27 knots was never going to stop Sophie Browne and  the brave sailors of the Irish Optimist class at Tralee Bay Sailing Club, Fenit, Co.Kerry. The fleet was in town for the Optimist Munster Championships and the local girl proved unstoppable in the six race series. Brian Carlin took the photos in two albums on the Afloat gallery HERE. and HERE.

 

Last weekend (11/12th June) saw the Optimist Ulster Championships return to Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club after a three year gap.

The weather, always so critical in sailing events, did its usual trick of throwing everything possible at the sailors and organisers.

Saturday was a day of light airs and sunshine. With light fickle winds dropping away to nothing, the Featherweights in the fleet were delighted and preformed well.

Sunday was a different day entirely and with winds of 18 knots gusting 22, the heavier sailors came into their own. All in all, something for everyone!

Race 1 in the Junior Fleet was won by Ronan Cournane (Royal Cork Yacht Club) followed closely by Colin O'Sullivan (Malahide Yacht Club). Race 2 was started in light winds but on the second beat the sailors made little progress against the tide. As the wind disappeared only 10 sailors managed to finish, the rest being "timed out". The third race of the day was yet another "light airs" affair. Again the promising breeze fizzled out and Royal North's very experienced Race Officer, Nigel Kearney, raised the abandonment flag.

The sailors went ashore for the day to enjoy the hospitalities of Royal North's recently refurbished clubhouse.

In the Senior Fleet Races 1 and 2 were won by "experienced" sailor Peter McCann (he is only 13) from Royal Cork Yacht Club. Like the Juniors, their Race 3 was also abandoned and the tired sailors sailed back to a fantastic welcome and great meal provided by Royal North. A difficult day for all, both Race Committee and sailors alike worked hard as the wind shifted, built up, dropped away, and built up again.

On Saturday evening Irish Optimist President, Fred Campbell from Royal North presented the Irish Team sailors with their iconic

Green Life Jackets and team gear and wished them all luck in their respective International events.

Sunday morning came and the promised wind which had the heavier sailors in a jubilant mood started to build steadily.

Race 1 was won by Sean Donnelly from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire with Races 2 and 3 being won by fellow Dun Laoghaire sailor Adam Hyland (Royal St George Yacht Club). Adam was unfortunate to have incurred a "timed out" and a "black flag" penalty in Saturday's racing. These "expensive" scores pulled him down the results allowing Royal Cork sailor, Peter McCann who sailed steadily on both days to secure the overall Senior Championship.

In the Junior Fleet, Race 1 was won by Rebecca O' Shaughnessy (Royal Cork) with Niamh Henry (Royal St George) winning Race 2 while strong wind expert Issy Delamer won Race 2 making Sunday an all girl affair in the Junior Fleet. However, the girls' excellent performances in the stronger breeze did not prevent Royal Cork sailor Ronan Cournane repeating his brother Daire's success the previous year and securing the Junior Championship.

Congratulations to Peter McCann who is the Ulster Senior regional Champion. Congratulations also to Ronan Cournane who is the Ulster Junior Regional Championship.

At a prize giving ceremony following the event, Royal North Commodore, Mike Vaughan welcomed all the visitors and referred to the long association between the club and the Irish Optimist Association. Irish Optimist Vice President Des Flood from Howth Yacht Club thanked the Royal North Yacht Club and its volunteers who worked tirelessly all weekend to make the event the resounding success that it was!

