#isafyw12 – Success for Ireland on home waters this afternoon as local young Laser Radial sailor Finn Lynch provided the most emotional finale to the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships on Dublin Bay when he clinched a silver medal, the best ever result for an Irish sailor or crew, since the championship was first run in Denmark in 1971.

In a fitting payback for the small Dun Laoghaire sailing community that staged the event the youngster eclipsed the hopes of all when he sailed home through the harbour mouth this afternoon with a silver medal in the bag, putting the icing on the cake for the whole Dublin Youth Worlds team.

Over the last three days Blessington's Lynch, who races for the National YC, sailed himself from eighth to third to finally secure second overall today on his home waters in the 58 boat fleet, arguably the toughest in the championship.

A ninth place finish in the last race, profiting when two of his nearest rivals slugged it out at the back of the fleet, match racing for gold, ensured Lynch had relatively free reign to sail his own race.

His result exceeds Ireland's previous high water mark, a third place which was achieved in 1996 in the Laser 2 class in Newport by Laura Dillon and Ciara Peelo, the year that Lynch was born.

At aged 16, in his first of three possible years at the under 19 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, his silver medal marks him out as a substantial talent for the future.

Lynch is member of the Irish Sailing Academy and attributes some of his success here to the ongoing initiative to maximise training and racing opportunities in mainland Europe.

"It feels great. Simple as that." Said Lynch after he was carried from the water shoulder high in his boat by supporters and friends at the Royal St George YC. "I was pretty deep in the first part of the race today but had a good second stage and took places all the time."

"It was never really my goal to medal here, I just wanted to get a good result. I think the support here has really helped in the end. My coach Milan has been a great asset.

It was crazy being carried up the slipway. It was a bit of an anti-climax with the long sail home in light winds, that in the end was just fantastic."

I have trained so hard for this since February, including a month in Europe. There were ten of us doing a huge amount of training with the Irish Sailing Association Academy. That was great for my sailing. I have trained constantly this year. I want to qualify again for this for next year and maybe go one better, but then after that it's the Olympics."

Back in 2008 Event organiser Brian Craig told the Irish Times

"Our main objective is to get an Irish sailor on the podium in Dun Laoghaire'.

Back then securing the event was one thing and identifying young Irish sailing talent capable of such an achievement is another. However Lynch emerged as a credible force winning the trials in May and the right to represent to Ireland on home waters.

Craig's foresight and thinking four years ago though was that if Irish success can be produced on the bay in 2012 then it is a solid stepping stone for the Olympics in 2016.

"To be honest we are slightly stunned." Commented the Irish Sailing Association's Performance Director James O'Callaghan. "We have long since realised that Finn is a talent, but to achieve this is his first year at Youth Worlds is incredible."

"He is a great kid, very mature for his years. To give an insight into what this result represents Peter O'Leary who will be in the Star at the Olympics and won the last regatta at the Olympic venue before these upcoming Games, sailed at three Youth Worlds and finished mid 20's in his first year and progressed to sixth in his third year."

"And this so close to the Olympics is just great. All of the Olympic sailors in Weymouth have been following this."

#isafyw12 – Rather than simply pressing for ultimate consistency, as they entered the second half of the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, sailors representing Ireland sought to push harder and take a few more risks, looking to finish the regatta on Friday with a clutch of single figure results in their scoreline.

In very varied conditions across the two races sailed today, they were largely rewarded, particularly in the Laser Radial class where Finn Lynch sailed to his best result of the regatta so far, with a third in the first race of the day. His best score was then matched neatly in the second race for the girls Radial class by Sophie Murphy.

While she paired her third to a solid 13th in the first race to lie 14th overall in the 42 boat fleet Lynch paid a heavy price in the second race when he was among the seven sailors disqualified for being over the start line early.

In fact Lynch was in good company, the US Sailing Team's Mitchell Kiss was disqualified for the same rules infringement in the first race, admitting later that he too was out to take a few more risks to try and ease further clear of the pack.

The Irish sailor arrived back at the dock in the Royal St George very disappointed, but objective. He was more frustrated at having proven himself so well in the first race and then losing the chance of a repeat performance in the second race, than the effect his DSQ had on his scoreline.

He effectively spends his discard but lies in an excellent eighth overall, still within striking distance – 11 points – of the medals with three races still scheduled to be completed.

Lynch reported: " I had a good first race, got up to third on the final downwind and so, overall, it was a pretty good result. As for the Black Flag it is not too much of a problem I have a good discard, better than most around me, and so it is not too bad really, it should not affect me too much."

" I think I have been pretty solid so far, now I need to start to get a few good results in, to get right up to the top. I don't feel like I have lost anything so far."

