Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon in Action as Irish ILCA Youth Sailors Attend Vilamoura Grand Prix, Portugal

12th February 2023

ILCA 6 world champion Eve McMahon is in action at the Vilamoura Grand Prix, Portugal Credit: World Sailing

Irish Sailor of the Year 2022 Eve McMahon is back on the water this week when she leads an Irish youth sailing squad into round two of the Vilamoura Grand Prix in Portugal.

Racing begins at noon today for an 11-strong ILCA 6 Irish team (including five sailors from Northern Ireland) in a fleet of 81 entries for the year's first outing.

As well as McMahon, now under 21, the Irish lineup includes her clubmate, also a world youth gold medalist from last summer, Rocco Wright, who continues at u17.

The Irish pack includes: Luke Turvey, Howth YC u19; Bobby Driscoll, RNIYC / BYC u17; Tom Coulter, EABC/PYC u19; Zoe Whitford, EABC u17; Charlotte Eadie, Ballyholme Yacht Club u19; Fiachra McDonnell, Royal St George Yacht Club u19; Lewis Thompson, Ballyholme YC, u17; Sienna Wright, Howth Yacht Club u17 and Daniel Palmer, Ballyholme Yacht Club, u17.

Rocco Wright of Howth Yacht Club Photo: World Sailing

The ILCA 6 entries will be divided into two fleets and will sail a qualifying series (three days) followed by a final series (one day) with no Medal Race.

Ireland's top hope for Paris 2024, Finn Lynch, is an entry in the 52-boat ILCA 7 fleet.

Vilamoura also sees an Irish entry in the 49erFX fleet, with Newcastle Yacht Club and Royal St George Yacht Club combination Erin Mcilwaine and Ellie Cunnane making the first steps in their campaign for LA 2028.

More here

Published in Eve McMahon, Youth Sailing, Northern Ireland Waters

Published in Eve McMahon

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Eve McMahon

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