The top five in each fleet were:

Senior Fleet:

1 1439 Gold Peter McCann 14 RCYC 7 1 1 4 2 3
2 1438 Gold Sean Donnelly 14 NYC 17 12 3 1 9 4
3 1375 Gold Richard Hogan 13 HYC 22 5 39 6 3 8
4 1425 Gold Douglas Elmes 13 RCYC/WHSC 27 3 2 11 11 31
5 1444 Gold Sophie Browne 14 TBSC/RCYC 29 18 18 2 4 5

Junior Fleet:

1 1411 Gold Ronan Cournane 12 RCYC/KYC 9 1 2 3 7 3
2 1012 Gold Niamh Henry 12 RStGYC 10 4 1 6 1 4
3 1372 Gold Isabelle Delamer 12 HYC 16 13 5 8 2 1
4 1343 Silver Colin O'SULLIVAN 12 MYC 20 2 3 7 8 14
5 1341 Gold Ewan MCMAHON 12 HYC 20 8 4 2 6 46

Local Sailor Success
Just 5 years ago Royal North sailor Ross Vaughan was Ireland's highest ranked Optimist sailor. In his wake up to 20 Royal North sailors competed on the Irish Optimist circuit. Last year saw a bit of a gap in Northern competitors, but Royal North was pleased to field a total of eight sailors in this event. All are very young but led by enthusiastic Class Captain Greg Bell, all are looking forward to joining the "Irish Optimist Circuit" in the years ahead and bringing success once more to Royal North Optimist sailing.
Best local sailors at the event were Sally Bell in the main fleet and Louis Miller in Regatta Fleet. Expect to see these names again.

Regatta Fleet
Held in conjunction with the championships was a "very" junior event for the very youngest sailors who have recently completed their dinghy competency courses and are getting ready to go racing. This racing experience is essential to equip the sailors with the skills they will need when they move to the main fleet.
Watched by anxious parents from the lawn of Royal North the sailors were led by coaches, Katie Malcolm, Katie White and Holly Campbell. In a series of short races conducted by Race Officer Mark Brien, the kids mostly between 8 and 10 years old got their first taste of racing.
All regatta fleet racers were presented with medals and fun prizes.

Next Year?
It is hoped that when the whole entourage returns to the North next year, these youngest sailors will have progressed to join their older friends in the main fleet.

Judging by the comments from the visiting sailors and parents, North Down can look forward to the return of the class next year. Royal North Commodore, Mike Vaughan, when thanking North Down Tourism and other sponsors of the event, expressed his hope that the championships would again return to Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.

Raging Bull charged back to the top of the ISORA fleet in a race across the Irish Sea. The offshore focus now is on the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race. Adam Hyland won the Oppy Leinsters and visiting Kinsale sailors took the Dragon Easterns, both events were held on Dublin Bay. Dick Dastardly won Class 2 at the same venue in DBSC's Saturday race. Abroad Irish Olympic hopes were making the headlines at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Holland but no medals just yet.

Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary is racing at the Scottish Series and better weather is promised tomorrow. ICRA has arranged craneage for next month's national championships and there are less than two weeks to the first gun of the Fireball World Championships in Sligo. 58 are entrered from nine countries.

All this and much more in Monday's Afloat ebulletin. Direct to your inbox  Sign up here for free. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!

 Barry Hurley and Mick Liddy prepare for the ISORA start in Wales on Saturday. More photos by Cathy Mullan on our ISORA post here

 

Dublin Bay local Adam Hyland has won the Optimist Leinster Championships on home waters this afternoon in blustery conditions that saw the series completed in the comparative shelter of Scotsman's bay in the lee of Dun Laoghaire's East pier as winds across Dublin Bay hit 25 knots from the West. Howth Yacht Club sailors Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson were second and third respectively.

The Championships hosted by the National Yacht Club also featured racing in the Junior and Regatta fleets. The juniors was won by Ronan Cournahane and regatta racing by Eva Millar.

Results below.

