A strong fleet of over 100 boats is expected to contest the 2021 Laser National championships which start on Thursday, 19th August at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

The ILCA 6 (Radial) fleet has attracted over 50 registrations, with 35 signed up in the ILCA 4 fleet and around 20 in the ILCA 7 (standard) fleet.

The Cork Harbour event immediately follows the Laser 4.7 (ILCA 4) Youth World Championships on Dublin Bay last week. 

Due to the pandemic, no national championship event was sailed in 2020, with the last nationals being sailed in 2019 in Ballyholme in Northern Ireland.

Michael Crosbie, who won in the ILCA 4 fleet in 2019 has moved up to the ILCA 6 fleet and will be looking to make his mark this year. Recent experience at international events will stand him in good stead.

In 2019, Ellie Cunnane placed 2nd female in the ILCA 6 fleet and after two years of intensive training and international racing, her eyes are on the podium this week.

Event registration will be on Wednesday 18th August between 15:00 and 18:00 and Thursday 19th between 09:00 and 10:30.

The sailors briefing will be done virtually via zoom, with the link available on the RCYC website. The first race is scheduled for Thursday 19th August at midday, with start times one hour earlier at 11:00 am on the subsequent three days.

Latvian and Italian sailors were crowned ILCA Laser 4.7 Youth World Championships at Dún Laoghaire Harbour on Saturday following a week-long competition on Dublin Bay.

More than 230 competitors representing 31 countries competed in the largest international sporting event taking place in Ireland this year.

The event was hosted jointly by the Royal St George Yacht Club and the National Yacht Club.

With mixed weather across the week of sailing, there was stiff competition for the international sailors.

In the boys fleet, Martins Atilia of Latvia took home gold, while Greek sailor Alexandros Eleftheriadis took silver and Massimiliano Antoniazzi won the bronze medal.

The winner of the competition in the girls fleet was Emma Mattivi of Italy, followed by Croatian Petra Marednic and Italian Gaia Bolzonella in second and third place respectively.

The Irish boys were led by Rocco Wright of Howth in 49th and Dún Laoghaire’s Archie Daly in 61st place. The best of the Irish girls were Tralee’s Eimer McMorrow in 38th and Dún Laoghaire’s Anna O’Connor in 40th. 

Vilamoura, Portugal is the host for the 2022 ILCA4 Youth World Championships

Final ICLA4 Youth World Championship Results;

Girls Gold: 1st Emma Mattivi (ITA), 2nd Petra Marednic (CRO), 3rd Gaia Bolzonella (ITA), 4th Claudia Adán Lledó (ESP), 5th Annemijn Algra (NED), 6th Roos Wind (NED), 7th Johanna Böckl (AUT), 8th Gabriëla Groenewegen Van Der Weijden (GRE), 9th Giorgia Bonalana (ITA), 10th Alina Iuorio (ITA).

Boys Gold: 1st Martins Atilla (LAT), 2nd Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE), 3rd Massimiliano Antoniazzi (ITA), 4th Joan Ravie (ESP), 5th Hidde Wapstra (NED), 6th Hidde Schraffordt (NED), 7th Max Frank (NED), 8th Daniel Cardona Balsa (ESP), 9th Can Veysel Kaska (TUR), 10th Miguel Sancho (POR).

Girls Silver: 1st Cristina Castellanos (GUA), 2nd Arwen Fflur (GBR), 3rd Donna-Tinke Huijsmans (NED), 4th Léonie Baudet (SUI), 5th Isabella Mendoza Cabezas (USA), 6th Anna Vasilieva (USA), 7th Ava Anderson (USA), 8th Paula Bestard Mayol (ESP), 9th Cannelle Opstaele (BEL), 10th Mikaela Panagopoulou (GRE).

