All students or recent graduates of DIT and UL; they range in age from 18 to 29, and are competing in a senior-level international regatta. Having trained through the Irish Winter, in leaky second-hand ‘Pacer’ dinghies from ebay, they are confident that this gives them an edge over the rest of the world. New 12 foot Pacers are used at the championship.
Three team members spent the summer in the USA where they raced against the defending World Champions. The team has sparred off the British and has not swayed outside the top three in any championship on these isles.
Because the team is spread between North Dublin, Wexford and West Cork, training requires travel commitment from team members and coach; all-Ireland Champion Nicholas O’Leary.
So far the weather hasn't been kind, freezing gales, and calms, spoil training sessions; including two training trips in the UK.
Temperatures in Perth are expected to be 35 degrees Celsius, and winds 25 knots.
Team member Conor Byrne and Afloat correpsondent adds:
We're six young sailors heading to Perth, Australia, on the 26th January for the World Team Racing Championships. We qualified for the event in April 2008 by doing well (2nd/12) in the Team Sailing National Championships and getting through to the World Team trials.
Three (Marty, Emer & Darragh) spent the summer in Newport, RI, USA, training with the World Champions, and we have trained with UK teams several times, and the Irish teams. We haven't finished outside the top 3 in Ireland or the UK.
The event is in 'Pacer' dinghies, unusual outside Australia; we found three old boats very cheap on Ebay in the UK, and bought them for about £150 each to train in back home. The boats at the World Championship are loaned new boats, and we know of no other nation with experience in the Pacers.
Because the team is spread between North Dublin, Wexford and West Cork, training requires travel commitment from team members and coach; 2008 All-Ireland, Match Racing National, 2x1720 European and Student National and World keelboat Champion Nicholas O'Leary (22, Crosshaven, RCYC). Nin is a nominee for Irish Sailor of the Year.
So far the weather hasn't been kind, stong gales or strong calms spoil training sessions; most disappointing were our two trips to West Kirby, UK to look at a millpond.
We are a culmination of last years' DIT team, which won most events last year, plus UL sailors Darragh O'Connor (21, final year Engineering Teacher UL, Schull, ULSC) and Katie Tingle (18, Douglas, RCYC).
Marty O'Leary, (22, Final year Engineering, DIT, Blanchardstown, Courtown S.C.), and O'Connor crewed for Nicholas on the winning All-Ireland Championship boat, and crewed Irish representitive John Sheehy to 4th in the recent Nations Cup event in Kinsale. O'Leary is twice Laser II National Champ and IUSA Sailor of the Year.
Katie Tingle, former Optimist National champion, Junior Helm champion and 420 Academy member, is most recently famed for a race win in the 2007 Laser 4.7 Europeans and a 12th overall. Now studying to become a primary school teacher in Limerick.
Brian Fenlon (29, Electircal Engineer, Wexford, WHBTC), Emer McNally (20, 3rd year Marketing student, DIT, Skerries, SSC) and Conor Byrne (25, FreeL Journalist, Balbriggan, SSC) all hail from the Mermaid class, Fenlon several time National Champion crewing for Derek Joyce. Byrne won the 2006 Laser II Europeans.
Temperatures in Perth are expected to be 35 degrees Celsius, and winds 25 knots. We raised all monies with fund-raising events and from private donations from friends, business contacts, after many companies pulled sponsorship deals on us for obvious reasons. The Irish Sailing Association declined funding because we are not or aspiring to be Olympians. The total cost is €14,000.
Send-off fundraiser in Doyle's, College Street Dublin 2 on Saturday night, 24th January.