Series Place	Sail No	Fleet	Helm	Prize Age	Club	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4
1	1413	Gold	Adam HYLAND	14	RStGYC	7	1	3	52	3
2	1437	Gold	Sean WADDILOVE	14	SSC/HYC	8	5	1	2	52
3	1355	Gold	Robert Dickson	13	HYC	11	2	15	8	1
4	1443	Gold	Sean Gambier-Ross	14	KYC	13	4	7	52	2
5	1407	Gold	Conor O'Beirne	13	RStGYC	18	12	6	6	6
6	1441	Gold	Eoin Lyden	14	RCYC / BSC	20	11	5	18	4
7	1433	Gold	Jil McGinley	14	RCYC	24	9	10	5	52
8	1305	Gold	Sandy APLIN	13	RStGYC	26	32	14	3	9
9	1440	Gold	Harry Whitaker	14	RCYC/BSC	26	35	11	7	8
10	1307	Gold	Anna Kelly	13	RCYC/BBSC	29	10	8	12	11
11	1438	Gold	Sean Donnelly	14	NYC	36	23	9	4	52
12	1315	Gold	Fergus Flood	13	HYC	37	19	4	14	52
13	1316	Silver	Ross Quirke	14	NYC	39	7	28	25	7
14	1444	Gold	Sophie Browne		TBSC/RCYC	40	15	16	9	52
15	1420	Gold	Megan Parker	13	SSC	41	18	18	23	5
16	1425	Gold	Douglas Elmes	13	RCYC/WHSC	41	16	19	10	15
17	1335	Gold	Scott Levie	14	LDYC	42	8	40	22	12
18	1415	Silver	Caitlin Waters	15	RStGYC	50	25	32	15	10
19	1410	Gold	Daire Cournane	13	RCYC/KYC	56	3	52	1	52
20	1314	Gold	Alexandra Walsh	14	RStGYC	56	17	23	52	16
21	1369	Gold	Adam D'ARCY	13	RCYC	57	30	22	13	22
22	1340	Gold	Alacoque Daly	13	TBSC	58	27	24	20	14
23	1436	Gold	Daniel Raymond		NYC	63	13	31	19	52
24	1446	Silver	Stephen Judge	13	RIYC	64	21	37	24	19
25	1298	Gold	Bill Staunton	14	SSC	65	24	20	21	52
26	1352	Silver	Cara MC DOWELL	13	MYC	66	26	27	27	13
27	1439	Gold	Peter McCann	14	RCYC	68	14	2	52	52
28	1234	Gold	Mark Bolger	14	RStGYC	69	28	13	28	52
29	1442	Gold	Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain	13	KYC	70	41	12	17	52
30	1422	Gold	Chloe Eggers	14	RStGYC	75	6	17	52	52
31	1361	Gold	Aoife Hopkins	13	HYC	76	20	40	16	52
32	1332	Silver	James O'Connor	13	RStGYC	76	22	38	33	21
33	961	Silver	Claire O'Sullivan		RCYC	81	34	35	30	17
34	1427	Silver	Jacob MARTENSSON	14	RIYC	81	31	36	26	24
35	1360	Silver	Nicole Hemeryck	13	RIYC/WHSC	82	33	29	52	20
36	1349	Gold	Conor KNEAFSEY	14	NYC	84	42	25	34	25
37	1243	Silver	Charley Breen	13	RCYC	88	40	33	29	26
38	1358	Silver	Erica Markey	13	HYC	94	45	39	32	23
39	1225	Gold	Peter Healy	14	KYC	102	39	52	11	52
40	1375	Gold	Richard Hogan	13	HYC	102	29	21	52	52
41	122	Silver	Fionn O'REGAN	14	DSC	103	38	34	31	52
42	1392	Silver	Cian BUCKLEY	14	MYC	104	43	26	35	52
43	1154	Gold	Ciaran Finnegan	13	WHSC	107	37	52	52	18
44	1389	Silver	Laura COLEMAN	13	RIYC	124	44	43	37	52
45	1303	Silver	D.J. MCGOVERN	14	MYC	129	36	41	52	52
46	1278	Silver	Eoghan O REGAN	13	RCYC	140	52	52	36	52
47	1313	Silver	Alex Kavanagh	13	HYC	146	52	42	52	52
48	768	Silver	Julia GEOGHEGAN	13	RIYC	156	52	52	52	52
48	1218	Silver	Emer Rafferty			156	52	52	52	52
48	1359	Silver	Isabel CAHILL	13	HYC	156	52	52	52	52
48	1402	Silver	Lucy McCutcheon	14	RStGYC	156	52	52	52	52

