Emma Geary and Niamh Connolly, who must finish in the top two to secure their place at the worlds which they earned for Ireland
The smaller-rigged Laser 4.7 sees Finn Lynch, also of Blessington, head this class thanks in part to his two runner-up placings at Topper World Championship level. However, pressure is likely from Seafra Guilfoyle of the Royal Cork YC, who has graduated to the Laser 4.7 after dominating the Optimist class in 2009.
Meanwhile, next week will serve as the second event in the Irish Optimist association’s qualification series for this summer’s World and European Championship events.
As with Guilfoyle’s previous strength in this pathway boat, so also are a host of Crosshaven sailors who occupy most of the top-10 standings in the 50-plus trials series.
However, after eight races, Seán Donnelly of the NYC leads comfortably overall and will be hoping for an edge in home waters, while Tralee Bay’s Sophie Browne, another RCYC junior, challenges from second place, with Harry Whitaker in third forming a pack of Munster boats.
