When Finn Lynch won the Silver at 2012's ISAF Youth Worlds in Dublin Bay, it was the maturity of the 16-year-old's approach which drew the most favourable comment. The following September, at the ripe old age of 17, he was even more emphatically Irish sailing's Captain Cool. He took Gold in the U21 division, Silver in the Europeans, and Bronze in the Worlds. A phenomenal achievement, that won him a worthy September Sailor of the Month award from Afloat but it was only the start of things to come for the talented single–hander.
Lynch of County Carlow also counts the National Yacht Club as his home club, even if he did start his sailing at the lakeside club of Blessington up in the Wicklow hills. Early influences of his elder Ben plus a driving passion for youth sucess has propelled the youngster onto the Olympic campaign trial for Rio even when he could still be sailing at youth level, foregoing a place at 2014's ISAF youth worlds.
The Carlow teen is now a step closer to fulfilling his dream of representing Ireland in Rio 2016after earning a second Laser Standard nation place at Spit Olympic week in Croatia in April 2014. Lynch's tenth overall result puts two Irish Lasers on the startline at the Olympic qualifier in Santander, Spain this autumn. The National Yacht Club sailor finished 10th overall and tenth country in Crotia today and joins London 2012's James Espey with the aim of qualifying Ireland for Rio at the first opportunity this September.
