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Displaying items by tag: Kinsale Yacht Club

Royal Cork Yacht Club Lady  Admiral Annamarie Murphy leads the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club after three wins from three races sailed.

In provisional results subject to protest, the Murphy family Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Crosshaven heads a 12-boat entry to lead IRC and ECHO in Class One on three points.

Lying second is Stephen Lysaght's Reavra Too of the host club on seven. Third is KYC clubmate Thomas Roche on Meridian with 12 points.

Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333 competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob BatemanStephen Lysaght's Elan 333 competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Thomas Roche's Salona 45 Meridian competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob BatemanThomas Roche's Salona 45 Meridian competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Having suffered a cancellation under Storm Kathleen last weekend, KYC race organisers meant business today and set about staging two races to put the Spring Series back on schedule.

Racing started at Kinsale Boatyard in a 16-knot south-westerly wind, occasionally gusting to the high 20s in rainy squalls.

Race Officer John Corkery laid a weather mark off Hake Head with a run back to the Bullman buoy and a beat across to Sandycove back to Bullman and an in-harbour finish.

At the top of the Class One fleet, Nieulargo and Meridian saw the lead changing several times.

In one of the squalls, one boat broached and lost two crew overboard, but they were quickly recovered.

Kieran Kelleher's Quarter Tonner, Diamond, leads IRC Class 2  with three straight wins from Waterford Harbour's David Marchant sailing the Sigma 33 Flyover. Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon is third on six. 

Waterford Harbour visitor David Marchant sailing the Sigma 33 Flyovercompeting in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob BatemanWaterford Harbour visitor David Marchant sailing the Sigma 33 Flyovercompeting in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon competing in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob BatemanPadraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon competing in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache continues its strong form from March and stays top in IRC and ECHO in the five-boat White Sail fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo Gallery (April 14th) by Bob Bateman

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An 'ugly' sea state and a gale warning in operation have led to the cancellation of the second day of racing at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom April League on the south coast.

The league began last weekend for mixed cruisers in both Spinnaker and White Sail divisions as Afloat reported here.

On Friday evening, Storm Kathleen closed Kinsale Yacht Club's marina. Berth holders were asked to vacate the marina and refrain from staying overnight.

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Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt were honoured at home on the Easter weekend by Kinsale Yacht Club, the West Cork club joining a long list of organisations that saluted the duo's Christmas 2003 achievements competing in Australia's Sydney Hobart Race.

After Monday's April league racing, Kinsale Commodore Anthony Scannell and cruiser-racer skipper Brian Carroll led tributes to the Sunfast 3300 'Cinnamon Girl' pair at a special KYC clubhouse gathering. 

The gathering included Poppy and Keith Hunt, who represented Sam, who was unable to attend.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell presents Cian McCarthy's wife Catherine with a bouquet Photo: Bob BatemanKinsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell presents Cian McCarthy's wife Catherine with a bouquet Photo: Bob Bateman

As regular Afloat readers know, the duo were the keynote speakers at February's ICRA conference at Dun Laoghaire when they pair recalled the ' brutal experience' in parts, as Hunt recalled for Afloat here.

Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt on board the Sunfast 3300 'Cinnamon Girl' Photo: AfloatCian McCarthy (left) and Sam Hunt on board the Sunfast 3300 'Cinnamon Girl' off the Dublin coast Photo: Afloat

In Irish offshore doublehanding sailing, few stories are as inspiring as that of Cian McCarthy, a dedicated sailor whose journey to success is marked by resilience, determination, and a passion for the open sea.

From relatively humble beginnings on Laser dinghies to triumphant victories in prestigious races, Cian's remarkable career has earned him admiration and respect within the sailing community, especially at home at Kinsale Yacht Club.

Poppy and Keith Hunt receive prizes on behalf of Sam Photo: Bob BatemanKeith (left) and Poppy Hunt receive prizes on behalf of Sam from Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob Bateman

Cian's sailing odyssey began with Lasers, where his talent quickly caught the eye of Denis Doyle. Recognizing his potential, Doyle offered him a position on Moonduster, propelling Cian into the world of competitive sailing. It was on Moonduster that Cian completed a Round Ireland and participated in a series of Fastnet Races, laying the foundation for his future achievements.

In 2003-2004, Cian delved into Mini Transat racing aboard a boat named Tom Crean. Despite facing challenges along the way, he sailed Tom Crean with remarkable success until a rig loss brought an end to that chapter of his journey.

Undeterred, Cian's determination led him to the BT Challenge, where he crossed paths with his future wife, Catherine. His exceptional skills and dedication caught the attention of skipper Conrad Humphries, who promoted him to First Mate on L G Flatron. Cian played a pivotal role in their victory in the round-the-world race, earning accolades for his invaluable contributions.

