O'Leary Retains All Ireland Title

27th September 2009

Royal Cork's Nicholas O'Leary has the X factor. Following a light air series on home waters, O'Leary retained the All Ireland Sailing title this afternoon to become one of only a handful of sailors to hold on to the coveted salver. In a replay of last years event at Howth, also sailed in J80s, O'Leary's father Anthony was second. The overall positions were: 1st Nicholas O'Leary, 2nd Anthony O'Leary, 3rd Ben Duncan, 4th John Driscoll, 5th Paul McMahon, 6th Colin Chapman, 7th David Driscoll, and 8th Tim Corcoran. Photos over the fold and the All Ireland forum thread is here.

In 2008 Nicholas won the Student Yachting World Championship, representing Cork Institute of Technology in La Rochelle, France.

In third place, despite winning the final two races, was Ben Duncan from New Zealand. The Howth Yacht Club member will also take home the GP14 1st Timer Trophy.

At the same venue Matthew O'Dowd, from the Royal St George Yacht Club won the 2009 ISA Junior All Ireland event in Laser Radial Dinghies.

17-year-old Matthew O'Dowd was a Wild Card nomination based on his win at the Laser Radial Europa Cup in Denmark earlier this year. In July, Matthew travelled to Brazil where he represented Ireland in the Laser Radial Boys class at the 2009 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship.

1st Matthew O'Dowd (pictured below) – Euro Cup in Denmark, RSGYC

2nd Conor Lyden – RS Feva Class, RCYC
3st Rob Lehane – 420 Youth Europeans, KYC
4th Finn Lynch – Topper Class, BSC
5th Mark Condy – Laser 4.7 Class, HYC/LDYC
6th Diana Kissane – Laser 4.7 Class, HYC

Published in ISA

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.