Winds continued to be frustrating on Dublin Bay. Though the first race was sailed in 11-14 kts there were big shifts in direction but for the second contest, it died away to four knots at times as ominous clouds rolled across the course area, finally bringing another downpour. But a light winds finish to the Championship are expected as high pressure is finally expected to bring sunshine as well. Lynch says he has no concerns in lighter conditions:

" I really don't look at the forecast too much. All I really need to be doing is thinking what's going to happen when I stand up in my boat two minutes before the start. That is the only time I need to worry or think about what's going to happen with the weather."

The young duo in the 420 boys class, Cork's Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts lie 14th overall after a 19th and ninth today:

" We had a really bad start in the first race, on the line too early and could not accelerate." Recalled crew Roberts, " We have been disappointed with the first two days but we are getting better."

In the 29er class Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay are 10th in the 15 boat fleet which is lead by the British duo, world champions Rupert White and Tom Britz.

ISAF Youth Worlds 2012

DAY FOUR RESULTS (& OVERALL RESULTS)

Laser Radial (Boys)

1st - Mitchell Kiss (USA) 79pts 2nd - Marco Zani (ITA) 90pts 3rd - Mark Spearman (AUS) 92pts

Laser Radial (Girls)

1st - Julia Carlasson (SWE) 51pts 2nd - Maria Cristina Boabaid (BRA) 67pts 3rd- Line Flemhost (NOR) 68pts

420 (Boys)

1st – Guillaume Pirouelle/Valentin Sipan (FRA) 36pts 2nd - Pieter Goedhart/Lars Van Stekelenborg (NED) 36pts 3rd - David Charles/Alex Charles (ESP) 41pts

420 (Girls)

1st - Carrie Smith/Ellie Clark (AUS) 32pts 2nd - Illaria Paternoster/Benedetta Disalle (ITA) 35pts 3rd- Annabel Vose/Kirstie Urwin (GBR) 36pts

29ers

1st - Carlos Robles/Florian Trittel (ESP) 13pts 2nd – Lucal Rual/Thomas Biton (FRA) 15pts 3rd – Klaus Lange/Mateo Majdalani(ARG) 24pts

SL16 Catamaran

1st –Rupert White/Tom Britz (GBR) 16pts 2nd - Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland (AUS) 20pts 3rd - Henri Demesmaeker/Phillip Hendrickx (BEL) 28pts.

RSX Boys

1st – Wonwood Cho (KOR) 24pts 2nd- Matta Camboni ( ITA) 26pts 3rd - Michael Cheng (HKG) 49pts

RSX Girls

1st - Saskia Sills (GBR) 17pts 2nd - Naomi Cohen (ISR) 39pts 3rd - Anastasiva Valkevich (BLR

Irish – standings after DAY FOUR

Radial Boys

8th- Finn Lynch (IRL) - 113pts

Radial Girls

14th - Sophie Murphy (IRL) - 107pts

420 Boys

14th - Patrick Crosbie/Grattan Roberts (IRL) - 114pts

SL16

10th- Alexander Rumball/Rory McStay (IRL) - 75pts

29ers

11th- Sean Donnelly/Tadgh Donnelly (IRL) - 86pts

#isafyw12 – As they look to improve their overall positions Ireland's young sailors at the Four Star Pizza 2012 ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships in Dun Laoghaire were warned to stay away from the championships venue today, to switch off and enjoy the scheduled rest day which marks the midpoint of the regatta.

"They all need to consider that Wednesday is effectively a new start to the regatta, put behind them what has gone on for them so far, and concentrate on putting in their best performances and enjoy the event being in Dublin for what it is, not for what it can be for them." Explained Ireland's team leader Milan Vujansinovic, who has ten years of experience as one of Croatia's top Laser dinghy sailors. "In the main we have a very young team here who should be looking to their future rather than where they will finish."

At the regatta which has attracted 61 different nations to race on Dublin Bay, Finn Lynch, lying in eighth place in the Laser Radial class still represents Ireland's best chance of a medal.

"Finn is only 16 and so very young for this class still. He has five races to go and if he can average a top five in the final races, then he can still medal. He has that ability for sure. Everything is open. He has had bad luck in a couple of races and has always been having to come up through the fleet."

So too in the 420 Boys, the Royal Cork YC's Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts are also at the younger end of the under 19 age range, racing at their first major world championships together. In the 30 boat class they lie 17th after seven races.

"The boys are very young, 14 and 15, and they are not expected to make great results and so they are in the middle of the fleet, more or less. They can really improve a few places, but when the guys they are racing against are 17 or 18, that represents a big gap in terms of experience and physically."

