After a 10th in 2006 in Italy and a ninth in 2007 in Italy again, the team had high hopes for the home venue and delivered the best grouped result ever seen at the worlds.
The 176 Topper sailors, including 65 ladies, sailed 12 races for the gold fleet and 11 for the silver fleet in conditions that varied from 5 to 28 knots. A great welcome in Kerry made the 2008 Topper worlds a great success.
Barry Mc Cartin was coaching the eight-member ISA junior squad whilst Thomas Chaix and Theo Murphy had lined up a 16-member "Squad Ireland" composed of optimist sailors and youth sailors from the class or those stepping out of their laser 4.7 for two weeks. Mary Farell was coaching the Northern Ireland junior squad.
Courtown SC's 15-year-old Philip Doran produced an excellent championship result, winning race six and scoring 11 races out of 12 in the top 10. Doran finished fourth overall, only three points off the bronze medal, the best result ever recorded by an Irish sailor at the Topper worlds.
Philip won't stop there, as he will bring the experience gained to the Laser 4.7 worlds in Croatia mid August.
14-year-old Christopher Eames confirmed his excellent progress this year finishing 15th overall. His results included a second and a third. Chris is still young and will definitely have another go next year in Austria. 13 year old Robbie Gilmore is surely a great talent for the futur. His consistency secured him a 26th overall. Michael Molloy (27th) and Rory Lynch (36th) were among the sailors knocking on the top 10 in individual races.
We had a refreshing surprise in the ladies sub-ranks! 14-year-old Howth sailor Ali Dix, freshly returned from the Optimist Europeans, posted excellent results ( including two tenths) to finish 38th overall and fifth female (third junior female). Ruth Harrington (13th lady), Jennifer Dolan (14th), Sophie Murphy (15th), Aoife Hurney (17th) completed an encouraging set of results for the girls.
However, it was widely noticed that the star of the show was 10-year-old (yes! born in 1998) Daire Cournane from Kinsale. Daire usually sails an Optimist but had decided to race at the worlds for experience and to up his fitness levels. Mission accomplished, with a 121st position overall and some superb races in wind in excess of 20knots. And a fourth in the last race of the silver fleet. Two other members of the optimist U12 group raced. Erica Ruigrok (born in 1997) finished 139th and 45th female, and Jonathan Connor (born in 1997) finished 151st. Finn Lynch ( born in 1996) confirmed his great talent and despite an unlucky championship posted a 5th and a 13th to finish 55th overall.
Overall after 12 races ( and IRL in top 50)
1. Eliott Hanson, GBR, 12pts
2. Richard Clumpsty, GBR, 15pts
3. Jonathan Hewat, GBR, 29pts
4. Philip Doran, IRL, 32pts
5. Lorenzo Chiavarini, GBR, 38pts
15. Christopher Eames, IRL, 95pts
26. Robbie Gilmore, IRL, 154pts
27. Michael Molloy, IRL, 159pts
36. Rory Lynch, IRL, 205pts
38. Ali Dix, IRL, 211pts
46. Andrew Henry, IRL, 246pts
49. Eoghan Cudmore, IRL, 264pts
50. Stephen Duke, IRL, 265pts
Overall female after 12 races (and IRL in top 20)
1. Felicity Foulds, GBR, 101 pts
2. Hannah Tilley, GBR, 147pts
3. Morgane Chaix, FRA, 148pts
4. Stephanie Wicken, GBR, 161pts
5. Ali Dix, IRL, 211pts
13. Ruth Harrington, IRL, 330pts
14. Jennifer Dolan, IRL, 370pts
15. Sophie Murphy, IRL, 384pts
17. Aoife Hurney, IRL, 388pts
