#laser – The complete absence of any Irish Laser Radial presence at Weymouth for the RYA youth nationals this week is explained by the eight Irish sailors competing at the Laser Europa Cup in Marseille, France. Royal Cork's Seafra Guilfoyle produced a significant 15th overall and top Irish result in the 158–boat fleet. A total of 346 sailors with ages ranging from 15 to 79 competed in this edition of the 2014 series.

Other Irish results were 21 Cian Byrne, 36 Ross O'Sullivan, 48 Dara O'Shea, 66 Ryan Glynn, 71 Liam Glynn, 84 Sarah Eames and 93 Sorcha Ni Shuilleabhan.

French sailor Romain Simonnot (FRA) took the title in the Radial fleet finishing on 21 points followed by another tie between second and third place. Marie Bolou (FRA) and William De Smet (BEL) were tied on 25 points with the French sailor breaking the tie having recorded more third place finishes.

There was a bit of everything wind wise including shifty light to around 15 knots at times.

Racing which concluded today got off most days at around noon except for the third day when the first start was at about five and sailors docking as the sun went down.

First place on the podium for the Standard fleet went to Maxim Nikolaev (RUS) who after 8 races and one discard finished on 17 points.

There was a tie of 19 points for second and third place. Antony Munos (FRA) with two bullets on the final day grabbed second overall and Thorbjorn Schierup (DEN) took third.

The largest fleet of all with a total of 119 competitors was the Laser 4.7. Racing was dominated by Federico Fornasari (ITA) who finished on 10 points from 7 races including one discard. Second place went to Seref Unlu (TUR) on 33 points and Aurelien Pierroz (FRA) with 35 points wrapped up the podium.

Results here.

#kinsale – Well it proved to be a Lose Lose day in Kinsale. Ireland lost in Rugby and the KYC Frostbite Series lost to the Gales!

The wind at 11.00 am was recorded at a mere 10 knots so the Committee boat headed out to set a course. However as the windward mark was about to be set some 30 minutes later, the wind reading had increased to 26 knots so racing was abandoned in the interests of safety.

Several Squibs and Lasers had launched so enjoyed a blast around the harbour before heading back to the Clubhouse for the presentation of prizes for the series.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Finny O'Regan gave an opening address thanking Seamus McLaverty of ASM marine for his continuing support as sponsor for the Frostbites.

He also thanked Bruce Matthews for his involvement in and support of the Frostbites going back 25 years.

Thanks were also expressed for all the Club members who helped make the Frostbites possible, from the mark-layers and safety boat personnel to those ashore in particular Caroline Forde who did sterling work on the results and weekly race reports.

June Matthews (pictured below left) presented the prize winners in each class with their trophies.

June Matthews, Rob Gill , KYC Commodore Finny O'Regan, Colm Dunne. Rob Gill & Colm Dunne receiving 1st place prize in the Squib Fleet.

The Prize winners were as follows:
Squib Class:
1st Allegro, Colm Dunne & Rob Gill KYC 2nd Lazurus, Colm Daly & Marcus Hutchinson KYC 3rd Fagin, Colm & Finny O'Regan KYC

Laser Full Rig Class:
1st Sean Murphy KYC
2nd James Long, Inniscarra
3rd Ian Travers KYC

Laser 4.7 Rig Class:
1st Billy Duane RCYC
2nd Ben Hunt KYC
3rd Jamie Tingle RCYC

Laser Radial Class:
1st Sorcha Ni Shuilleabhain KYC
2nd Cliodhna O'Regan KYC
3rd Sean Gambier-Ross KYC

#laser – The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) has announced 2014 regional Squads for the Laser 4.7 & Radial.

Leinster Radial Squad: Sandy Aplin, Mark Bolger, Patrick Cahill, Chloe Eggers, Ciaran Finnegan, Jack Higgins, Aoife Hopkins, Luke Murphy & Dougie Power

Munster Radial Squad: Eva Donworth, Thomas McGrath, Dara O'Shea, Scott O'Sullivan & Richard Thompson

Leinster 4.7 Squad: Evie Byrne, Nicole Hemeryck, Richard Hogan, Conor Kneafsey & Conor Sherriff

Munster 4.7 Squad: Jack Carroll, Billy Duane, Johnny Durcan, Luke Horgan, Florence Lyden, Luke McGrath & Jamie Tingle

#laser – Ireland's Ryan Glynn is fifth overall and just two points off third in the radial division of the UK Laser championships at Paignton Sailing Club this week. Team mate Fionn Conway lies third in a 33-boat 4.7 division. Glynn –  who was the standout performance last month in Wexford, winning the Leinsters with straight wins –  leads 12 Irish boats in the 127-boat radial fleet. Results here.