The team leader who finished fourth in the Laser European championships last year and was ranked top 10 in the world emphasized, " From here they all need to look at it as the start of the regatta when they go back on the water Wednesday. Everybody is thinking like it is over and there are three days to go. It is very open."

True to their leaders advice, the Irish youngsters spent the afternoon bowling before eating early and maximizing their rest ahead of racing resuming tomorrow (Wednesday)

" It is very good for them to be getting this experience at this level, but really they are looking to years ahead, for example to be qualifying for the Olympics in and making results in 2020."

Ironically, Tuesday's rest day at the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships saw moderate breezes and more pleasant temperatures. Racing continues Wednesday when winds are expected to build again.

ISAF Youth Worlds 2012

Day THREE results (& overall points)

Laser Radial (Boys)

1st - Mitchell Kiss (USA) 47pts 2nd - Maxim Nikolaev (RUS) 49pts 3rd - Herman Tomasgaard (NOR) 50pts

Laser Radial (Girls)

1st - Line Flemhost (NOR) 38pts 2nd - Pinar Kaynar (TUR) 41pts 3rd- Julia Carlsson (SWE) 42pts

420 (Boys)

1st – Guillaume Pirouelle/Valentin Sipan (FRA) 18pts 2nd - Pieter Goedhart/Lars Van Stekelenborg (NED) 26pts 3rd - David Charles/Alex Charles (ESP) 38pts

420 (Girls)

1st - Carrie Smith/Ellie Clark (AUS) 20pts 2nd - Anabel Vose/Kirstie Urwin (GBR) 20pts 3rd- Ilaria Paternoster/Benedetta Disalle (ITA) 22pts

29ers

1st - Carlos Robles/Florian Trittel (ESP) 12pts 2nd – Lucal Rual/Thomas Biton (FRA) 13pts 3rd – Klaus Lange/Mateo Majdalani(ARG) 20pts

SL16 Catamaran

1st –Rupert White/Tom Britz (GBR) 8pts 2nd - Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland (AUS) 15pts 3rd - Henri Demesmaeker/Phillip Hendrickx (BEL) 17pts.

RSX Boys

1st – Wonwood Cho (KOR) 16pts 2nd- Matta Camboni ( ITA) 23pts 3rd - Kiran Badloe (NED) 30pts

RSX Girls

1st - Saskia Sills (GBR) 9pts 2nd - Anastasiya Valkevich (BLR) 22pts 3rd - Naomi Cohen (ISR) 27pts

Irish Team DAY 3 standings:

Radial Boys

8th - Finn Lynch (IRL) – 87pts

Radial Girls

16th - Sophie Murphy (IRL) – 91pts

420 Boys

17th - Patrick Crosbie/Grattan Roberts (IRL) 86pts

SL16 Boys

9th - Alexander Rumball/Rory McStay (IRL) - 53pts

29er Boys

12th - Sean Donnelly/Tadgh Donnelly (IRL) – 70pts

#ISAF – County Carlow's Finn Lynch continues to grind down the opposition at the top of the Laser Radial Boys fleet in the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth World Championships. Today he skilfully moved up one place to eighth overall in blustery conditions when winds reached 25 knots in a squall off Dun Laoghaire.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MONDAY ACTION PHOTOS BY PHOTOGRAPHER AIDAN TARBETT.

With some consistent sailing the 16–year–old is one of two of a five Irish boat team to stay in the top ten of their respective fleets as the event passes the half way stage and a full programme of seven races now sailed.

Although the National Yacht Club sailor is a full 37 ponits adrfit of third overall there are still five races left to sail and potentially some significant gains yet to be made to pull back to fourth a position he held on Sunday.

Lynch continues to have the best result across the Irish contenders, holding eighth place overall in the 58 strong Laser Radial Boys' fleet after a tough day when he scored 24-16. However the leaders – Mitchell Kiss from the USA, Russian Maximum Nikolaev and Norway's Hermann Tomasgaard – are racing away with Kiss now some 40 points ahead of Lynch.

Mother Nature was not content merely to throw more testing westerly offshore winds at the 343 Olympians of the future racing in the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. For today's two races, held on this third day of the competition, the under 19-year-old sailors who have descended from 61 nations as far flung as Belarus, Macedonia, Peru and Korea, faced the additional challenges of torrential rain and, at times, reduced visibility.

"The first race was okay, but it was like so inconsistent again," said Irish hope Sophie Murphy, who, after scoring a 13-20 today, lies 16th overall in the 42 strong Laser Radial Girl's fleet. "A lot of the top people were at the bottom and vica versa, so it was trying to do damage limitation up each beat."

