#optieuros – Ireland is represented by a team of eight young sailors among 500 sailors from 37 nations competing at the Optimist European Championships at Pwllheli in North Wales today.
Flags from the 37 competing nations were paraded through Pwllheli to the new Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy – hosting its first event since opening its doors this week – accompanied by the Cor Ieuenctid Mon youth choir from Anglesey, who appeared on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.
No fewer than 256 sailors will do battle over five days of racing, starting tomorrow (Sunday 19 July) as Great Britain hosts the Optimist Europeans for the first time since the inaugural event in 1983.
The Irish team is: Charlie Cullen, Grace O'Beirne, Hugo Kennedy, Jamie McMahon, Michael Carroll, Nicola Ferguson, Sarah Levie and Tom Higgins.
Following yesterday's practice race – where Greece's Aimilianos Monos crossed the line first in breeze gusting over 20kts and 1.5m swell - Event Chairman, David Baddeley, welcomed everyone to Pwllheli, with guests including Pwllheli Deputy Mayor, Cllr Henry Williams, Ifer Gwyn, Principal Policy Officer, Snowdonia Partnership, and Cllr Robert J Wright MBE, Gwynedd Council. Pupils from two local schools also joined the fun.
David said: "This is a very special event for sailors to meet sailors from other countries, to enjoy shared experiences and treasured memories."
Stephen Tudor, Chairman of Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy, Simon Rogers, IOCA Representative, and Mark Nichols, representing Britain's sailing's national governing body, the RYA, addressed guests before British sailors Drew Wright and Hannah Roberts-Straw read a poem in both Welsh and English.
Stephen said: "It is fantastic that the Magic Marine Optimist European Championships are the first to make use of this fantastic new facility. We hope you have a fantastic stay here, the sailing is good and you go home with fond memories."
After the IODA flag was handed over to the British representatives, Irish sailors – where last year's Europeans were held – raised the IODA flag with Drew and Hannah, before IODA Vice-President Europe, Lady Carla Stanley, officially declared the 2015 Magic Marine Optimist Europeans Championships open.
Lady Stanley said: "If you don't try you fail before you start. Good luck and enjoy tremendous sailing."
There are 159 boys and 97 girls entered, with racing split into three days of qualifying and a two-day final series. There are three flights of boys (Yellow, Blue and Red) and two of girls for the qualifying series (Yellow and Blue). Three races are scheduled for the opening day - the first warning signal is scheduled for 1200 hours.