With entries from several international associations, a strong Irish contingent and sailors from across the home countries this year's Nationals were always going to be keenly contested. The 220 competitors were divided into 53 Standard rigs, 127 Radials split into Yellow & Blue Groups for the first four day's racing and 40 Laser 4.7s, which have their own course and race team.

In a good SSW breeze of 20kts all three fleets completed their scheduled two races each. In the Standard fleet Portugal's Gustavo Lima won the first race ahead of Australian Luke Elliott before home sailor Jack Wetherell took the 2nd gun. In the Radial Fleet there were two wins for John Booth who leads overnight from Jon Emmett (2, 1) with Matthew Stephens (3, 2) in 3rd place. Irish helm Patrick Cahill was the unluckiest sailor of the day recording two premature starts under the black flag. (Oscar Wilde's quip comes to mind). In the Laser 4.7 fleet 16 year old Romas Ovcinnikov's trip from Lithuania has been very worthwhile so far as he won both his races ahead of Ross Banham.

Racing continues for the rest of the week until Friday.

#laser – Ryan Glynn in the Radials with straight firsts was the stand-out performance at last weekend's Laser Leinster Championships in Wexford Harbour Boat Club.

Conditions were 5-15 knots and shifty on Saturday then blowing stink Sunday, all in a fantastic warm, but unstable westerly breeze that reduced racing on Sunday to just one race.

Chris Penney and Mattie O'Dowd had a titanic struggle at the top of the Standard fleet and in the 4.7s, Conor O'Beirne of the Royal St. George YC came through in the last race with a nice confidence boost before he heads off this week to Hungary for the 4.7 European championships.

Results below from Wexford Harbour Boat Club

Laser Leinster Championship Std 2013

Entries: 17      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

Laser Leinster Championship Radial 2013

Entries: 32      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

Laser Leinster Championship 4.7 2013

Entries: 16      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

#MISS NORTHERN IRELAND – Royal North of Ireland YC dinghy sailor Tiffany Brien is on her way to the Miss World Competition in China having won the 2012 Miss Northern Ireland competition in Belfast this week. One of Ireland's top Laser Radial sailors, Tiffany was crowned at a 'glittering' ceremony at the Europa Hotel in Belfast on Monday night.

Tiffany jets off to the Miss World final in China on Saturday August 18, more or less the same time as she had been planning to represent Ireland at the Olympics until Dublin's Annalise Murphy took the top Irish slot. The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story here. But Tiffany is still sailing though and as well as national Laser Radial honours Miss Northern Ireland will be sailing across the Irish sea to help fellow sailor, blind adventurer Mark Pollock who is recovering from a fall. The pair are to sail across the Irish sea together for a number of charities.

Tiffany, daughter of well know Belfast lough sailor Simon Brien, will compete against over 100 girls from round the world, including, Miss Ireland, Rebecca Maguire, who is also from Belfast.

More photos of Tiffany's Miss Northern Ireland success here.

Predictably Olympic campaigners were to the fore at the 2011 Irish Laser National Championships yesterday but host club Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer, Co. Tipperary are celebrating the first time in thirty years that a Laser sailor has won a National Championship division at their home club.

Belfast Olympic campaigner James Espey came top of the combined 151 boat fleet but yesterday the local cheers were for Derg sailor, Eoin Keller won the Irish Laser Radial National Championships.

Eoin Keller with his parents Josephine and Pat, and LDYC Commodore Lucy Sanders. Photo: Geraldine Wisdom

Lough Derg Yacht Club hosted the Irish Laser National Championship from 25 to 28 August. A total of 151 sailors participated in the event. Sailors travelled from all over Ireland and the UK to race in the event. The Laser class has three rig categories according to the sail size: the 4.7 Lasers (48 boats), the Laser Radials (71 boats) and the Standard or full rigs (32 boats).

Hosting a National event for such a large fleet requires considerable organisation, both on and off the water. LDYC Sailing Secretary, Michael McCarney, said that the "seventy plus volunteers, helping out at the event, ensured four great days of racing". He said that the "wildly varying weather conditions provided quite a challenge for sailors and race management". He added that "events such as this help to promote tourism and the local economy of this scenic area".

Laser Racing starts on Lough Derg

The Principal Race Officer for the event was John Lefroy. He conducted the races from his boat the 'Phoenix', and managed to get ten races in very changeable weather conditions. Liam Moloney and his team managed the finishing line on his yacht, 'Synergy'. John Lefroy said that he was "very impressed with the mark laying and rescue", and added that "the sailors were well tired at the end of the four days as I set demanding courses. Competitors at this level want to be stretched at these events". Jack Bayly and Teresa Hassey collated and posted the race results promptly every day.

Club Manager Claire Toohey coordinated Safety and Rescue for the Championship. This is a vital task, and Claire's organisational skills were very much in evidence. Claire commented that her brief was made easier by "top notch, well-trained local rescue crew, who did a superb job in quite testing conditions".