Junior Division

Series Place	Sail No	Fleet	Helm	Prize Age	Club	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4
1	1411	Gold	Ronan Cournane	12	RCYC/KYC	7	1	5	1	13
2	1408	Gold	Kate Lyttle	12	RStGYC	8	3	11	3	2
3	1346	Silver	Philip McDowell	12	MYC	11	12	8	2	1
4	1012	Gold	Niamh Henry	12	RStGYC	12	4	4	4	5
5	1343	Silver	Colin O'SULLIVAN	12	MYC	15	8	2	5	9
6	1282	Silver	Oskar Cahill	12		15	5	3	7	7
7	1372	Gold	Isabelle Delamer	12	HYC	19	6	9	14	4
8	1347	Silver	Ben Walsh	12	SSC	21	2	14	13	6
9	1266	Gold	Scott O'Sullivan	12	KYC	22.5	7	7.5	8	18
10	1341	Gold	Ewan MCMAHON	12	HYC	24	9	1	15	14
11	1290	Silver	Harry Durcan	12	RCYC	25	13	6	11	8
12	1421	Gold	Evie Byrne	12	NYC	28	10	12	6	16
13	1302	Gold	Harry Craig	12	RStGYC	31	21	7	22	3
14	1217	Gold	Rebecca O SHAUGHNESSY	12	RCYC	32	11	10	16	11
15	1445	Silver	Hugh Perrette	12	NYC/SDC	43	14	19	10	21
16	1342	Silver	Darragh KELLY	12	SDC	44	57	13	9	22
17	1148	Gold	Eoghan O'Buachalla	12	TBSC	44	23	16	12	16
18	1119	Silver	Conor LEE	11	GBSC	47	15	18	17	15
19	1246	Silver	Johnny Durcan	12	RCYC	55	20	17	18	57
20	1143	Silver	Richard McGinley	11	RCYC	56	16	27	20	20
21	1399	Silver	Daniel Hopkins	11	HYC	58	17	31	57	10
22	1324	Silver	Heather SPAIN	12	NYC	65	30	24	24	17
23	1291	Silver	Amy CARROLL	11		65	25	22	19	24
24	1382	Silver	Conor Byrne	12	NYC	67	22	20	25	57
25	1403	Silver	Jamie O'GRADY	11	HYC	71	19	26	26	27
26	1357	Silver	James McCann	11	RCYC	75	18	57	31	26
27	1297	Silver	Luke MCGRATH	11	RCYC	76	28	25	57	23
28	1404	Silver	Alex O'GRADY	11	HYC	77	31	23	23	31
29	8	Silver	Emma Parker	10	SSC	78	57	29	21	28
30	1275	Silver	Nell STAUNTON	11	SSC	80	24	57	27	29
31	1294	Silver	Tom KEAL	10	RCYC	86	29	28	29	57
32	1192	Silver	Rachel Eggers	11	RStGYC	89	27	30	57	32
33	1244	Silver	Alix Buckley	11	SSC	90	57	21	57	12
34	1153	Silver	Ronan WALSH	11	RCYC	117	32	57	28	57
35	1435	Silver	Patrick RIORDAN	12	RIYC	139	57	57	57	25
36	1089	Silver	Harry BELL	10	RNIYC	140	26	57	57	57
37	1397	Silver	Lucy DONWORTH	12	RCYC/BSC	144	57	57	57	30
38	1293	Silver	Killian MCHUGH	12	GBSC	144	57	57	30	57
39	698	Silver	Shane O'Brien		SDC	171	57	57	57	57
39	885	Silver	Imogen MCNAMARA	11	RIYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	934	Silver	Jane Bolger	10	RStGYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	989	Silver	Lucy WATERS	11	RStGYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	996	Silver	Gavin Roche Griffin	11	RStYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1195	Silver	Grace O'Beirne	11	RStGYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1196	Silver	Oisin LYONS	11	GBSC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1233	Silver	Sarah CUDMORE	11	rcyc	171	57	57	57	57
39	1253	Silver	Sarah LEVIE	11	LDYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1255	Silver	Ros Morgan	12	SSC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1280	Silver	Gemma MC DOWELL	11	MYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1296	Silver	Phoebe NORWOOD	12	RIYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1309	Silver	Helen O'Beirne	11	RStGYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1354	Silver	David O'REILLY	11	GBSC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1364	Silver	Dara Donnelly	12	NYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1379	Silver	Max Kavanagh	10	HYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1384	Silver	Sally BELL	12	RNIYC	171	57	57	57	57
39	1423	Silver	Tom SHANAHAN	12	NYC	171	57	57	57	57

