Displaying items by tag: youth sailing
ISAF Youth Sailing World Champs Head to Texas
#youthsailing – Corpus Christi, Texas in the USA will host the 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual agreements last week's ISAF conference heard. Ireland won its third ever medal at last year's championships in Tavira Portugal but unfortunately silver medal winner Seafra Guilfoyle is just out of age limit for the American event so the Cork star cannot qualify for the Texas event next season.
The following events and equipment for the 2017 ISAF Youth Worlds were also agreed by the Council:
Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Girl's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Boy's Two Person Dinghy - 420
Girl's Two Person Dinghy - 420
Boy's Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5 sail
Girl's Windsurfer - RS:X with 8.5 sail
Open multihull - Sirena SL16
Boy's Skiff - 29er
Girl's Skiff - 29er
The Equipment Committee recommended the new Nacra15 for the Open Multihull event and this will be discussed at the 2015 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in the Netherlands with the earliest possible introduction of the new equipment being 2018.
Despite light weather and a number of clashing events, the traditional end of season All Ireland youth sailing Inter-schools event at Sutton Dinghy Club attracted 91 boats across 11 classes, 21 schools and 119 sailors. Now in its 39th year, this event continues to be as enjoyed and as hard fought as ever across both Mixed and Optimist Fleets.
The 72 boat Mixed Fleet which saw 10 different classes produce close and tight racing under Portsmouth Yardstick. The PRO team of Jim Lambkin, supported by Liam Dineen (Skerries) and Scorie Walls did exceptionally well to get all 4 races in over the 2 days.
6th year student and team captain Thomas Natin (Laser Full), who has sailed in the event since his first year in Belvedere, went out in a blaze of glory taking the Individual Trophy, from St Fintans Robert Dickson & Lochlann O'Shea (Mirror), with Mount Temples Daniel Hopkins Laser 4.7) in 3rd.
Even with victory in the Individual series, Belvedere College had to be content with 4th place overall as St Fintans Sutton (Robert Dickson, Lochlann O'Shea, Darragh Kelly) took the Team Trophy (Conor Nolan Memorial) from a clearly delighted Sligo Grammar School (Fergus Collins, Harry Collins, Sam & Imogen Wray) with Blackrock College (Conor Byrne, James O'Connor, Patrick Riordan) taking 3rd. Sligo Grammar were 1 of 3 Sligo schools who made the trip to Sutton for the event.
Despite a clash with end of season Optimist event across the bay, the Interschools Optimist Fleet saw 19 boats take to the water with the PRO team of Paul Kavanagh and Padraic Boyle deciding to get 3 races in on Saturday on the off chance Sunday might be even lighter. The Individual Trophy went to Ella Hemeryck (Loretto Stephen Green) by a single point from Luke Rickard (Gonzaga) with Hugo Kennedy (St. Michaels) in 3rd.
The Team Trophy saw perennial contenders Belvedere College (Ben McDonald, Conor Waddilove, Sam Crawford) retain the title with Burrow School Sutton (Jonathan Sargent, Sophie Dix, Kirsten Quinn) 2nd with Loretto Balbriggan (Francis Mulholland, Ella May, Stephanie O'Connor) 3rd.
That 2nd place overall meant Burrow School Sutton took the Primary School Trophy.
––
The O'Tiarnaigh Trophy for best Sutton Dinghy Club helm went to Darragh Kelly sailing for St Fintans Sutton who finished 4th overall sailing a Laser Radial.
This Trophy, presented by former Commodore Muriel O'Tiarnaigh, is in honor of her late husband, former Commodore and Belvedere teacher Riocaird O'Tiarnaigh who introduced the Inter-schools Sailing event back in April 1995. The 39th running of the event saw their grandson Fionn Mulhall take part in the Optimist fleet for the first time.
The 40th running of this event next year, should be a very special event.
