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Displaying items by tag: Topper

A fleet of 66 Toppers took to the waters of Carlingford Lough for their National Championships ten days ago, with Blessington sailor Finn Lynch taking control of the series to count nothing but podium finishes on his way to the national title.

In the 4.2 rig fleet, Strngford sailor Peter Gilmore burst out of the traps with four straight bullets in the first four races of the series giving him an unassailable lead.

Lynch's top challenger in the 58-boat full rig fleet was Robbie Robinson from Plymouth, who posted two bullets but couldn't match the consistency of Lynch.

The results (slightly confusing due to mixed classes) are HERE.

Published in Youth Sailing
Blessington Topper sailor Finn Lynch received an Evening Herald School Sports award on Tuesday for his achievements in the class in Ireland and abroad.

The ceremony, which recognises sports from GAA and Rugby, to Waterpolo and Sailing took place with students, parents, teachers and governing bodies seated together at tables in the Hogan Stand of Croke Park.

Des Cahill, RTE sports presenter, kept the crowd entertained acting as MC for the event. Luke Fitzgerald, Irish rugby star and Ciaran Whelan, former Dublin GAA star presented the awards to the young sports stars including Blessington Sailing Club's Finn Lynch.

The Lynch family have been active participants of the ISA Performance Pathway in previous years with Finn's older brother's Ben and Rory also doing very well in sailing. The fourteen year old talented sportsman was previously presented with a special award from his school, St. Mary's Academy, CBS, Carlow for his outstanding sailing achievements last year.

Finn Lynch has secured several firsts at sailing championships along with being the first ever Irish sailor to win a UK Topper event. Lynch also cleared up at the ISA Youth Nationals winning seven out of eleven races in Schull this year and came second overall at the Gul Topper Worlds in 2009.

Finn was delighted with his achievement and proudly left with his Evening Herald Young Sports Star of the year award and newspaper sports bio.

The Evening Herald were thanked for recognising and supporting school sports in their weekly column and at the awards ceremony yesterday.
Published in News Update
Page 13 of 13

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.