#lasersailing – The three Irish Laser fleets woke up on a beautiful sunny day at Ballyholme Yacht Club knowing that the wind was to fill in over the afternoon but no-one was sure by how much writes Mark Mackey. There is a little tension among the 126 competitors for the first time in a few years but if anyone was ignoring the pressure, it was the incumbent Olympian sailors from London 2012 James Espey (Ballyhome YC) and Annalise Murphy (National YC, Dun Laoghaire) who have won five Nationals between them.

This summer has new blood on the horizon - Finn Lynch winning the Laser Under 19 Youth World Championship last week in France, while Seafra Guilfoyle won the silver medal at the ISAF Radial Youth Games earlier in the summer.

Race 1 started with a southerly breeze and relatively flat seas with 16 knots. In the standard fleet James Espey got off to a slow start rounding the first mark 7th but a left shift on the second beat took him up to first from where he distanced himself from the chasing pack. ISA Squad member Fionn Lyden was second with Finn Lynch in 3rd. In the Radials Ballyholme's Liam Glynn led around the course till the second round until he sailed the wrong course and was passed by the top 4. Annalise also got off to a poor first beat in 20th place but she managed to catch up and pass Cork's Cian Byrne at the final mark.

The conditions worsened considerably for Race 2 gusting up to 25 knots at the finish. Annalise has always excelled in heavier airs and showed the rest of the Radial class the way home from the first mark. Finn Lynch led the Standards for 90% of his race but James Espey passed him up the final beat as the breeze grew.

The Youth 4.7 fleet managed the conditions commendably with Johnny Durcan from Royal Cork YC winning Race 2 and was second to Lough Derg's Scott Levie in Race 1. Asked for a comment afterwards Johnny offered that it was "very windy" and was a day to "keep your eyes out of the boat"

Race Officer Robin Gray decided to postpone the final race until tomorrow with the wind settling over 24 knots. Unfortunately, the morning looks like similar conditions with the breeze expected to start to die in the afternoon.

Overall after Day 1:

Standards
James Espey, Ballyholme YC/RUYC 1,1
Finn Lynch National YC 3,2
Colin Leonard BYC 4,3
Fionn Lyden Schull SC 2, 6

Radials
Annalise Murphy, NYC 1,1
Seafra Guilfoyle Royal Cork YC 3,2
Cian Byrne RCYC 2,6
Tim Brow BYC 5,3

4.7
1. Johnny Durcan RCYC 2,1
2. Niamh Doran Courtown SC 3,3
3. Scott Levie Lough Derg YC
4. Rory Fekkes BYC

#FinnLynch - Aspiring Olympian Finn Lynch is the new U19 Laser Standard World Sailing Champion.

The Carlow native made a comeback this afternoon (Saturday 23 August) at the U21 Laser Standard & Radial World Championship in Douarnenez, France to win gold in the U19 category.

The regatta began on Monday 18 August and after 10 races in varying, shifty conditions, Lynch lay eighth overall in the 101-boat fleet and third among the U19s.

The final race began this afternoon and Lynch, with his eyes on the prize, got off to a great start and battled it out at the top of the fleet throughout the 40-minute race.

He crossed the line to finish third, comfortably ahead of overnight U19 leaders Joel Rodriguez from Spain and Maxim Nikolaev from Russia, to claim the U19 world title and gold medal.

And he just narrowly missed out on the U21 bronze, finishing fourth overall in that category.

This is a significant achievement for Lynch, having only graduated to the senior Laser Standard class earlier this year.

In less than three weeks’ time he will compete alongside fellow Laser Standard sailor James Espey from the Irish Olympic Sailing Team - Providence Team IRL in Santander, Spain at the first 2016 Olympic qualifier event.

During this championship, Lynch will be aspiring to finish within the top 23 nations in order to qualify Ireland for the Rio Games.

Meanwhile, Lynch's teammate Fionn Lyden from Cork finished an impressive 11th overall.

And in the female Laser Radial class, Tipperary local Aisling Keller also narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the U19 category and 22nd overall.