In the second race the wind had built greatly, to the extent that on the last downwind leg many of these skill teenage competitors capsized and went swimming as their tender singlehanded dinghies were overwhelmed. "In the top 20 there were something like seven capsizes downwind," said Murphy. "There were about five in front of me at the leeward mark so I was trying to avoid them and then I capsized but luckily it was a quick one, because some people went from 11th to 23rd just by capsizing."

Despite knowing these waters well, Murphy said that today it was difficult to read the conditions, the gusts and the shifting breeze. "You could kind of seeing it coming, but with those clouds it was very hard to tell what is coming and some of them move quite slowly at funny angles."

Tuesday is a 'lay day', a day off for the United Nations-style line-up of crews competing here in Dun Laoghaire. Murphy says she hopes not to do a lot. "I'll do as little as I can physically as possible..."

One place behind Lynch in the SL16 catamaran, but where only 15 teams are competing, are Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay, who performed the best of the Irish sailors today, finishing 11th and 7th in their two races.

"The first race was very difficult - the wind just seemed to be very very random, it seemed to come down in patches," said Rumball. "I felt the key to the day was keeping your head out of the boat, helm and crew working in unison together, taking in all the information and making a decision on it." In race two Rumball reckoned they achieved this, and were able to spot the shifts better, after they also had managed to get a better start.

As to their day off tomorrow Rumball said that they had to try and not lose focus. "Keep the foot on the pedal, see what the rest of the week brings..." Rumball and McStay's boat is parked next door to the overall SL16 race leaders, Rupert White and Tom Britz from the UK. White is grandson of the 1976 Tornado catamaran Olympic Gold medallist, Reg. Despite the variable conditions White and Britz have scored four wins in the seven races held to date.

Lying 12th in the 29er skiff, brothers Sean and Tadgh Donnelly, had a tough day in the variable conditions, with a 20-13. "We didn't get on too well in the first race at all, had a bit of a shocker to be honest," admitted Tadgh. "We didn't get a clean start, and never really got back from that, we couldn't cover..." They are hoping for better results when racing resumes on Wednesday, provided it's not 30 knots, says Sean, the helmsman of the duo.

Ireland's 420 Boys' representatives, Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts from Cork, also had a tough day scoring a 16th and a 23rd – the latter their worse result, that is now their discard. "It wasn't the best," admitted Crosbie of how today unfolded. "I think it was just our tactics and where we went on the first beat. It was a disaster. It wasn't great at all." Crosbie added that they had struggled to keep the boat up to speed and powered up in the very variable conditions when at times Roberts would be trapezing hard and at other times would be standing inside the boat during a lull.

Irish team leader, Croat Milan Vujasinovic gave his assessment at the halfway stage of this, the top annual event in the youth sailing calendar. "The results are not bad, but I thought we could do better today in these windy conditions. I was watching the Radials - Sophie had an average day, which was expected in this stronger breeze, but I expected more from Finn. In the first race he was really unlucky with some wind shifts in the first upwind leg and in the second race he was in the top five in 25 knots of breeze when he capsized – so, not good. Looking at the results there are still a lot of chances to get a good result. There are five more races and in these shifty conditions, anything is possible."

Tomorrow is a day off for the competitors at the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. Racing will resume on Wednesday when two races are scheduled, starting at 1200.

ISAF Youth Worlds 2012

Day THREE results (& overall points)

Laser Radial (Boys)

1st - Mitchell Kiss (USA) 47pts 2nd - Maxim Nikolaev (RUS) 49pts 3rd - Herman Tomasgaard (NOR) 50pts

Laser Radial (Girls)

1st - Line Flemhost (NOR) 38pts 2nd - Pinar Kaynar (TUR) 41pts 3rd- Julia Carlsson (SWE) 42pts

420 (Boys)

1st – Guillaume Pirouelle/Valentin Sipan (FRA) 18pts 2nd - Pieter Goedhart/Lars Van Stekelenborg (NED) 26pts 3rd - David Charles/Alex Charles (ESP) 38pts

420 (Girls)

1st - Carrie Smith/Ellie Clark (AUS) 20pts 2nd - Anabel Vose/Kirstie Urwin (GBR) 20pts 3rd- Ilaria Paternoster/Benedetta Disalle (ITA) 22pts

29ers

1st - Carlos Robles/Florian Trittel (ESP) 12pts 2nd – Lucal Rual/Thomas Biton (FRA) 13pts 3rd – Klaus Lange/Mateo Majdalani(ARG) 20pts

SL16 Catamaran

1st –Rupert White/Tom Britz (GBR) 8pts 2nd - Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland (AUS) 15pts 3rd - Henri Demesmaeker/Phillip Hendrickx (BEL) 17pts.

