Olympic sailing campaigners Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan have decided to call time on their Olympic 49er campaign. The announcement comes after a successful summer of sailing for the Irish Sailing performance programme that saw the pair compete with Dickson – Waddilove for their berth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Their campaign began with a solid top 20 at the 2021 Worlds in Oman and finished with them securing a top 10 finish at the 2024 European Championships in France. They pushed the other Irish 49er duo of Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove all the way to the last race in a competitive trial for the Olympic berth in Paris 2024.
Guilfoyle, a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club, joined the pathway in 2007 as part of the Optimist squad and counts a Youth World medal in 2014, as well as many top 10 World and European finishes, as part of his impressive resume. Teaming up with Durcan, also of Royal Cork YC and Baltimore Sailing Club, in 2021, himself an accomplished pathway sailor, they experienced the many highs and lows of what a campaign brings.
Performance Director James O’Callaghan commented, “We’d have loved to see the guys explore their potential further but ultimately respect their decision to begin a new journey. I’ve no doubt the skills and discipline they know from campaigning will stand to them in the next phase of their lives.”
Guilfoyle is excited to begin some new challenges but reflected, “My journey on the pathway has been a privilege, pushing ourselves to the limit, competing on the world stage and making friends from across the globe, it will be something I always cherish.” Seafra is not done sailing and no doubt we will see him appear on the various racing circuits.
Likewise, Johnny Durcan will continue to sail just not on the Olympic circuit. Durcan came through the Irish Sailing Academy with current team member Ewan McMahon. Durcan paid tribute to Guilfoyle for giving him the opportunity to campaign and thanked family, friends, and sponsors as well Sport Ireland and the Irish Sailing Foundation for their investment of time and resource into their campaign.
