The 2025 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships wrapped up on Sunday, 27 April, off Dun Laoghaire, crowning youth champions in six classes that included sibling success in the Optimist class.
The Easter holiday regatta, which started on Thursday, featured winds throughout the wind range and ended with some gusty westerlies on Dublin Bay.
Sligo Yacht Club's Leo O’Doherty is the ILCA 4 2025 Irish Sailing Youth National Championship winner Photo: Afloat
In the ILCA 4 fleet, it was Leo O’Doherty (Sligo Yacht Club) who maintained his lead from yesterday to take the honours. Emily MacAfee (Ballyholme Yacht Club) finished second overall whilst Rory Brennan-Hobbs (Royal St George) stayed in the frame to take third position and Max O’Hare, also of the Royal St George, finished in fourth.
Bobby Driscoll of Ballyholme Yacht Club 223676 was top of the ILCA 6 fleet at champion Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
Second overall in the ILCA 6 class, Ballyholme Yacht Club's Daniel Palmer Photo: Afloat
Third overall in the ILCA 6 class, Royal St. George Yacht Club's Lucy Ives Photo: Afloat
Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) led the ILCA 6 fleet since the regatta began, and today was no different as he finished his last race with a substantial lead on the rest of the class. Bobby’s clubmate Daniel Palmer held on to his second place whilst the Royal St George’s Lucy Ives took third overall, and up-and-coming Conor Cronin (Royal St George Yacht Club / Malahide Yacht Club) was fourth.
Emily Donagh IRL 1675 (left) crosses the finish line in second place in race nine with her sister and overall winner Maeve (IRL 1674) finishing third at the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
In the Optimist class, the Donagh sisters dominated. Maeve, Emily, and Lily, representing Royal St George Yacht Club and Lough Derg Yacht Club, finished first, second, and third, respectively. Charlotte Crosbie from the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club secured fourth place, followed by Patrick Fegan from Royal St George Yacht Club in fifth.
Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin were 420 class winners at the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
The 420 class saw Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin take the top spot, winning the overall competition with two first-place finishes. Isha Duggan and Tommy Hiras from Royal Cork Yacht Club finished second overall. Margherita Ruggari and Matt Mappleback, also from Royal Cork Yacht Club, achieved third place.
Overall 29er class winners Emily Conan and Fionn Daly cross William Walsh and Eoin Byrne at the start of race seven on the final day of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
In the 29er class, Emily Conan and Fionn Daly maintained their lead, finishing with a first and second place in their last two races. William Walsh and Eoin Byrne from the National Yacht Club were close behind but could not surpass the leaders. Riona McMorrow Moriarty and Bella Waterman, representing Tralee Bay and Monkstown Bay Sailing Clubs, claimed third place with strong finishes.
Ben McCaldin was the overall winner of the Topper 5.3 class at the start of a race on the final day of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat
Toppers sailed two races today with Lough Erne Yacht Club leading the charge with Ben McCaldin and Adam Green of the club taking first and second place respectively following a regatta of consistent results. In third place was Paidi O Coistealbha of Malahide Yacht Club and John Kenny of the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire was fourth.
The event was sponsored by Waterman Tecsar and hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club.
2025 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships Prizegiving Photo Gallery
420, 29er and ILCA 6 Fleets results are here. Optimist results are here. Toppers and ILCA 4 results are here