#laser – While the big boats competing in the Seven Star Round Britain & Ireland race were postponed and the Merlin sailors in Looe were playing beach rounders because of Big Bertha the 150 Laser helms in Largs were kept ashore for lack of wind. Eventually in the early afternoon a Northerly breeze about 10-12 kts arrived to allow all three fleets to complete two races in a fine Scottish drizzle. All starts used a common trapezoidal course laid near Great Cumbrae.

There is a very healthy percentage of youth sailors in the Standard fleet this year and it was Ireland's youth sailor Dougie Power who took the first gun ahead of Alistair Goodwin & Anthony Parke. Jack Aitken, having finished 4th in Race 1, then showed the others the way home in the 2nd race to lead overnight.

With nearly 90 Radials entered the decision was made to split the fleet into two starts and race the first half of the week in a Round Robin format. If today's results are anything to go by this could be one of the most exciting week's racing for a long time. Each start had a different winner and at the end of the day three helms, Jon Emmett, Scotland's Jamie Calder & Ireland's Liam Glynn; were all tied on three points.

The Championship is being sponsored by Neil Pryde ably assisted by Harken UK as the equipment sponsors. Racing continues until Friday and with brighter conditions but stronger winds expected the fun has just begun. – Eddie Mays. More here.

#lasersailing – In what is building to a thrilling 2016 Olympic trial, youngster Finn Lynch, the latest addition to the Irish Olympic Laser squad, threw down the gauntlet to London 2012's James Espey when he won the Laser Leinster honours at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club at the weekend. Lynch, who earned his place for Olympic Qualification in Croatia in June, produced four race wins to beat Royal Ulster's Espey by 1.6 points in the 19–boat fleet. It's the 17–year–old's third provincial title on the trot, winning the Munsters at Baltimore in May and the Ulsters at East Antrim in June. Ballyholme's Colin Leonard was third.

Lynch and Espey meet again in September in Santander at ISAF World Champs which doubles as a nation qualifier for the Rio Olympics.

Full rig, radial and 4.7 overall results from Waterford are downloadable below.

Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, Dunmore East, hosted an excellent Laser Leinsters last weekend.

Saturday dawned with grey clouds, a chilly breeze and the confident statement by OOD Con Murphy, that "if the rain storm over the middle of the country comes this way, it won't be 12 knots from the NW." We had a cracking broad reach in 15 - 20 knots out to the start, where after a few shifts of course as a rain cloud came through and a few attempts for the Full rigs to get off the line cleanly, we got away. Whilst Ronan Cull and I traded a few crosses, James Espey came out of the left to commence what for a generation of Irish laser sailors has been normal service watching him sail off into the distance. I got out to the left and managed to come into the mark second, with a tight bunch of Finn Lynch, Conor Byrne (before he got tired), Stephen Penney and Ronan hot on my heals. Finn rapidly pulled upto me, and for what must have been a matter of minutes he was behind me. However the inevitable happened at the bottom of the second run when just as if I wasn't there Finn was past me and away. Top 3 finished that way, with Conor, Stephen making up the top 5.

Race 2 saw similar breezy conditions but a slight right shift at the top meant I led from James, Finn and the pack. Despite James Espey Sailing, becoming James Espey Coaching, half way up the second beat James was away. Superior technique in the chop was awesome to see. In fact, it was pretty awesome watching Finn do the same! However Finn kindly took part in the Leinster sailing/swimming biathlon allowing me to slip home in second, finn in third. Ronan came in 4th and Dougie Power new into the fullrig showed good speed to fight off Darragh O Sullivan! Conor Byrne was last seen stretching his hamstrings down the run...mars bars are not electrolye drinks.