Laura Gilmore Scoops Ladies and Laser Radial Titles At 2014 RYANI Youths
#YouthSaling - Congratulations are in order for Laura Gilmore, Northern Ireland's new ladies and Laser Radial champion after this weekend's RYANI Youths at Ballyholme Yacht Club.
The 17-year-old youth sailor fended off strong competition from fellow youths Sarah Eames (Ballyholme) and Gary Fekkes (East Antrim) to claim the Laser Radial crown with a net total of six points, five ahead of her closest rival.
The Strangford Lough Yacht Club member and junior champ's victorious weekend got off to a slow start on Saturday, with lighter than forecast wind early on making things tough for the record 146 entries.
But soon a good, though shifty, 10-12 knot breeze filled in, enabling all fleets to get three races in across both race areas.
On Sunday, conditions were light and shifty, making conditions difficult for race officers. Still, two races went ahead with stiff competition from a number of clubs.
RYANI performance manager Richard Honeyford thanked Ballyholme YC "for hosting such a great regatta. It was fantastic to see the numbers going from strength to strength, with a large number of clubs being represented.
"Well done to all competitors and prize winners. It is great for RYANI to be able to recognise the dedication of our sailors and clubs.”
Kinsale Yacht Club Hosts Top Youth Sailors for All Ireland Challenge
#youthsailing – ISAF youth silver medallist Seafra Guilfoyle is a wild card entry into this weekend's All Ireland youth sailing event at Kinsale Yacht Club this Saturday. Crosshaven based Guilfoyle, who won world silver in Portugal in July, is slated against 19 other top Irish youth sailors who will compete in the double–handed Topaz dinghy fleet.
Over 30 sailors from 11 classes were considered and the Irish Sailing Association organisers say their selection process allocated places based on the numbers of boats declared by the classes attending their national championships. The full list on invitees for the weekend fixture is published below (with some crew names missing).
The host Topaz dinghy has two nominees from its own national championships held in Dingle and the RS Feva also has two sailors attending. The Optimist class has three sailors slated including top European championships perfomers, Clare Gorman of the National Yacht Club and James McCann of Royal Cork. 420 dinghy youths are represented by national champion Peter McCann and girls champion Cliodhna NiShuillebhain of the host club.
The Mirror dinghy is also included with teams coming from Lough Ree YC and Sutton Dinghy Club.
Class |
Helm |
Club |
Crew |
RS Feva |
Alison Dolan |
Blessington SC |
Grainne Young |
RS Feva |
Triona Hinkson |
Royal St.George YC |
Catherine Kelly |
RS200 - Youth |
Stephen Craig |
Royal St.George YC |
|
Optimist |
James McCann |
Royal Cork YC |
Michael Carroll |
Optimist |
Gemma McDowell |
Malahide YC |
|
Optimist |
Clare Gorman |
National YC |
|
Mirror |
Shane McLoughlin |
Sutton DC |
Oscar Langan |
Mirror |
Tiarnan Dickson |
Lough Ree YC |
Rory MacAllister |
Topper |
Hugh Perette |
National YC |
|
Topper |
Ros Morgan |
Skerries SC |
|
Topper |
Adam D'Arcy |
Royal Cork YC |
James Hassett |
Laser 4-7 |
Johnny Durcan |
Royal Cork YC |
Florence Lyden |
Laser 4-7 |
Rory Caslin |
National YC |
Scott Levie |
Topaz |
Jack Kiely |
Dungarvan HSC |
|
Topaz |
Paddy Cunnane |
Dingle SC |
|
International 420 |
Peter McCann |
Royal Cork YC |
Micheal O'Suileabhain |
International 420 |
Cliodhna NiShuillebhain |
Kinsale YC |
|
GP14 - Youth |
David Johnston |
Sutton DC |
|
Wild Card |
Harry Durcan |
Royal Cork YC |
Harry Whittaker |
Wild Card |
Séafra Guilfoyle |
Royal Cork YC |
British Sailing Legends Launch Clipper Youth Prize At Southampton Boat Show
#ClipperRace - Clipper Round The World Race organiser Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and America's Cup hero Sir Ben Ainslie teamed up today at the PSP Southampton Boat Show to announce a new youth prize for the next edition of the world's longest ocean race.