RSX Boys

1st – Wonwood Cho (KOR) 16pts 2nd- Matta Camboni ( ITA) 23pts 3rd - Kiran Badloe (NED) 30pts

RSX Girls

1st - Saskia Sills (GBR) 9pts 2nd - Anastasiya Valkevich (BLR) 22pts 3rd - Naomi Cohen (ISR) 27pts

Irish Team DAY 3 standings:

Radial Boys

8th - Finn Lynch (IRL) – 87pts

Radial Girls

16th - Sophie Murphy (IRL) – 91pts

420 Boys

17th - Patrick Crosbie/Grattan Roberts (IRL) 86pts

SL16 Boys

9th - Alexander Rumball/Rory McStay (IRL) - 53pts

29er Boys

12th - Sean Donnelly/Tadgh Donnelly (IRL) – 70pts

#isafyw12 – If conditions were challenging yesterday, they were even more so on day two of the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Dun Laoghaire. A westerly to southwesterly breeze, blowing off the town was making the wind both shifty and gusty out on the water for the 343 potential future Olympians, who have congregated in the emerald isle from all four corners of the globe. One squall passed over the fleet measuring 25 knots. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS  BY BOB BATEMAN

Despite the testing conditions on the water, today competitors in the eight classes all completed three races and having completed five races in total have now been able to discard their worst result.

Ireland's Finn Lynch had a challenging day in the Laser Radial Boy's fleet where at the end of day two he lies ninth of 58 boats. "I'm thinking that yesterday was easier, but it was pretty tricky both days so far - shifty and unpredictable," said Lynch, adding of his results: "It was not great, it could have been better, but it was okay." The 16-year-old from Carlow scored a 14-16-22, the final being his discard.

The big squall struck the 420 Men's fleet on the first beat of their second race bringing with it a huge shift in wind direction. "I couldn't do anything about it," said Lynch, who said that thankfully afterwards he had managed to claw back positions. "I think it's pretty good we've got all the races in. Its lots of fun - I'm enjoying it so far."

Despite the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships being the number one event of the year for all sailors of 18 and under, because it is in his home port, Lynch says it feels "a bit odd." Normally when sailing at a major regatta he has to travel abroad. "It doesn't really feel like going to a World Championships, being just 40 minutes from my house."

In theory local Dun Laoghaire sailors competing at this event should be able to benefit from local knowledge, but Lynch says this has yet to benefit him. "There's advantages and disadvantages, but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in this case. Today was so unpredictable but hopefully towards the end of the week it'll start to come good."

In the Laser Radial Girls, Sophie Murphy scored a 25-13-19 today, the first being her discard, leaving her 17th overall in the 42 boat fleet.

"The first race wasn't good at all. The second two races a little bit better, but it was just very tough conditions out there, really shifty, so it was very easy to gain or lose like 20 places just in one leg," said Murphy. "It was a really interesting day, consistency is what it was all about, so if anyone managed that, I'm sure they did very well." Norway's Line Flem Host continues to lead despite scoring an inconsistent 10-2-23 today.

Murphy agreed that conditions were harder today than yesterday, with the wind at times dropping to just 4 knots, but it was the squalls that proved most challenging. "You have to know which way it's going to go, because being on the right side of those shifts is really important." Local knowledge she said didn't help her with the wind but it did with her understanding of the tides on Dublin Bay.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week – racing concludes on Friday - Murphy said: "Every race I'll take as its own race. When you get into the competition you can worry less about the points."

Elsewhere in the SL16s, Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay scored a 10-15-7 and now lie 10th in the 15 boat fleet, a place behind Jordi Booth, son of double Olympic Tornado medallist Mitch.

Sean and Tadgh Donnelly in the 29er skiff, had a consistent 10-12-14 today, in a class where Spain's Carlos Robles and Florian Trittel are dominating, having won today's first two races and now on just five points after their discard.

In the 420 Men's class Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts had a disappointing day with a 20-17-16 score today leaving them 16th overall in the 30 boat fleet. "The first two races weren't good," said Roberts, adding that they had lost out on the first upwind legs. "In the first and second race, we got caught on the wrong side of a shift. The wind was up and down, it was never consistent."

Racing continues at 1200 tomorrow with two races, with conditions forecast to be stronger and even more gusty.

The 42nd International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Youth Sailing World Championship (AKA the Youth Olympics of sailing) is taking place from 13th – 21st July 2012. After a highly competitive bidding process, Ireland is honoured to have been chosen to host this much celebrated event which is renowned for providing the world with its first glimpse of future sailing stars and Olympians. 350 sailors aged 16 – 19 years of age, accompanied by 150 coaches, from 63 nations representing six continents are sail in ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. 250 boats across eight classes (including Laser Radials, 420s, SL16_s and 29ers) will be raced by these sailors.

The ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship was first held in Sweden in 1971, has taken place every year since and has earned itself a unique place in the international sailing calendar. This premium event is renowned for providing the world with its first glimpse of future sailing superstars. Fifteen of the sailors who won medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are past medalists at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. 2012 Irish Olympic Team member Annalise Murphy also came up through the ranks of the ISAF Youth Worlds when she competed in a Laser Radial in 2006 in Weymouth. Throughout its history, the ISAF Youth Worlds has visited over 20 nations, covering every continent, and over 100 different nations have competed. France is currently the most successful nation, winning the Volvo Trophy on a record 10 occasions and holding a record 62 medals: 20 Gold, 27 Silver and 15 Bronze. The Royal St. George Yacht Club, the National Yacht Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire have been appointed to host the championship in association the ISA (Irish Sailing Association.) There will also be a public festival of events in DL focused on next weekend (Friday 13th – Sunday 15th July) to complement the sailing Championship.

 

ISAF Youth Worlds 2012

Day TWO results (& overall points)

Laser Radial (Boys)

1st - Mitchell Kiss (USA) 34pts 2nd - Marco Zani (ITA) 34pts 3rd - Mark Spearman (AUS) 39pts

Laser Radial (Girls)

1st - Line Flemhost (NOR) 15pts 2nd - Pinar Kaynar (TUR) 18pts 3rd- Agata Barwinska (POL) 21pts

420 (Boys)

1st – Guillaume Pirouelle/Valentin Sipan (FRA) 11pts 2nd - Pieter Goedhart/Lars Van Stekelenborg (NED) 22pts 3rd - David Charles/Alex Charles (ESP) 25pts

420 (Girls)

1st - Anabel Vose/Kirstie Urwin (GBR) 7pts 2nd - Carrie Smith/Ella Clark (AUS) 18pts 3rd- Ilaria Paternoster/Benedetta Disalle (ITA) 18 pts

29ers

1st - Carlos Robles/Florian Trittel (ESP) 5pts 2nd – Lucal Rual/Thomas Biton (FRA) 9pts 3rd – Quinn Wilson/Dane Wilson (USA) 14pts

SL16 Catamaran

1st – Rupert White/Tom Britz (GBR) 6pts 2nd - Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland (AUS) 10pts 3rd - Henri Demesmaeker/Phillip Hendrickx (BEL) 10pts.

RSX Boys

1st – Wonwood Cho (KOR) 9pts 2nd- Matta Camboni ( HKG) 10pts 3rd - Kieran Martin (GBR) 14pts

RSX Girls

1st - Saskia Sills (GBR) 5pts 2nd - Veronica Fanciulli (ITA) 13 pts 3rd - Anastasiya Valkevich (BLR) 17pts

#ISAF YOUTH WORLDS – Irish debutantes are off to an explosive start at the ISAF Youth World Championship on home waters this afternoon, with two Irish crews in the top five overall after the first two races of the week-long Dublin Bay series.

Royal Cork's Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts are third overall after two races in the Boys' 420 class, counting a 15th and second placing in their 30–boat fleet.

“It was pretty good - better than we expected,” said 15-year-old sailor Crosbie.

In today’s second race they had managed to get into second on the first upwind leg. “It is hard to tell,” Crosbie admitted of where he expected them to be at this early stage of the regatta. “We didn’t know a lot of the boats or what the level was. We are very happy today.”

The good news for the Irish youth sailing team continues with Dun Laoghaire's Finn Lynch posting fourth overall from 45 starters in the Laser Radial class, a second top class result for the host nation.

Conditions were ideal for the start of the championships off Dun Laoghaire with moderate north-westerly winds, if a little chilly.

The international event kicked off last night with an opening ceremony that has drawn 61 nations to Ireland for the 42nd staging of the world class event.

The balance of the three boat Irish team also took top ten results, except for the Dun Laoghaire based 29er boys Sean and Tadgh Donnelly who lie 11th from 24.

The buoyant Irish results bode well for the young Irish squad. Both Lynch and the Cork 420 pairing are making their international debut this week.

Previous ISAF Youth Worlds competitor Sophie Murphy, who hails from Strangford Lough, also got off to a strong start and lies tenth overall in a fleet of 42 in the Laser Radial Girls division.

Murphy said she was “happy enough with today. With the Youth Worlds the points are so high - last year if you averaged a tenth you would have won overall.”

But this early into the competition, she won’t speculate on the ultimate outcome.

“I'm literally going to take each race as it comes - there's no point not looking at the end result; I really don't want to jinx anything.”

Meanwile, Dublin Bay's Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay are 10th from 15 in the SL16 catamaran class.

