Irish sailors endured a challenging week of light and unpredictable winds as Kieler Woche concluded in Germany, the fourth event of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam series. The regatta programme was heavily reduced by the weather, limiting racing opportunities and leaving little room for recovery from mistakes.
North Dublin pair Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove finished 14th overall in the 49er fleet, narrowly missing qualification for the Final Series. The Irish duo opened strongly with a race win and a second-place finish on Monday, showing glimpses of the form that earned them a silver medal at the French Sailing Grand Slam earlier this season.
49er coach Benjamin Bildstein said the limited racing made progress difficult. "We put together a solid qualification series for Gold Fleet, but unfortunately the lack of wind meant there were very few races sailed," he said. "With only three races completed there wasn't much opportunity to recover, but we saw a lot of positives in our sailing. Kiel is an important event, but our focus is firmly on the European Championships and we believe we're on the right track."
In the 49erFX fleet, Newcastle Yacht Club's Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour of County Antrim Boat Club faced similarly testing conditions. Variable winds made consistency difficult, although the pair showed encouraging pace as the week progressed.
Coach Matt McGovern said their speed in lighter conditions was among the best they had produced. "Overall, their boat speed was good, probably the best we've seen from them in light winds. However, the starts still need some work," he said.
McIlwaine and Barbour finished 39th overall after several costly shifts and racecourse incidents.
Development sailors Ben O'Shaughnessy of Royal Cork Yacht Club and Ethan Spain of the National Yacht Club also found conditions challenging. Despite difficulties off the start line, the pair recorded a second-place finish during qualifying and advanced to Silver Fleet before finishing 43rd overall.
Elysia O'Leary of the Royal St George Yacht Club and Alana Twomey of Royal Cork Yacht Club completed the Irish contingent in the 49erFX class. Equipment issues and an OCS disqualification hampered their campaign, with the pair ending the regatta in 47th place.
All four Irish crews will now focus on the European Championships in Eckernförde, Germany, from July 5 to 12, where they aim to build on the lessons learned at Kiel.