As Practical Boat Owner reports, the £10,000 prize is open to any youth sailor aged between 18 and 24 regardless of experience, giving them the chance to crew on the Pacific Ocean leg of the world's longest ocean race.
It's all thanks to a donation from the Clipper chairman to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation founded by Ainslie in memory of his friend who died while training for last summer's America's Cup.
"When you take on the Pacific Ocean crossing, you are taking on something very, very special," said Knox-Johnson. "There is nothing bigger or more awesome on this planet.
"This is something that will test you and push you to limits you didn't know you had. Very few people have tackled this challenge and now it's your chance to be one of them."
Ainslie added: "It really will be a once in a lifetime experience for the competition winner."
Practical Boat Owner has more on the story HERE.
30 Boys Line Up for Second Olympic Sailing Competition
#yog – A fleet of 30 Boys Byte CII's will line up to race on Monday 18 August when sailing commences at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) but Ireland is not represented because the Byte is not an Irish Sailing Association 'pathway' class but also because there is no budget to send a boy or girl to the YOG event, according to the Irish Sailing Association.
Based on Lake Jinniu in Nanjing 30 boys, aged 15-16, from 30 nations will fly their flag on the Chinese inland waters as they bid to take the honours at the second Youth Olympic Sailing Competition.
Following a continental qualification system the fleet features a diverse mix of young talented sailors. From Algeria, to the Cook Islands, Indonesia and USA the varied mix of nations is unique and across the four Youth Olympic Games fleets, Boys and Girls Byte CII/Techno 293, there are a total of 62 nations competing from 101 possible spots.
The Boys Byte CII fleet is expected to throw out some exceptional competition but the main question on everyone's lips is "Who can beat Hungary's Jonatan Vadnai?"
The Hungarian sailor has been head and shoulders above the pack, literally in many cases, and has 2013 and 2014 Byte CII World titles to his name. At the 2013 Worlds, the first Youth Olympic qualification regatta, the Hungarian took the title convincingly, finishing 19 points ahead of fellow YOG sailor Henry Marshall. A year later he took the title again, sealing the deal with two races remaining.
Despite his dominance the Hungarian remains coy about his chances, "At the World Championships it was strong wind and in Nanjing I think it's going to be light and if it's light wind it will be harder for me and not that easy."
Vadnai has had a busy summer leading up to YOG having competed at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Tavira, Portugal where he finished seventh, and the Laser Radial Youth Worlds where he finished fifth. With a packed summer of sailing Vadnai feels prepared for China, "Now I'm going to bigger regattas like the ISAF Youth Worlds and I'm getting better at tactics so it doesn't matter what boat I compete in. The Byte is a tricky boat, it's very small and very unstable but I like it very much."
America's Marshall was absent from the 2014 Worlds but pushed the Hungarian in 2013 and they resume their fight in Nanjing. 2013 bronze medallist Pavle Zivanovic (CRO) will also join the pair on the start line as will 2014 podium finishers Scipio Houtman (NED) and Arvid Nordquist (SWE).
The road to Nanjing 2014 began in August 2013 with the Worlds acting as the first qualification regatta. Continental Championships in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania followed ensuring a strong blend on nations.
Paul de Souza (BAH) set out on mission to qualify for YOG and after falling short at the 2013 Worlds he took to the North Americans where he faced some nervy times, "I worked really hard to try and qualify for the Youth Olympic Games. I went to two different regattas and didn't quite make it the first time. The second time I managed to qualify in the third spot and I'm pretty proud of myself, I didn't expect to qualify because a lot of the kids I was sailing against I'd never beaten before. I was quite glad to see that I made it."