Summing up at the prize-giving, LDYC Commodore Lucy Sanders said, "I was impressed by the number of members who gave of their time to help out, particularly the younger members, who are the future of this Club". She went on to praise the work of the shore crew, including P. Keller and his helpers who efficiently managed the launch and recovery of boats, and Anne Atkinson and her team, who ensured the visitors were looked after with the hospitality for which the Club is well known.

Laser 4.7

1st Seafra Guilfoyle - Royal Cork Yacht Club
2nd Cian Byrne - Royal Cork Yacht Club
3rd Eoin Curran – East Down Yacht

Laser Radial

1st Eoin Keller – Lough Derg Yacht Club

2nd Robbie Gilmore – Strangford Lough Yacht Club
3rd Finn Lynch – National Yacht Club

Standard Laser Sailors

1st James Espey – Royal Ulster Yacht Club

2nd Ryan Seaton – Carrickfergus Sailing Club
3rd Matthew O'Dowd – Royal St. George Yacht Club

Promising results came young Irish sailors came from the World and European Laser Radial Youth Champs in La Rochelle that ended at the weekend. Wexford and the National Yacht Club's Philip Doran finished 11th in Worlds (8th in Euros). Blessingtonn's Finn Lynch finished 7th in the u17 Worlds (he was the only sailor born 1996 in the gold fleet).

There were 271 entries in the boys. 99 entries in the girls.

Quoile and the Royal St. George's Sophie Murphy finished 30th in the girls, a result that included a final race win. See how all the Irish did here.

In his first event sailing in the full rig boat Rush Sailing Club's Alan Ruigrock won the Laser Leinster Championships at the Royal St. George Yacht Club yesterday in some of the finest sailing conditions of the summer so far.

In a combined fleet of 110 boats and southerly winds of 10-15 knots, Ruigrock beat Howth's Ronan Cull and the host club's Conor Byrne who finished second and third respectively.

Annalise Murphy lived up to her billing as top Radial sailor in the country when, in a mixed 40 boat division, she beat Tiffany Brien for the Leinster title. In third place was next week's Irish Youth world's representative Philip Doran of Wexford.

The first 4.7 sailor was Royal Cork's Seafra Guilfoyle. The first master was Gareth Flannigan.

The following from the Class Association:

One hundred and ten sailors competed in the 2011 Laser Leinster Championships which were held in superb summer conditions on July 2nd & 3rd, and were hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club. The weather did its part to show off Dublin Bay at its best with bright sunshine and a light sea breeze contributing to the regatta atmosphere for the sailors and their families alike.

The sailors needed to display all their skills to achieve a top end result. The wind peaked each day at 10 or 11 knots, with even pressure across the course and only a small number of wind shifts to take advantage of. Wind against tide meant the competitors needed good speed through the light chop. Equally important was a good start, made more difficult by the tide carrying the competitors over the line.

The principal race officer for the weekend was Con Murphy. At the prize giving, Con remarked that although he used a black flag for a number of the races it was great to see the high standard of the sailors meant that not a single person was OCS for the entire regatta.

Seafra Guilfoyle, with four bullets won the Laser 4.7 fleet, adding the Leinsters title to his Munsters and Ulsters trophies. John Durcan was 2nd and Cian Byrne third giving all three top spots to the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Emma Cooney from the NYC won the first lady prize.

The Laser Radial class is where many of Ireland's future Olympic hopefuls race and the Leinsters was no exception. Annalise Murphy of the NYC, "Afloat's May Sailor of the Month" and one of Ireland's strongest medal prospects in the 2012 Olympics won the event in compelling fashion with two firsts and three seconds. Tiffany Brien of Ballyholme YC, fresh from her recent Olympic campaign came in second. Philip Doran of Courtown YC claimed third prize. The prize for the first lady youth went to Sophie Murphy of the home club.

The Laser Standard fleet saw the most intense completion with the last race deciding all three top spots. On the Saturday, Ronan Cull clearly set himself apart winning all three races. At the end of the regatta only three points separated the leaders. Alan Ruigrok of Rush SC won the event, with Ronan Cull of HYC coming second and Conor Byrne claiming third prize for the RSGYC. Ballyholme yacht club also took home some silverware in this fleet with Oliver Loughhead taking the youth prize in fourth place overall and Gareth Flannigan taking the masters prize in 5th place.

Annalise Murphy notched up another victory in this morning's final medal race but there was still no medal for the Dun Laoghaire solo sailor at the fifith round of the ISAF World Cup in Holland.

Murphy rounded off her Delta Lloyd regatta performance as she started it, with a win, bringing to five her tally of first places taken in the Laser Radial fleet at the masive Dutch regatta. In spite of today's special win there was never any hope of a medal due to a double false start on Friday, a costly race infringement that clearly cost the 21-year old this round of ISAF's World Cup series. She finished the regatta ninth overall having won the final three races in near gale force conditions.