Boys Silver: 1st Benjamin Reeser, 2nd Oisín Mac Sweeney (IRL), 3rd Antonio Pascali (GBR), 4th Karel Ratnik (EST), 5th Jacob Zils (USA), 6th Keijiro Kikkawa (GBR), 7th Andrea Dubois (SUI), 8th Florian Vreeburg (NED), 9th Connor Demming (USA), 10th João Pacheco (POR).

U16 Boys: 1st Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE), 2nd Hidde Schraffordt (NED), 3rd Dionysios Kalpogiannakis (GRE)

U16 Girls: 1st Adriana Castro (ESP), 2nd Audrey Foley (USA), 3rd Signe Brinkert (NED).

Irish Girls: 1st Eimer McMorrow Moriarty, 2nd Anna O'Connor, 3rd Hannah Dadley-Young, 4th Sienna Wright, 5th Iseult Hogan, 6th Ella Dempsey, 7th Una Connell, 8th Emma Lynch, 9th Megan O'Sullivan, 10th Isabel Mc Carthy.

Irish Boys: 1st Rocco Wright, 2nd Archie Daly, 3rd Luke Turvey, 4th James Dwyer, 5th Oisín Mac Sweeney, 6th Darragh Collins, 7th Christian Ennis, 8th Oisin Hughes, 9th Russell Bolger, 10th Patrick Bruen.

Full boys results are here for and girls here

Link to Afloat's event coverage here

Photo gallery of Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds at Dun Laoghaire Harbour below

Another day of strong winds on Dublin Bay greeted the 229 sailors drawn from 31 countries for the penultimate day of the Laser 4.7/ILCA4 Youth World Championships.

The championships is being jointly hosted by Dun Laoghaire Harbour's National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club.

The 18 – 22 knot westerlies brought mixed fortunes in the Boys Gold fleet; although Martins Atilla (LAT) holds on to first place ahead of the final day of racing, he is now only 7 points ahead of Massimiliano Antoniazzi (ITA), who continues his climb up the leaderboard, and 9 points ahead of Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE) in third who could only manage a 16, 19 today.

Fourth is held by Joan Ravie (ESP) and Hidde Schraffordt (NED) is in 5th place.

Top Irish is Rocco Wright who continues to post consistent results and is in 58th, followed by Archie Day (59th) and James Dwyer (68th).

Emma Mattivi (ITA) managed an impressive 4,3 the remain on the top spot in the Girls Gold fleet but is now being pursued closely by fellow countrywoman Gaia Bolzonella (ITA) in second and Petra Marednic (CRO) slipped from 2nd yesterday back to 3rd today after posting a 13, 11.

Fourth place is held by the ever-consistent Roos Wind (NED) and 5th goes to Claudia Adán Lledó (ESP).

Anna O'Connor (38th) has managed to climb just ahead of Eimer McMorrow Moriarty (41st) in the supper talented Girls Gold Fleet.

First U16 Girl is Adriana Castro (ESP) and the first U16 Boy is Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE).

Lighter conditions with a South Westerly 5 to 6 knots forecast for tomorrow for the final two races before the Laser 4.7/ILCA4 World Champions are crowned in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Boys results are here for and girls here

ILCA 4/Laser 4.7 World Youth competitors launched at Dun Laoghaire with 18-20 knot southwesterly winds, but the 30-knot gusts that blew through the Dublin Bay racecourses were the true test for the 229 boats taking part in the first day of the final series of racing.

With the qualifying series complete at the National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club hosted event the sailors were divided into Gold and Silver fleets in both the boy's and girl's divisions.

229 sailors are competing from 31 different countries for the overall prize.

Another change at the top of the leader board in the Girl's fleet tonight was well earned after Emma Mattivi (ITA) scored an impressive 2, 1 today to move one point clear of Petra Marednic (CRO). Gaia Bolzonella (ITA) moved from 4th overnight top 3rd overall with a strong and consistent 1, 3 and as we look to tomorrow, its all to play for.