Race 3 the breeze was up, James had some unintentional equipment failure and again I led from Finn for as long as I could muster but age, not enough food, and a lack of talent saw Finn demolish me up the last beat. I can't help but feel this will become as common a feeling as watching James demolish us all! Darragh used good speed downwind to close up the 3rd. I suspect that this was the only time he was firing on all cylinders and with a 2 hour recovery cycle after sailing Darragh looks sure to join Finn and James in being recognisable to the rest of us by the back of their heads! Ronan came in fourth, with Ronan Kenneally finishing his day with a 5th. Full marks to him for taking one day of his weekend to sail before returning to the family man duties!

So a good first day came to and end with everyone wondering how James had got redress, how Finn was so bloody quick downwind, just how heavy do you need to be to drop sheet and go bow down, and will Conor be able to walk tomorrow!

Sunday was sunny, and the breeze had swung round to provide big waves and the scene was set for James and Finn to battle it out, and for the rest of us to enjoy some top notch sailing conditions. Race 1 saw the main protagonists and their training partners past and present have a speed contest to the left aka wrong corner of the race track. Young Ryan Glynn defied his size to lead at the first mark, with myself James and Finn hot on his heels. He flew downwind and held on valiantly before charging back to almost take the lead again but instead rolling me like I was sinking on the last reach to come 3rd behind Finn and James. Probably one of the best races I've had in ages - great fun! Ronan Cull started his roll as must unlucky sailer of the weekend by joining the Biathlon club, and as much to his surprise as everyone else's conor not only sailed - he sailed fast into 6th.

Race 5 and, it was my turn to start badly (turns out James and Finn are high and fast) before competing in the windward capsize biathlon and retiring. Ronan showed some of his top speed to come 3rd, whilst Finn was lightening fast downwind and won from James. Dan O'Beirne had a good race in 4th, from Conor and Darragh.

At this stage it was winner takes all for Finn and James, barring a disaster I would finish third, and Stephen Penney all but had his hands on the Masters trophy! Still race 6 was a cracker and James and Finn put it all on show, close crosses at the start, Ronan closing the door on finn. Shouting matches between Finn and James at the windward mark. Finn having an angle down the waves that was unmatchable...fast. Poor Ronan had his mast snap and Dougie Power flew the home flag hard to get another 5th. Finn won, from James, myself, and Darragh (the final finishing order overall.)
Great to see so many old faces back for a play, and a privilege to see how the Pros do it. The main protagonists traded days as the quickest over the water and as they head to Schull/ U21 worlds/ Santander we all wish them well! The rest of us back at work can only know that the nationals at Ballyholme Yacht Club in late August will be as fun and good racing. See you all there!

#lasersailing – This weekend Ballyholme Yacht Club will have five sailors at the Laser Radial Youth World Championships in Dziwnów, Poland - Tim Brow, Sarah Eames, Suzanne Flannigan, Sorcha Donnelly, and current Topper World Champion Liam Glynn. Laura Gilmore from SLYC and Gary Fekkes from EABC are also competing as part of a 15 boat Irish team that includes ISAF youth world silver medallist, Seafra Guilfoyle from Royal Cork.

It has been a busy summer for the young sailors from Bangor - Sarah has just finished competing in the ISAF Youth Worlds in Portugal, while Liam and Sarah competed in the European Youth Laser Radial Championships at the beginning of July when both Sarah and Liam won individual races. This is Liam Glynn's first season in the Laser Radial having stepped up from the Topper dinghy last summer when he won all the Irish provincial and national titles and followed this up by being the first Irish sailor to win the Topper World Championships in France. The Irish team are looking forward to many more top results after Royal Cork sailor Seafra Guilfoyle won the Silver medal at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Laser Radials in Portugal, coached by Ballyholme YC's Russell McGovern.

More details of the Laser Radial Youth World Championships can be found here

Before they left, four of the Ballyholme YC World Laser Radial Youth Squad got together to help launch the Irish Laser National Championships which are being hosted by Ballyholme Yacht Club from 28-31st August 2014. The Laser National Championships includes all 3 versions of the Laser dinghy - Standard, Radial and 4.7. The hull is the same for all versions, the sail and rig is smaller for the Radial and 4.7 which attracts ladies and youths. Ballyholme YC has one of the largest Standard and Radial fleets in Ireland and the championships hope to attract 130 boats over the 3 fleets. Some sailors have already expressed interest to travel from GB to race in what should be a very competitive event.