“We did better in the first race," said Rumball of their performance. "The second race was really gusty and shifty, as all these gusts kept coming down. We got on the right side of one on the last beat of that race and it brought us up a load.”

The competition continues tomorrow, when more wind is forecast with 15-16 knots from the west. Full results from today are posted HERE.

#isafyouthworlds – A five Irish boat team that is a mix of youth and experience will take on the world's most outstanding youth talent and are tasked with bringing home a medal on home waters this week. It's a big ask given Ireland's only past medal performance in the competition's modern format was way back in 1996 when girls duo Laura Dillon and Ciara Peelo won bronze sailing a Laser II dinghy.

Dun Laoghaire sailors fill four of the five slots on the Irish squad for the Championship that is the biggest of its kind to be ever held in Ireland. This morning Dun Laoghaire clubs are being cleared of members boats to make way for the arrival of 350 sailors, 120 Team leaders/Coaches, 63 Nations, 265 boats and 400 volunteers.

Afloat 175 race management volunteers are taking to the water in 75 ribs and 20 official race boats. David O'Brien has more on this in thee Irish Times newspaper here.

The Irish team was selected after an intensive four day battle at the Irish Mitsubishi Youth National championships on Dublin Bay last April.

It will be Sophie Murphy's third time to represent Ireland at the ISAF Youth World Championships (a first for any Irish female sailor). Having also sailed at four World Championships, and five European Championships and one Youth Olympic Games the team's only girl has the most experienced of the eight sailors.

Last year the Royal St.George and Quoile YC sailor who races in the Laser Radial finished 11th overall at the Croatian event, the best result for Ireland in the female single handed dinghy since 1971 when the ISAF Youth World Championships started.

Finn Lynch makes his youth worlds debut on home waters

Sixteen year old Finn Lynch makes his worlds debut after domination of the domestic Topper scene winning national titles from 2008 to 2010. He also won the British Topper title in 2010 before moving to the Laser Radial.

Royal Cork pairing Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts compete in the 420 dinghy and bring experience from a wide range of sailing including competition in Optimists, RS Feva, Laser 4.7s, Toppers, National 18s and keelboats.

In spite of only stepping in to the 29er skiff at Christmas former Optimist dinghy sailors Sean and Tadgh Donnelly from the National YC are aiming for a medal race spot at the end of this week.

Likewise Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay take their place on the start line only after a winter of hard work on the water moving from monohull dinghies to the Spitfire and ultimately SL16 catamaran, to become Ireland's first Catamaran crew at this event.

Whatever the outcome for Ireland there is no doubt the event forges future sailing careers. Many of this week's competitors will progress to Olympic level. ISAF is quick to point out that these are the 'sailing stars of tomorrow'.

'Many of the competitors at this month's Olympic regatta started their careers at this event, including Britian's sailing superstar Ben Ainslie' says ISAF's Fiona Kidd.

Ainslie's not alone. Others include Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey from the USA who will compete against Dun Laoghaire's Annalise Murphy in Weymouth has also won Gold at youth level.

Significantly Murphy herself is a past youth worlds competitor as are Irish Olympic Star keelboat pairing Peter O'Leary and David Burrows.

Irish 2012 Youth Sailing Team

Laser Radial Boy: Finn Lynch (National YC)

Laser Radial Girl: Sophie Murphy (Royal St George YC/Quoile YC)

420 Boys: Patrick Crosbie & Grattan Roberts (Royal Cork YC)

29er: Sean & Tadhg Donnelly (National YC)

SL16 Catamaran Class: Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay (Royal Irish YC/Royal St George YC/Irish National SC)

#isaf – Ireland's Sophie Murphy and Norway's Hermann Tomasgaard will look to use their experience to win gold at the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Dublin, Ireland.

At just 18-year's old Murphy will not only bring her knowledge of her home waters to the regatta, but her big event experience, that cannot be rivalled. Murphy first sailed at the ISAF Youth Worlds in 2010 before heading to the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

The following year she sailed at the 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds in Zadar, Croatia followed by the World Laser Radial Youth Championship in La Rochelle, France. With none of the top ten from Zadar competing in Dublin, Murphy is the highest placed finisher from 2011 coming into the regatta. With her 11th place finish and experience behind her, added to knowledge of Dublin Bay a podium finish will be on the cards.

"Sailing has been my favourite sport and the memories and friends I have made are the best part of the sport," said Murphy. "Every time you sail the circumstances change. It's so exhilarating.

"To sail for Ireland is really the ultimate privilege for me. I want to thank all those people who have made it possible, namely my family, my coach Milan, the ISA, my team and all the friends with whom I love sailing."

