16–year–old Howth Yacht Club sailor Aoife Hopkins will compete in an Irish Radial Olympic trial for Rio against Annalise Murphy and potentially several other female sailors who have yet to declare. The Radial trial devised by the ISA consists of three events involving three transatlantic trips in six month's starting this December. The cost of the proposed women's trial was the focus of an Irish Times Article last Friday here.
Hopkins is self-funded and although she receives coaching support from the ISA there is little direct funding available towards the cost of the trials estimated at €20,000.
‘In June I competed in the Sailing World Cup in the UK. I qualified based on my impressive domestic and international results in 2015. The top 40 in the world (of all ages) were sailing in this event. I was the youngest competitor in the World to be invited and was honoured to represent my country at such a high level. I have achieved my goals for this year which were top 10 at the Europeans and top 20 at the Worlds. My ultimate goal is to win a medal for Ireland at the 2020 Olympics, Hopkins said.
Hopkins has launched a pledge site to raise funds for the campaign here