Regatta Division

Sail No	Helm	Prize Age	Club
0	Eva MILLAR	9	RNIYC
683	Micheal O'SUILLEABHAIN	9	KYC
697	Eoin LYONS	9	GBSC
720	Mairead MCHUGH	10	GBSC
778	Rosa GEOGHEGAN	11	RIYC
786	Caoimhe Totterdell	10	NYC
795	Cormac BUCKLEY	10	MYC
819	Cian MURPHY	10	NYC
838	Conor WALSH	8	RCYC
844	Robert KEAL	0	RCYC
960	Siofra COLLINS	10	GBSC
998	Louis MILLAR	11	RNIYC
1009	Kate D'ARCY	10	RCYC
1018	Jamie MCMAHON	9	HYC
1034	Peter SHANAHAN	10	NYC
1081	Peter FAGAN	11	NYC
1133	Cliona COYLE	11	NYC
1150	Patrick COYLE	13	NYC
1173	Megan CAHILL	11	HYC
1182	Clare GORMAN	10	NYC
1196	Michael CARROLL	10
1204	Brian FOX	13	TBSC
1208	William SPAIN	11	NYC
1236	Finn MATTHEWS	12	GBSC
1242	Alison MAGUIRE	11	RIYC
1254	Emily Whitaker	10	RCYC/BSC
1269	Guy Withinshaw WITHINSHAW	10	NYC
1274	Nicola FERGUSON	11	RIYC
1283	Ella HEMERYCK	10	RIYC/WHSC
1321	Katie-Jane Marshall	10	NYC
1348	Ella DUFFY	11	NYC
1394	Neasa O'CONNELL	9	RstGYC
1396	Morgan Lyttle	9	RStGYC
6102	Rory COLLINS	8	GBSC
GBR3280	Emma WILLIAMS	9	RStGYC

The IODAI Optimist Trials concluded in Dun Laoghaire this weekend at the Mitsubishi Youth Regatta with a fine win for Sophie Browne. The Tralee Bay Sailor raced a consistent series with blinding boatspeed to pip long term leader Sean Donnelly (NYC). The purpose of the trials is to select teams to represent Ireland at the World, European and German Championships. The Royal Cork continued its recent history of fine results with 7 of the 18 available places being filled by club members.

By winning the trials, Browne has now taken up the option of travelling to New Zealand in December 2011 to represent Ireland at the Optimist World Championships.

The following sailors were selected by the trial process to represent Ireland at the European Championship which will be held in Portugal in July 2011: Sean Donnelly, HYC, Peter McCann RCYC, Harry Whitaker RCYC, Eoin Lyden RCYC, Jil McGinley RCYC Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain KYC and Megan Parker SSC

The team selected to travel to the German National Championships include Robert Dickson HYC , Daire Cournane KYC, Sean Waddilove Skerries SC, Richard Hogan HYC, Adam Hyland RSGYC, Ronan Cournane KYC, Sean Gambier Ross KYC and Fergus Flood HYC, Aoife Hopkins and Alacoque Daly Tralee Bay SC.