The 101 sailors will stay in the Athletes' Village and get a first-hand experience of the Olympic Games and de Souza is looking forward to the whole package, "I will just be really proud to be representing my country and to see my other competitors are there sailing and to see other competitors from my country in other sports. I will be glad to be up there with them at the opening ceremony."
Chile's Clemente Seguel was able to qualify his nation at the South American Championship alongside Brazil's Pedro Correa and Peru's Angelo Giuria. The Chilean had an exciting start to YOG when the whole team met Chilean President Michelle Bachelet for the official farewell. With the formalities done Seguel is ready and up for the challenge, "I have been training in the gym everyday from Monday to Friday and sailing at the weekends.
"You have to race with the wind you have. If there is light winds then that's something I am not worried about although I do prefer stronger winds. I know that in China we will have light winds so we need to get used to this and mentally prepare and start training for those conditions."
Olympic spirit and Olympic values will be key focal points for the young sailors and Seguel will use the event as a springboard, "Competing with the best sailors in the world in the Youth Olympic Games is a motivation to get to the Olympic Games in the future. I am very happy and excited because this high level championship is really important for your sailing curriculum vitae and experience."
The Opening Ceremony on Saturday 16 August will officially kick off the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The sailing competition begins on 18 August at 11:00 local time and will conclude on 23 August.
The four YOG Sailing events are:
Boy's Windsurfer – Techno 293
Girl's Windsurfer – Techno 293
Boy's One Person Dinghy – Byte CII
Girl's One Person Dinghy – Byte CII
The YOG Sailing Competition will consist of an opening series and final race. The format will be fleet racing but slalom racing may be run for the Boy's and Girl's Windsurfers if the weather conditions are suitable.
Young British Sailor Found Dead Near Home
#YouthSailing - Mail Online reports on the death of British youth sailing prospect Jess Eales, whose body was found in the New Forest last week a day after her 17th birthday.
Eales had recently represented Great Britain at the Youth Sailing Worlds in Portugal, where she placed a respectable 11th in the SL16 with helm Oliver Greber.
Before that she and Greber, who had only teamed up this year, took the U19 gold medal in the Spitfire at the Youth Nationals in Weymouth and Portland.
Mail Online has more on the story HERE.
#youthworlds – Ireland's Seafra Guilfoyle lost his lead in the dying airs of race eight of the ISAF Youth worlds last night but is still in the fight for Ireland's first youth gold medal at Tavira, Portugal today. A ten point cushion rapidly turned into a seven point deficit as Guilfoyle counted a 7 and a 16 in more light winds yesterday.
It will go down to the final day in the Laser Radial Boys and Girls fleets with very few points separating the leading racers.
Joel Rodriguez (ESP) leads Singapore's Ryan Lo whilst Seafra Guilfoyle (18), who had led from the opening day, falls down to third. The top three have all guaranteed themselves a medal but with seven points of separation the final race will decide the honours.
Race victories went the way of Lo and Jonatan Vadnai (HUN) who is sixth overall.
The top four in the Laser Radial Girls fleet are all in with a shout of claiming an ISAF Youth Worlds medal. Nine points divide Martina Reino (ESP), in first, Haddon Hughes (USA), Maud Jayet (SUI) and Monika Mikkola (FIN).
The days bullets were picked up by Julia Kuhn (GER) and Hughes.
Ireland have enjoyed previous podium success at the 'Olympics' of Under–18 sailing but until now success has been decades apart. There was bronze in the Laser II double–hander in 1996 and Laser Radial silver on home waters 16 years later but youth gold has always evaded Ireland.
More on this in the Irish Times here
Spain's Silvia Mas Depares and Marta Davila Mateu clinched 420 Girls gold with a race to spare on the penultimate day of racing at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship.
The Spanish team have been sensational on the water and sealed the deal with a bullet and a sixth.
Many of the sailors across the remaining seven fleets have guaranteed themselves a medal but the colours are to be decided on the final day with one race on the cards for each fleet.
