Ireland's team for the ISAF Youth World Championships in July does not include either a 420 Boys team or a SL16 catamaran campaign because the Irish Sailing Association qualification standards were not met.
The team for Croatia was announced on afloat.ie immediately after last weekend's Youth Nationals in Dun Laoghaire. A last minute attempt to qualify a Catamaran competing in France narrowly missed the qualification criteria at Carnac, France last weekend.
Despite some fine individual performances by Alex Rumball and Ali Dix – inlcuding a second in class in a long distance race – the newly formed SL16 pairing finished 37th overall in a fleet of 78.
A top 40% overall finishing position is required at predetermined events for team qualification.
Ireland hosts the 2012 ISAF Youth World Championships and the stated aim on Dubin Bay next year is an Irish win in any class so there is naturally an interest in Irish crews gaining as much experience as possible.
Afloat.ie understands there were behind the scenes discussions on the possible expansion of the Irish team for Croatia but last night the ISA issued a statement confirming the youth sailors that will travel to Zadar, Croatia for the ISAF Youth World Championships in 07 -16 July 2011. These are:
• Laser Radial Boys Under 19 – Philip Doran (Courtown Sailing Club/National Yacht Club)
• Laser Radial Girls Under 19 – Sophie Murphy (Quoile Yacht Club, Northern Ireland)
• 420 Girls Under 19 – Emma Geary (Royal Cork) and Niamh Connolly (Baltimore Sailing Club)
The ISA statement says all sailors achieved their international qualification prior to the ISA Mitsubishi National Championships in Dun Laoghaire over the weekend and all sailors finished as top girl or boy in their discipline.
Following their Dun Laoghaire results, the team selection was ratified by the Irish Sailing Association Board of Directors.
This will be Philip Doran’s first Youth Worlds but as a former under 17 world champion the prospect of a major international event such as the ISAF Youth Worlds should not faze him.
At only 17 this is Sophie Murphy’s second Youth Worlds and she is young enough to qualify for 2012 when Dun Laoghaire will host the ISAF Youth Worlds from 12 -21 July, just weeks before the London Olympics.
Emma Geary & Niamh Connolly the double handed team from Cork will be the only 420 on the Irish team as they were the only ones to reach the international qualification. ‘The Irish 420 fleet is a young fleet but there should be great competition for both girls and boys rankings in 2012 when they gain experience and further training.’ stated James O’Callaghan, Olympic Performance Manager ISA. ‘The sailors have now got through the first phase of the process however a lot of hard work and training will be needed between now and then to perform successfully on the international stage’ continued O’Callaghan.
The ISAF Youth World Championship is coming to Dublin 12-21 July 2012 just two weeks ahead of London’s Olympic Games. Over 300 sailors from 60 nations will compete.