Newcomer to the Youth Worlds, Maxime Jonker (NED), recently won the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in Queensland, Australia. Jonker came up against several competitors who will be in Dublin and set an early marker by taking the title.

Returnees from previous ISAF Youth Worlds include Maria Cristina Boabaid (BRA), Celine Carlsen (DEN), Milda Eidukeviciute (LTU), Natalia Montemayor (MEX), Khairunneeta Mohd Afendy (MAS), Stephanie Devaux-Lovell (LCA) and Julia Carlsson (SWE).

The Laser Radial Boys fleet has the makings of an excellent competition after eight competitors finished in the top ten at the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in Queensland.

Herman Tomasgaard (NOR) came out on top in Australia on a count back from New Zealand's Andrew McKenzie, both finished on 24 points. Tomasgaard's victory has no doubt set the standard for the rest of the 59-boat fleet to follow and with two ISAF Youth Worlds behind him, a fifth at Istanbul 2010 and ninth at Zadar 2011, the Norwegian will be the one to beat.

McKenzie will compete in his first ISAF Youth Worlds in Dublin but knows what it takes to compete at the front of the fleet after he picked up silver in Australia.

America's Mitchell Kiss rounded off the podium in Queensland and will return to the ISAF Youth Worlds following his 16th place finish in Zadar. "I feel like I am in a good place going into ISAF Youth Worlds," he explained. "Eight out of the top 10 finishers at this regatta will also be in Dublin. I learned about my competitors' strengths and weaknesses this week. I feel well prepared, and am hoping for a little more breeze.

"I expect the competition will be very tough and there will be more distractions - like the press and the hype," he said. "I am glad I had the chance to learn that last year. This is going to be my last international youth event so I am going to really go for it."

Returning from Zadar 2011 in the Laser Radial Boys fleet will be Juan Ignacio Biava (ARG), Owen Siese (BER), Mihkel Väli (EST), Charalampos Mavrogeorgis (GRE), Domonkos Rozsnyay (HUN), Dominykas Kneizys (LTU), Wouter Sonnema (NED), Eduardo Marques (POR) and Pavlo Babych (UKR).

Racing at the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship begins on 14 July in Dun, Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland running until 20 July.

#isaf – A twelve strong British squad is heading for Dun Laoghaire and the Four Star Pizza ISAF youth worlds from July 12-21. GBR squad members were selected at the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships in April.

The RYA Volvo Team GBR Squad for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships 2012, Dublin Bay, Ireland (12th-21st July):

420

Boys: Craig Dibb (Warsash SC)/Charlie Cox (Royal Lymington Yacht Club)

Girls: Annabel Vose (Royal Lymington Yacht Club)/Kirstie Urwin (Royal Lymington Yacht Club)

29er

Ben Batten (Lymington Town Sailing Club)/Tim Gratton (Hayling Island Sailing Club)

RS:X

Boys: Kieran Martin (Carsington)

Girls: Saskia Sills (Launceston)

Laser Radial

Boys: Michael Beckett (Solva SC)

Girls: Ellie Meopham (Fishguard Bay SC)

SL16 Catamaran

Rupert White (Brightlingsea SC)/Tom Britz (Royal Lymington Yacht Club)

The team will be dressed in the latest innovative range from Henri Lloyd's marine collection including bespoke dry top's as well as items from the Henri Lloyd Atmosphere 360 range and dinghy collection.

#YOUTH SAILING – Ireland is set to add a catamaran sailing team to its ISAF Youth Worlds ticket for the first time when the event sets sail on home waters in two months time. The SL cat will join four others sailors who qualified at the Mitsubishi Youth Nationals in April.

Youth catamaran duo Alexander Rumball and Rory McStay from the Irish National Sailing Club in Dun Laoghaire are the latest additions to Ireland's Four Star ISAF Youth Squad following very successful showings in regattas in both the Spitfire and SL16 catamaran classes.

Dun Laoghaire sailors now fill three of the five slots on the Irish squad. The squad is: Laser Radial Boy: Finn Lynch (National YC), Laser Radial Girl: Sophie Murphy (Royal St George YC), 420 Boys: Patrick Crosbie & Grattan Roberts (Royal Cork YC) and 29er: Sean & Tadhg Donnelly (National YC).

Sailing a Spitfire cat the boys finished second with a 1,2,3 and OCS in light and shifty tidal conditions in the first regatta at Minnis Bay in the UK where the RYA squad were also competing.

Last week the SL Eurocat regatta in Carnac was cut short due to too much wind. The boys did very well and finished fifth SL of ISAF age. There was 20 SLs competing for ISAF honours, 30 SLs in total and a total fleet of 80 boats, a standard high enough to satisfy Irish team nomination.