Tavira's breeze arrived fashionably late but when it came in it remained consistent from the south west building to 10-12 knots.
420
Spain's Silvia Mas Depares and Marta Davila Mateu wrapped up gold in the 420 Girls fleet after a dominant display on the penultimate day.
A bullet and a sixth leaves them with an unassailable 13 point lead over the chasing pack and they were delighted after racing, "Every sailor always dreams about winning a World Championship and this is awesome for us," said Mas.
"It's something you train hard for all year and now we're here and now I know we have won. It's something you can't imagine. It's almost like it's not true and I'm very happy."
A beaming Davila added, "Just being here is amazing but winning it, it's unbelievable. We've won an ISAF Youth Worlds!"
Israel's Yahel Wallach and Stav Brokman have had a strong two days of racing and with a race to go they have sealed silver.
The race is on for bronze with any of the teams placed from third to eighth mathematically able to win gold. As it stands Theres Dhnke and Birte Winkel (GER) hold third spot.
It's a different outlook in the 420 Boys fleet with five points separating the top four. The lead has exchanged hands numerous times throughout the week but heading into final day in pole position is Japan's Ibuki Koizumi and Kotaro Matsuo.
Many of the teams struggled for consistency on the penultimate day but Singapore's Yia Jia Loh and Jonathan Yeo found some form and posted a first and a sixth to advance into silver medal position.
Overnight leaders Diogo Pereira and Manuel Macedo (POR) fell to fourth overall following an 18th and an eighth. Malaysia's Mohammad Faizal Norizan and Ahmad Syukri Abdul Aziz occupy the final podium spot heading into the final day.
RS:X
There is just one point separating China's Shi Hongmei and Russia's Sefaniya Elfutina in the RS:X Girls with one race remaining. There has been very little separating the top four racers in the RS:X Girls fleet and it will go down to the final day to decide medals.
Italy's Marta Maggetti is six points off the Chinese leader with Pilar Lamadrid (ESP) six points behind the Italian in fourth.
The Spanish racer took the first bullet of the day but it could have been a different story as she explained, "Today was my best day but I could have done it better. I was first in the last race and second in the middle race but finally the girls but passed me but it's okay. I like this wind and I think tomorrow it will be better.
"The first day I was a bit nervous so I didn't have good racing with a seventh and a sixth but then on the other days I improved and I was less nervous and today I was able to win another race. I feel really good because I was at the top with all the good girls."
Israel's Yael Paz continues to lead the RS:X Boys fleet and sits atop of the pile on 18 points, four ahead of Mattia Camboni (ITA).
It could have been the perfect day for Camboni with three straight bullets but it was not to be as he explained, "Today was a really good day. I had three firsts but in the first one I was disqualified but I am still second. It was a really good day, the sun was okay and the breeze was quite good."
Camboni discards his UFD and having previously discarded a sixth he is still within sight of the Israeli. For him to overthrow Paz, Camboni has to finish first or second on the last day and hope the Israeli finishes sixth or lower. Whether it's gold or silver Camboni has thrived in his environment, "This event, it's the best of my life. This is my fourth and last ISAF Youth Worlds so I want to win but if I don't wind it's a nice experience."
SL16
Louis Flament and Charles Dorange (FRA) have an 11 point lead in the SL16 fleet heading into the final day. The French pair discard an OCS and having picked up a ninth on the penultimate day it will all boil down to the final bout.
Jordi and Ruben Booth (ESP) reduced the French duos overnight 15 point lead by four with a steady racing day but will be hard pressed to overthrow them in a single race on the last day. The French and Spanish teams have guaranteed themselves a medal but the colour is to be decided.
Brazil's Kim Vidal and Antonio Lopes hang on to third place overall by three points. America's Ravi Parent and Nicholas Schultz (USA) pulled to within touching distance of the Brazilians and will have one eye on them in the final race.
