Strong Competition at Irish Sailing Youth Nationals on Day One in Dun Laoghaire

24th April 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Emily Conan and Fionn Daly in action at the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals on Dublin Bay Credit: Dan Clohessy

There were close to 100 boats and more than 120 sailors competing at the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals on a day of perfect conditions at Dun Laoghaire.

The event featured three dinghy classes competing on the Youth Course – ILCA 6, 420, and 29er - while the Optimist class ran on its course.

At the end of day one, the results for each class stood as follows: in the ILCA 6 Class, Ballyholme Yacht Club members Bobby Driscoll and Daniel Palmer are first and second, respectively, with Lucy Ives of host club Royal St George in third.

Emily Conan and Fionn Daly, of the Royal St George Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club, are leading in the 29er Class with William Walsh and Eoin Byrne of the National Yacht Club in second and Rory Whyte and Jules Start of the National Yacht Club, Royal St George Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club in third.

In the 420’s, Isha Duggan and Tommy Hiras of Royal Cork Yacht Club are sitting first, and Cora McNaughton, alongside crew Sean Cronin of Blessington Sailing Club and Malahide Yacht Club, are in second, with Sean Lemonnier and Killian Mathieu of Galway Bay Sailing Club in third.

In the Optimist Class, Charlotte Crosbie is currently first, following two first places, and sisters Maeve and Emily Donagh of the Royal St George and Lough Derg Yacht Club in second and third.

Sean Evans, Development Manager for Irish Sailing, said, “We were blessed with the conditions today, and the standard on the water was phenomenal. It’s obvious that a lot of hard work has gone in over the winter by these young sailors. I must congratulate the race officials for running such efficient races. We will now look forward to seeing the introduction of the ILCA 4’s and Toppers from tomorrow and may the racing continue as well as it did today.”

Racing continues over the next three days from the Royal St George Yacht Club and sponsored by Waterman Tecsar.

Results are below and Optimist results are here

Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

Published in Irish Sailing, Laser, Optimist, 420, 29er, RStGYC, Youth Sailing

Published in Irish Sailing

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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.