Tralee Bay's Eimer McMorrow Moriarty is top Irish Girl in (38th). Anna O'Connor (40th) is hot on her heels in the Girl's gold fleet.

In the boy's division Martins Atilla (LAT) moved from second to first with a solid performance to record a 1, 5. Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE) slipped back to second overall with a 7, 14 showing just how difficult it was to find the podium today. Massimiliano Antoniazzi (ITA) climbed several places with a 2, 4.

Rocco Wright representing Howth Yacht Club holds onto the position of top-performing Irish boy in 53rd. Archie Daly (58th) and James Dwyer (65th) make up the top three Irish boys.

Strong and gusty conditions are forecast for the penultimate day's racing tomorrow before the final day on Saturday.

The organisers say the Championships is one of the largest international sporting events taking place in Ireland this year. 

Boys results are here for and girls here

Racing continues from 10:30 am 

Day three of the ILCA4/Laser 4.7 Youth World Championships and more changes at the top of the leader board in the boy's division as the competition reaches the half-way stage.

Less than 10 points separate the top three sailors with Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE) now top of the leaderboard with an impressive 1, 6 in today's racing.

Best of the Irish is Howth Yacht Club's Rocco Wright moving up into 27th place after six qualifying races sailed in the 150-boat fleet.

Boys Overall: 1st Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE) 17pts, 2nd Martins Atilla (LAT) 21pts, 3rd Antonio López Martínez (ESP) 26pts, 4th Joan Ravie (ESP) 32pts, 5th Omer Vered Vilenchikm (ISR) 35pts.

Winds are to strengthen tomorrow but as they are forecast to remain offshore and westerly in direction, watching out for wind shifts will be an important race strategy for Dublin Bay.

Marednic leads girls division

Petra Marednic (CRO) has a firm hold on the top spot in the girl's divisions.

Marednic continues to steal the show with another two first-place finishes. She ends the qualifying series with 7 points from 5 scoring races.

As impressive as this is, Emma Mattivi (ITA) is hot on Petras heels and is on 12 points, with Claudia Adán Lledó (ESP) holding on close behind in 3rd with 15points.

The top Irish is Eimer Mcmorrow Moriarty in 38th place in the 80-boat fleet

Girls Overall: 1st Petra Marednic (CRO) 7pts, 2nd Emma Mattivi (ITA) 12pts, 3rd Claudia Adán Lledó (ESP) 15pts, 4th Gaia Bolzonella (ITA) 23pts, 5th Roos Wind (NED) 25pts.

229 boys and girls are competing from 31 different countries for the overall prize that is being hosted jointly by the harbour's National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Clubs. 

The organisers say it is one of the largest international sporting events taking place in Ireland this year. 

Boys results are here for and girls here

Racing continues from 10:30 am with the first of the final series races

A second day of light and shifty moderate winds completed two more qualifying rounds at the Laser/ILCA 4.7 Youth World Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

According to provisional results, the 149 boat boy's division is being led overnight by Spain's Joan Ravie followed by Alexandros Eleftheriadis of Greece with  Daniel Cardona Balsa (ESP) staying third.

The top Irish performer in the boys fleet is Howth Yacht Club Optimist ace Rocco Wright who took a seventh in race four to be 51st overall.

Ravie showed real class to take two first-place finishes to move to the of the leader board.

A lighter breeze of 8-10 kts started the day at 245 degrees and backed around through to 150 as the day progressed.

The girl's division is led by Croatia's Petra Marednic with Emma Mattiv (ITA) in second and Spain's Claudia Adán Lledó (CRO) is lying third. The top Irish girl is Anna O'Connor in 36th place in the 80-boat fleet.

The reigning ILCA 4 Girls European Champion and leader from the opening day, Annemijn Algra (NED) slipped to sixth.

229 boys and girls are competing from 31 different countries for the overall prize that is being hosted jointly by the harbour's National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Clubs. 