In addition 10 sailors were chosen for the Irish under 12 squad who will compete in the Optimist UK National Championships.

IODAI Trials 2011 Entries: 53 Races Sailed: 14 Discard: 3 Provisional Results

Series Place	Sail No	Fleet	Helm	M/F	Prize Age	Club	Series Points
1	1368	Senior	Sophie Browne	F	14	TBSC/RCYC	29.71
2	1438	Senior	Sean Donnelly	M	14	NYC	31
3	1439	Senior	Peter McCann	M	14	RCYC	46
4	1440	Senior	Harry Whitaker	M	14	RCYC	50
5	1441	Senior	Eoin Lyden	M	14	RCYC/BSC	68.29
6	1355	Senior	Robert Dickson	M	13	HYC	98
7	1410	Senior	Daire Cournane	M	13	RCYC/KYC	100
8	1433	Senior	Jil McGinley	F	14	RCYC	101
9	1437	Senior	Sean WADDILOVE	M	14	SSC/HYC	103
10	1442	Senior	Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain	F	13	KYC	110
11	1375	Senior	Richard Hogan	M	13	HYC	111
12	1413	Senior	Adam HYLAND	M	14	RstGYC	118
13	1411	Junior	Ronan Cournane	M	12	RCYC/KYC	125
14	1443	Senior	Sean Gambier-Ross	M	14	KYC	134
15	1315	Senior	Fergus Flood	M	13	HYC	135
16	1407	Senior	Conor O'Beirne	M	13	RStGYC	148
17	1436	Senior	Daniel RAYMOND	M	13	NYC	161
18	1341	Junior	Ewan MCMAHON	M	12	HYC	174
19	1425	Senior	Douglas Elmes	M	13	RCYC/WHSC	177
20	1335	Senior	Scott Levie	M	14	LDYC/KYC	179
21	1348	Senior	Megan Parker	F	13	SSC	183
22	1154	Senior	Ciaran Finnegan	M	13	WHSC	203
23	1305	Senior	Sandy APLIN	M	13	RStGYC	215
24	1298	Senior	Bill Staunton	M	14	SSC	218
25	1361	Senior	Aoife Hopkins	F	13	HYC	252
26	1369	Senior	Adam D'ARCY	M	13	RCYC	252
27	1340	Senior	Alacoque Daly	F	13	TBSC	264
28	1307	Senior	Anna Kelly	F	13	RCYC	267
29	1234	Senior	Mark Bolger	M	14	RSGYC/BSC	272
30	1422	Senior	Chloe Eggers	F	14	RStGYC	279
31	1349	Senior	Conor KNEAFSEY	M	14	NYC	283
32	1302	Junior	Harry Craig	M	12	RStGYC	289
33	1012	Junior	Niamh Henry	F	12	RStGYC	297
34	1412	Senior	Eva DONWORTH	F	15	RCYC/BSC	330
35	1337	Senior	Donagh O'Buachalla	M	14	TBSC	330
36	1372	Junior	Isabelle Delamer	F	12	HYC	349
37	1314	Senior	Alexandra Walsh	F	14	RStGYC	351
38	1243	Senior	Charley Breen	F	13	RCYC	357
39	1225	Senior	Peter Healy	M	14	KYC	358
40	1229	Senior	Maeve O'Sullivan	F	15	RCYC	390
41	1353	Senior	Thomas Moore	M	14	SSC	393
42	1421	Junior	Evie Byrne	F	12	NYC	395
43	1415	Senior	Caitlin Waters	F	15	RStGYC	400
44	1217	Junior	Rebecca O'Shaughnessy	F	12	RCYC	414
45	1360	Senior	Nicole Hemeryck	F	13	NYC/ HYC	416
46	1148	Junior	Eoghan O'Buachalla	M	12	TBSC	417
47	961	Senior	Claire O'Sullivan	F	13	RCYC	421
48	1266	Junior	Scott O'Sullivan	M	12	KYC	438
49	1408	Junior	Kate Lyttle	F	12	RStGYC	465
50	1402	Senior	Lucy McCutcheon	F	14	RStGYC	470
51	1250	Senior	Anna Potterton	F	13	WHSC/HYC	497
52	1247	Senior	Conor Totterdell	M	15	NYC	542
53	1414	Senior	Alexander GILLETT	M	13	RStGYC/LDYC	594

