The EUROMED is a great mid-winter event in Malta. The event is sailed in Optimist, ILCA4 and ILCA6. The mild temperatures along with the friendliness of the organisers, deliver the perfect combo for fun and competition.

Team National Yacht Club from Dun Laoghaire Harbour was composed of eight Optimist sailors and one ILCA4 sailor. Ella Fitzgerald travelled a little ahead of the team to practice on her ILCA4. The rest of the team arrived the day before the event, just about squeezing a lovely sunset session in the bay.

ILCA4 practise in Malta at the Eurocup

The 140 boats main Optimist fleet gathered sailors from all around the world (GBR, IRL, MLT, ESP, USA, ITA, UKR, ISR, GRE, THA, SUI, NED, NOR, TUR, BUL, EST), delivering a very competitive event. Being exposed to this great level of competition for the young NYC sailors was a great experience and allowed them to observe, learn and progress their skills. Our best finish was courtesy of Felix Dion, with a 21st in race 5.

National Yacht Club sailors at the Euromed prizegiving in Malta

The 20 boats novice Fleet (IRL, ITA, MLT, SUI, ISR) was a big step for our youngest team member, but he stuck at the task, eventually scoring a finish which was his objective of the week.

Ella kept progressing in the ILCA4 fleet scoring her best finishes towards the end of the event.

The sailors really enjoyed the experience, took home valuable lessons and memories of a friendly regatta.

Team NYC

• Hannah Walsh
• Grace Keating
• Gemma Brady
• Felix Dion
• Lucas Browne
• Louise Hanley
• Ella Fitzgerald

We had two sailors from Tralee Bay SC who joined the team for the event

• Jude Hynes
• Ben Chaix

Optimist training is due to return to the NYC platform on the weekend of 28-29 January

National Yacht Club Optimist sailors compete at the Euromed, a mid-winter event in Malta

#euromed2014 – The Royal St. George's Grace O'Beirne was the top Irish youth sailor at the Malta based Euromed 2014 Optimist championships held immediately before Christmas. Nine races were sailed with two discards In a series sailed largely in winds from five to ten knots that were shifty and gusty. 

Unfortnuately, some of the Maltese series sailed at Mellieha Bay left a lot to be desired with only 13 finishers and 90 plus blackflag disqualifications in one afternoon on the water. 

O'Beirne finished 14th with a seventh in race four as her best result. Next – in a team of 17 Irish sailors – was Michael Carroll in 33rd place. Full results here

The Irish ambassador to Malta, Mr Padraig MacCoscair was at Mellieha Bay to welcome all the Irish sailors off the water at Euromed 2014.