The organisers say it is one of the largest international sporting events taking place in Ireland this year. 

Both boys and girls divisions have completed a full schedule of four races on separate Dublin Bay race courses

Both divisions compete for another day in the qualifying series and a further three days in the finals series to eventually decide who will be crowned the 2021ILCA 4.7 World Champion.

Boys results are here for and girls here

Racing continues from 10:30 am with three final qualifying races

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is filled with sails this week as 229 boys and girls compete at the Laser/ILCA 4.7 Youth World Championships hosted jointly by the harbour's National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Clubs. 

Youth competitors from 31 different countries are taking part in the event which, say the organisers, makes it one of the largest international sporting events taking place in Ireland this year. 

Both boys and girls divisions completed a full schedule of two races on separate Dublin Bay race courses today in shifty 10 to 15  knots of breeze from the South West.

Best of the Irish boys was local Archie Daly who finished the day 38th in a fleet of 149 competitors. Tralee Bay's Eimer Mcmorrow Moriarty in 21st place in a fleet of 80 is the best of the girls. 

The girl's division is provisionally being led overnight by Annemijn Algra (NED) with Emma Mattivi (ITA) in second and Petra Marednic (CRO) is lying third.

Annemijn Algra from the Netherlands (NED), who is leading the girls division overnight comes with high hopes after winning the European Championships, which was part of the 132nd Travemünde Week in Germany only 10 days ago.

Some of the fleet of 240 boys and girls rigged and ready to sail from the Carlisle Pier at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Competitors from 31 countries are contesting the Laser ILCA 4.7 Youth World Championships on Dublin Bay this week. See vid below

The boy's division is provisionally being led overnight by Martins Atilla (LAT) with Daniel Cardona Balsa (ESP) Alp Hosgör (TUR) is lying third.

First U16 Girl is Signe Brinkert (NED) and Boy is Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE).

Both divisions compete for two more days in a qualifying series and a further three days in the finals series to eventually decide who will be crowned the 2021ILCA 4.7 World Champion.

Boys results are here for and girls here

Racing continues tomorrow from 10:30 am

It says everything about Eve McMahon's big-fleet sailing skills that she emerged as the clear winner of the Laser Radial Youth Worlds Girls Division on Lake Garda on Saturday, July 31st with a generally consistent scoreline which would have done credit to a mature and seasoned campaigner in a senior event.

Yet it was difficult for Eve to keep the head down and work quietly but steadily towards gaining, maintaining, losing and then regaining the overall lead, as her every movement in a boat speaks eloquently of sailing genius. This inevitably made her the target helm for the rest of the remarkably international fleet, but in the end her star quality shone through in true champion's style.

Classic Lake Garda conditions returned for the penultimate day of the 2021 ILCA 6 Youth Worlds that saw Howth's Eve McMahon back on top of the leaderboard. 

Results are tight and the forecast is good for the final day of the championship tomorrow.

McMahon now leads by five points from Czech Republic's Alessia Palanti on 28 points. 

The top two have a gap of 19 points on Anja Von Allmen in third on 47 points in the 55-boat gold fleet.

The Facebook video below shows the powerful form of McMahon at mark one of race 3 of the Girls Gold Fleet.

Download results pdf below

Howth’s Eve McMahon managed to stay in second overall after Thursday’s first two finals races in the Laser Youth Worlds on Lake Garda even with missing out on the first race with a DNC.

She came back with a third in race F2, and despite now having to carry her eighth in one of the qualifiers - which had been her discard going into the finals sequence - her net points of 17.0 put her 7 points ahead of third-placed Anja von Allmen of Switzerland, and 5 points astern of overall leader Alessua Palanti of the Czech Republic.

The pace and consistency at the top of the fleet of 54 helms in the Girls Gold Division is ferocious. Aside from McMahon’s DNC, the lowest race placing in the top five has been a 27th, and a significant majority of their results have been in single figures.