Ireland finished top country at the massive Dutch Easter Optimist dinghy sailing event at Braassemeer Easter regatta. The National Yacht Club's Sean Donnelly was fourth and Royal St. George's Adam Hyland fifth overall in the Gold fleet. Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain took the first bullet of the event for the Irish and finished 22nd just behind Chloe Eggers who was 20th overall. The Oppy sqaud are in action again this weekend at the Mitsubishi Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay.

Over the next few days hundreds of boats will arrive in Dun Laoghaire in preparation for the Mitsubishi Youth National Championships over the May Bank Holiday weekend (29 April – 02 May).

Over 300 sailors will compete in Dublin Bay in seven different classes (Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, 420, Feva, Topper, SL16 and Optimist). For youth sailors, this event is the most important in the annual calendar as it is the decider for the top Irish sailors to compete internationally during 2011 and is the pathway for future Olympic sailors. Podcast with Olympic Team Manager James O'Callaghan here.

The 420 fleet is already in situ as the Leinster Championships were held over Easter and the girls team Emma Geary and Niamh Connolly won the event in style. This team is the only 420 crew to qualify internationally for a place on the Irish team to compete in the ISAF Youth Worlds in Zadar, Croatia and will be looking to win next weekend to secure this honour.

Dublin Bay will host the 2012 ISAF Youth World Championships and this year's ISA Mitsubishi Youth National event is an important test event with representatives from the international sailing authority visiting Dun Laoghaire to view plans and test logistics.

In addition to the 420 fleet the Laser radial fleet will also be competing to qualify to represent Ireland in Croatia. Philip Doran aged 17 from Courtown in Wexford is the current former under 17 World Champion in the Laser Radial fleet although the National title has eluded him so far. In the girls fleet it will be a toss up between Saskia Tidey (RIYC) and Sophie Murphy (Quoile YC) as both already have a national title each under their belts.

A fleet of top Optimists are expected. Photo: Bob Bateman

The younger Optimist fleet is also celebrating this week after two top 5 positions at the Easter Regatta in Braassemermeer, the Netherlands. In fact an Irish team has competed at this event for 23 years and this is the first time that Ireland has won the country prize. Sean Donnelly from Dun Laoghaire who finished fourth in Braassemermeer is also leading the Optimist fleet in the trials and will be anxious to hold on to first position during the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals.

In other fleets, the laser 4.7 fleet is enjoying record numbers with many ex-Optimist and Topper sailors choosing this boat. Finn Lynch from Blessington and Seafra Guilfoyle from Cork will be firm favourites to win the class.

Overall Dublin Bay will be a spectacle of sail over the May Bank holiday weekend with light winds forecast.

Mitsubishi Motors have been a proud supporter of junior sailing in Ireland for the last 7 years. In recent years Ireland has had successes at youth level with winner of the girls under 21 Laser World Championships and a top 10 at the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds and wins at the British National Optimist Championships.

A European Sailing Championship, four national championships, four regional championships and a dozen local regattas/events are the central features of a hectic year afloat being organised by Howth Yacht Club in 2011 which will bring thousands of sailors and their families to the town and contribute significantly to the local economy.

At a launch reception in the club on Thursday 31st March attended by representatives of local commerce, tourism and community bodies, HYC Commodore Roger Cagney announced that in addition to junior and adult sail training courses and club racing four days a week in the summer months, the Club would host over 20 open events during the year.