#laser – Inspite of four top ten results, Schull's Fionn Lyden is just shy of a top ten place at the U21 Laser Standard European Championship on Lake Garda in Italy.

Lyden is counting a 9, 3, 8 and a 5 is in 11th overall. The West Cork sailor was runaway winner of the 2012 Junior All Ireland title and also an accomplishd team racer.

The event sees a fleet of 167 representing 26 countries battle it out for the Standard and Radial European titles.

Under 21 Radial champion Finn Lynch was fourth in race one but a yellow flag in Race 2 proved costly. The National Yacht Club sailor is 25th with scores of 4 (34) 11 20

Racing continues at Circolo Vela Torbole until Saturday. 

More results here

#lasersailing – Current Topper World Champion Liam Glynn from Ballyholme Yacht Club, Bangor has won Race four of the European Youth Laser Radial Championship at Egaa Sailing Club, Aarhus in Denmark.

Liam won the Topper World Championship in France last summer as well as every national and provincial event in Ireland. This is his first international event in the single-handed Laser Radial class - a smaller sail version of the Laser which features in the Olympics.

Ten years ago Ballyholme Yacht Club hosted the European Laser Youth Radials in Bangor which has lead to a huge growth in local Laser sailing especially among the juniors. The Laser Radial has a smaller sail compared to the Laser class - an Olympic class and the largest dinghy class in the worlds. Ballyholme Yacht Club's James Espey represented Ireland at the London Olympics in 2012 and is currently campaigning towards 2016 in Brazil.

Ballyholme Yacht Club will host the Irish Laser National Championship on 28-31st August. Poster attached for download below as a PDF document.

#laserforsale – A vintage 1977 example of one of the most popular single-handed dinghy designs in the world is for sale on Afloat boats for sale site at €950. Fully equipped and with top cover this Laser dinghy (Sail number 43338) is ready to sail away, according to seller Michael, who also offers delivery for a modest fee. Click for more details and specification on this retro Laser for sale.

#olympicsailing – There appears to be little chance of a successful Irish defence of the women's Laser European radial title in Croatia this week. Annalise Murphy's scoresheet after five races places her in 60th overall from 92 competitors, relegating her to silver fleet competition for the rest of the event. 

Winds have been light and shifty, not the conditions favoured by Ireland's breeze queen who shot to European success on home waters in near gale conditions last September. 

A better breeze arrived for the third day of the Laser Europeans in Split yesterday. Still shifty, but the strength was better, 10 to 14 knots. Two races for all fleets, without waiting, a really great day, last day of the qualifiers. A summer storm forced the race committee to call it a day after two races, they had to send the fleet home.

Annalise ends the qualifiers with 35,32,19, 26 and 20 and can only look on at the consistency of  top performers Germany's Svenga Weger (1,4,2,1,4) and Holland's Marit Boumeester (2,2,2,3,2) first and second respectively.

Ireland's Erica Ruigrok lies near Murphy in 63rd. 

In the men's class Robert Scheidt (BRA) sits on the top of the leaderboard. Only one point seperates Scheidt and Tonci Stipanović (CRO) in the second place, who is the leader for the European title. Ireland's James Espey, the London 2012 representative, is 80th in a fleet of 132.

#laser – Royal Cork's Nick Walsh was the winner of the 31–boat Laser Master Championships sailed on Dublin Bay at the weekend. With four race wins to his credit, the Cork Harbour sailor was seven points clear of runner up Dan O'Connell after six races sailed.

Every championship regatta is a network of many moving parts that organisers pray will mesh neatly on the day. The biggest moving part in our sport of sailing is of course the weather and over this we have no control. In the RIYC on Friday morning after five months of planning the 2014 LogMein Laser Masters Championship began to grind into action. As boats were being branded with sponsor decals a perfect breeze under a clear sky kicked in. Suddenly it appeared as if the whole thing just might work.