29er
Quinn Wilson and Riley Gibbs (USA) moved into pole position in the 29er after the French frontrunners had a disastrous day.
Brice Yrieix and Loic Fischer Guillou had an 18 point advantage going into the day but a discarded disqualification and a 14th sees them slip to second.
From two 29er races the Americans were strong and focused and posted a third and a bullet. They lead on 41 points followed by the French on 42 points.
Markus Somerville and Isaac Mchardie (NZL) are within touching distance of the top two on 48 points.
One single race in both fleets is scheduled to commence at 13:00 local time.
View results here.
#youthworlds – Argentina's Francisco Guaragna Rigonat may have been the epitome of consistency in the 57-boat Laser Radial Boys fleet as he took double bullets yesterday but Ireland's Seafra Guilfoyle, who picked up a fifth and discarded a 17th in the light Tavira winds, still leads at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Portugal.
The Argentinian's successful day moves him to second overall and he is ten points off the Royal Cork leader.
Martin Lowy (BRA) was disqualified in the opening race but hit back to take a second and he is third overall, tied with the Argentinean and Ryan Lo (SIN) in fourth.
Following double bullets on Tuesday 15 July, Spain's Martina Reino made it three in a row in the 46-boat Laser Radial Girls fleet before a sixth in the final race of the day. As a result the Spanish racer moves into top spot on 17 points.
Haddon Hughes (USA) follows on 26 points and Monika Mikkola (FIN) is a point behind the American in third.
It was a day for the underdogs in many cases on the third day of competition with improvements made and personal goals attained across the fleets.
Historically the ISAF Youth Worlds has seen French, Italian and British teams dominate proceedings but in a light westerly breeze, sailors from Slovenia, South Africa, Portugal and Argentina shone brightest in their fleets.
Frustrations were afoot early on in the Portuguese day with light winds present on-shore but after a slight postponement six of the eight fleets took to the water to complete their racing schedule. No racing was possible in the RS:X fleets.
SL16
South Africa's Brandon Wijtenburg and Todd Fisher had a superb day on the water in the 16-boat SL16 fleet, sailing three exceptional races.
A bullet, a second and a fourth push the South Africans up to eighth overall and they were thrilled after racing, "It was a pretty good day," said a modest Fisher. "In the first one we came second and in the second race we came first but only because the boats that won the race were over the line
"We've improved a lot over the whole regatta. That was the best day we had. The very first day we were pretty bad but we improved on day two and then today we moved forward a lot."
Before the third day their best result had been an eighth place and their secret on the third day, "Looking at the current and the weather and seeing which side of the race course paid off and it was definitely the right side.
"Hopefully the wind will be the same tomorrow as it was today so we will do the same and try to do better," concluded Fisher.
The South Africans were the benefactors of race leaders Louis Flament and Charles Dorange (FRA) and Kim Vidal and Antonio Lopes (BRA) being over the line in the second race of the day. It was not all bad for Flament and Dorange though as they took the days other race victories.
The French hold top spot on 16 points and are followed by Spain's Jordi and Ruben Booth on 31 points and the Brazilians on 40 points. With the French and Brazilians discarding their OCS they cannot afford any errors with four races remaining.
29er
France's Brice Yriex and Loic Fischer Guillou extended their 29er advantage to 18 points after a steady race day but stealing the show was Slovenia's Peter Lin Janezic and Anze Podlogar.
The Slovenians were the dominant duo out on the race course and picked up a bullet, a second and a fourth to advance to fourth overall and Podlogar was full of smiles after racing, "We did great and we are really happy about the day, we loved it," said the Slovenian crew. "We had a really bad day yesterday and today we opened a new page and decided to go from zero for a new beginning."
Janezic and Podlogar started well in the opening race and were sitting in second to Singapore's Elisa Yukie Yokoyama and Samantha Annabelle Neubronner but in some of their favourite conditions they came back as Podlogar explained, "In the first upwind we were second but then we gained on them in the second to take first and then there was only the downwind left and we kept first place. There were about five knots and lots of waves and I like that a lot.