"We are used to sailing being a year-round activity," he said, "but even by our standards this will be an exceptionally busy year for Howth Yacht Club. We are fortunate in the number of talented volunteers we can call upon to help make these events successful and we have an enviable track record in this regard. We are also extremely grateful for the sponsorship of individual events from commercial concerns, details of which will be released in due course."

The major event on the 2011 calendar is undoubtedly the European Championship of the J24 Class, the world's most popular racing keelboat, when over 200 sailors from six or more countries will compete in the four-day regatta in September.

Howth will also host the Irish Championships of four classes – Puppeteer, Squib, Howth 17 and Optimist – between July 1st and late-August, with the latter attracting up to 200 competitors, together with their families, coaches and supporters. In addition, HYC will run the SB3 Eastern Championships (end April), the RS Feva Leinsters (late May) and the Dublin Match Racing Open (in J80s in early September).

The club's programme also comprises the Spring Warmer series in April, the annual Lambay Races on June 11th, the Dinghy Regatta a week later and the ever-popular Autumn League over five weekends in September/October.

Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George Yacht Club has announced that its inaugural Junior Spring Open, sponsored by Craftinsure, will be held on the 19th & 20th of March 2011. This event promises to be a great kick start to the Junior Sailing Season for the Optimist, 420, Feva and Laser Classes.

There will be both Regatta and Main Fleets, Regatta Coaches on the courses and the event will count as an Optimist Pre-Trials and Pre-Regional event. With the ISA Mitsubishi Youth National Championship being held in the same sailing area at the end of April, this event is a great opportunity for sailors from all around the country to get some practise in the local waters.

There will be entertainment for sailors and parents on both evenings, evening dinners and, of course, full Six Nations Rugby coverage on the Saturday throughout the Club. There will also be live-tweeting from the water throughout the event - follow this live action unfold at www.twitter.com/rsgyc.

For further information and to enter online please visit www.rsgyc.ie. The Entrance Fee is €85 for Fevas & 420s and €55 for Oppies & Lasers.

May Bank Holiday weekend (29 April – 02 May) over 300 sailors will compete in Dublin Bay in seven different classes (Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, 420, Feva, Topper, SL16 and Optimist). For youth sailors, this event is the most crucial in the annual calendar as it is the decider for the top Irish sailors to compete internationally during 2011 and is the pathway for future Olympic sailors.
Not only will the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals over the May weekend be an important event for youth sailors it is also a major milestone for the organisers of the ISAF Youth Worlds 2012 as it offers them the opportunity to test drive the logistics of managing such a large event incorporating three clubs, three race courses and hundreds of volunteers.
'Dun Laoghaire has a proud reputation for hosting international events such as the biennial combined clubs Dun Laoghaire Regatta and numerous world championships. However in 2011 the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals is of more significance as it gives us an opportunity to test our systems in advance of the ISAF Youth Worlds 2012.' stated Event Chairman Brian Craig.
Dun Laoghaire won the bid to host the ISAF Youth Worlds 2012 from 12-21 July when, in excess of 300 sailors and windsurfing champions from over 60 nations will participate. The granting of this prestigious sailing event to Ireland is a major boost to the sport and secures Ireland's position as an ideal location for hosting world class sailing events. It also establishes Dun Laoghaire as one of the prime major racing locations in the world, capable of running multiple classes and courses to the highest international standard.
'The Youth Nationals is a significant event on the racing calendar. It involves young sailors from all of the 'Olympic Pathway' classes, some of whom are competing for places on the team that will represent Ireland in the ISAF Youth Worlds later this year.  In recent years Ireland has had successes at youth level with winner of the girls Laser World Championships a top 10 at the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds and wins at the British National Optimist Championships.

Three hundred sailors from around the country are expected to compete for national youth and junior pathway titles and the Mitsubishi coaching grant during the event.