Saturday morning dawned the same as Friday, overcast skies and a pleasantly warm air temperature. By 11am the weather pattern was repeating itself as clouds burnt off, a blue sky revealed itself and thank you thank you thank you the first zephyrs of breeze began to appear in the flags on the mast above the RIYC forecourt.

Boats arrived all morning from the major Laser sailing centres of Cork and Ballyholme though the turnout from closer fleets like Howth was very disappointing for the organisers. Local sailors didn't need to bring their boats to the RIYC and launched from their own clubs. This gave the visiting sailors in the RIYC extra breathing room on the deck and during launching and recovery which at a Laser event can sometimes be a hectic experience.

Out on the Race Course PRO Henry Leonard and his team setup in the pre-chosen race area located in the western area of Seapoint Bay. The Lasers had opted for for this race area weeks earlier in discussions with DBSC to make sure all of the fleets racing in the bay at the weekend could co-exist peacefully. It's good to talk.

Race 1 was set off in a light southerly 6-8kts. To compete in this regatta you must be over 35 so this was perfect to get the Masters sailors limbered up gently. Nick Walsh (Master, over 45) from Cork set the early tempo and opened his account with a runaway bullet on the excellent Inner Loop Trapezoid course.

Race 2 saw Nick post another bullet in slightly fresher conditions of 10-12kts and he completed a remarkable hat-trick in Race 3 as the wind again clicked up and topped out at 12-14kts. He couldn't have scripted his day, neither could the organisers have scripted how their day was going.

As the sailors began the long haul back from the race course, on the deck of the RIYC the barbecue was being readied. By 4.30pm the forecourt of the RIYC was alive with Laser Masters and the group was bolstered as the local guys from the RStG and NYC arrived. The Laser Masters is a friendly fleet.

Rugby was next on a lot of the Masters minds, it served as a neat interlude and a few hours to relax before the fleet mustered in the RIYC for what was billed as the Master Class Steak Dinner. Gareth McGinty and his Dining Room A-Team in the RIYC took the concept of Master Class to heart and quite simply put on an amazing dinner.

Well known Laser Coach Thomas Chaix, defending his Masters Title, had generously agreed to lend his set of race trackers to the event. After coffee the sailors retired to the bar for replays of the days racing on the big screen. The event cogs we're still moving smoothly as day one merged into day two.

On Sunday morning sailors launched an hour earlier into a steady 10-12kt breeze still largely from the same Southerly direction. Henry Leonard set up shop closer to the harbour and using a slightly shorter course than the Saturday. This planning ensured that the prizegiving in the club would be on time which in turn meant that visiting sailors could get de-rigged and back on the road in a timely manner. Masters sailors are not getting any younger either so there were no complaints.

Nick didn't get it all his own way on the race course. Local sailor Theo Lyttle took a big lead on the first beat of Race 4 and held on to bag himself a bullet, a popular win amongst all the competitors. In Race 5 Nick got another win and could probably have started to relax a little. With this sort of form he was headed for a tidy scoreline. Thomas Chaix finally found his mojo in Race 6 to seal a win and that was it for the sailing.

Back on shore Laser Fleet stalwart Ron Hutchieson busily did the maths in the back room. He didn't even need all his fingers to count up Nick's final tally of 9 points. Second place went to Apprentice Dan O'Connell who sailed a quiet, neat and tidy regatta. In third was another Apprentice Roger O'Gorman visiting from Cork. First Grand Master was Chris Arrowsmith. For the full results broken down by the master Categories, Apprentice, Master and Grand Master see PDF below.

Prizes were presented by current RIYC Commodore James Horan who took a great interest in the whole Masters concept and was delighted to be addressing a dinghy event in the RIYC. As the thanks were wrapping up sponsor LogMeIn got a deserved big round of applause for their generous contribution to the event and then old Laser friends were saying goodbye one more time. The talk shifted immediately to the next event on the regional calendar, "..see you in Lough Derg for the Connaughts on Jun 28th?"