"We hope we can do the same tomorrow and we will."
"We're going to give it all, 100%," concluded helm Janezic.
Quinn Wilson and Riley Gibbs (USA) are second overall behind the French pair on 37 points and are followed by New Zealand's Markus Somerville and Isaac Mchardie. The Slovenian racers are 13 points off the podium with four races remaining.
420
Portugal's Diogo Pereira and Manuel Macedo threw themselves into 420 Boys lead after dominating the 32-boat fleet on home waters on the third day of racing.
Pereira, a 2013 bronze medallist, and Macedo controlled the pack in both of the day's races, storming to double bullets that leaves them first overall going into the penultimate day. They are four points clear of overnight leaders Ibuki Koizumi and Kotaro Matsuo (JPN) and a further three ahead of Malaysia's Mohammad Faizal Norizan and Ahmad Syukri Abdul Aziz
After racing a delighted Macedo said, "It was brilliant, we got two bullets. Nothing better could have happened. We got clean starts and had our tactics defined. We had good speed and did what we do best. We're feeling great leading the table and let's hope we can keep it up until the end of the championship."
The pair are Portugal's leading stars at their home championship and realise how key the event is to them, "It's really important. There's a slight bit of pressure but we can keep it up because we are good sailors and we'll do the best we can.
"We struggled a little bit before but we managed to get the difficulties behind us today with two first places," concluded Macedo.
In the 27-boat 420 Girls fleet Spain's Silvia Mas and Marta Davila remained consistent on the race course once again and with a second and a first they regain top spot.
Germany's Theres Dahnke and Birte Winkel held the overnight lead but a sixth and a discarded 12th allowed the Spanish pair to move 10 points clear.
After racing a chirpy Winkel said, "Today was a really difficult day because there was no wind. It was a really long hard day. We're really happy though because that type of wind is not our best and we're at the top.
"I love this event, it's my first time and it's just amazing. It's like an Olympic Games for us."
Chile's Nadja Horwitz and Carmina Malsh remain in third overall, 13 points off the leaders.
With two days of racing remaining there are three more races scheduled across the 420 Boys and Girls fleets.
RS:X
It was a frustrating day for the RS:X Boys and Girls fleet with no racing possible. With the breeze playing hard ball on their course the race committee made the decision to send the fleets home shortly after they were released and at 17:20 the decision to cancel any possible action was made.
Racing resumes at 13:00 local time on 17 July.
Laser Sharp Guilfoyle Leads ISAF Youth Worlds in Portugal
#isafyouthworlds – Ireland's Laser Radial Boys racer Seafra Guilfoyle was all smiles after the first day of racing at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Tavira in Portugal today with good reason, he holds the lead in the 57-boat fleet.
Royal Cork's Guilfoyle revelled in the breeze and took the first bullet. A fifth place followed and he leads on six points, tied with Denmark's Patrick Dopping.
After racing Guilfoyle said, "It's been really good. Everyone is a brilliant sailor and it's not been easy and you always have to claw for every point. I can't complain about a one and a five from today. The wind was really nice and picked up which is what I like. The conditions are a lot less complicated than a lot of other places. Once you know which way the current is going it's easy enough because there's not many wind shifts that pay off."
The camaraderie at an ISAF Youth Worlds is unique and Guilfoyle is making the most of his surroundings, "I've made a lot of friends already and I know they'll be friends for life. It's been a great event so far and I'm hopeful for more this week and hopefully we'll have a few more days with wind like this."
Brazil's Martin Lowy completes the Laser Radial Boys podium after the opening racing day.
Ballyholme's Sarah Eames is ninth in her Laser Radial Girls fleet wrapping up an excellent first day for Irish Laser sailing at a record breaking youth worlds where 370 sailors are representing 68 countries.