In 2009, Cian embarked on a new venture, building a Class 40 yacht. However, the arrival of his identical triplet sons prompted him to sell the boat and shift his focus to family life.

The McCarthy family at Monday's KYC presentation Photo: Bob BatemanThe McCarthy family at Monday's KYC presentation Photo: Bob Bateman

Despite these changes, Cian's passion for sailing remained unwavering. He continued to pursue his love for the sport, participating in the X-yacht EOS and competing in challenging races such as the Fastnet Race and Round Ireland, often sailing two-handed.

In 2022, Cian's dedication and skill were once again on display as he entered and emerged victorious in the inaugural KYC Inishtearaght Race aboard Cinnamon Girl, racing two-handed with Sam. His success continued with a commendable second-place finish in the biennial Round Ireland Race, showcasing his prowess in navigating the most gruelling of conditions.

The Kinsale Yacht Club entry Cinnamon Girl sailed by Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt berthed in Hobart after completing the 2023 Sydney-Hobart offshore raceThe Kinsale Yacht Club entry Cinnamon Girl sailed by Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt berthed in Hobart after completing the 2023 Sydney-Hobart offshore race

A familiar sight in Kinsale Harbour, Cian can often be found training tirelessly, honing his skills in preparation for future challenges. His contributions to the sailing community have not gone unnoticed, as he is held in high esteem at KYC and beyond, admired for his ability to excel in the most demanding of conditions, as this recording of the Kinsale Yacht Club presentation (below) reveals.

As Cian's journey continues, his determination, resilience, and passion inspire sailors everywhere, proving that anything is possible on the open sea with perseverance and dedication.

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The Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club got underway on Easter Monday with a fine turnout of over 30 cruisers and 1720 sportsboats in both the Spinnaker and Whitesail divisions.

The racing lived up to its pre-event promise to deliver an 'impressive lineup' of contenders following on from KYC's March Frank Godsell sponsored league, including visiting entries from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, Royal Cork YC and Schull Harbour Sailing Club.

The series incorporates the SCORA League 2024.

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting strong interest. Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache continued its strong form from March and finished top in IRC and ECHO in the nine-boat fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache is the IRC and ECHO White sail leader in Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Cruiser Series Photo: Bob BatemanAlan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache is the IRC and ECHO White sail leader in Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Cruiser Series Photo: Bob Bateman

John O Connor's Impala 28 Fast Buck lies second on ECHO, and Patrick Beckett's Tofinou 8 Miss Charlie lies third.

In the spinnaker divisions, Kinsale Yacht Club says the first day's "results are being held over until next week to allow for redress".

Kinsale Yacht Club's 2024 Axiom Spring Cruiser Series Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

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Kinsale Yacht Club is all set to host its Axiom Spring Series 2024 for sailing cruisers and one designs, which incorporates the SCORA League 2024, on Easter Monday, April 1st.

The event promises an 'impressive lineup' of contenders already signed up and following on from KYC's March Frank Godsell sponsored league, including entries from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, RCYC, KYC, and Schull Harbour Sailing Club.

The Sailing Instructions for the event can be downloaded below, covering the Spinnaker, White Sail & 1720 Classes.

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The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club that was cancelled last weekend due to 'adverse wind and sea conditions' will sail two races this Sunday to compensate.

Although racing under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO after the first races on March 11th.

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The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club was cancelled on Monday, March 18, due to 'adverse wind and sea conditions'. 

Although racing under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO after the first races on March 11th.

Racing continues next Sunday. 

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The picturesque town of Kinsale Harbour in West Cork was packed with spectators over the weekend as it played host to the tenth annual St. Patrick's Maritime Festival. Despite a gloomy and wet day, the town was buzzing with excitement as the festival kicked off on Saturday night, March 16th. The highlight of the evening was the dazzling fireworks display, and yachts, boats and commercial craft lit up overall, which drew huge crowds from all over the region.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell with Kinsale's St. Patrick's Maritime Festival organisers ahead of last night's maritime parade by boats and fireworks display Photo:  Bob BatemanKinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell with Kinsale's St. Patrick's Maritime Festival committee ahead of last night's maritime parade by boats and fireworks display Photo:  Bob Bateman

As the gloomy day turned into a foggy evening, the organisers faced a difficult decision—whether to proceed with the parade and fireworks. However, they decided to take the plunge, and the event was a resounding success.

(L to R) Anthony Scannell, Commodore Kinsale Yacht Club, Celine Henderson of St. Patrick's Maritime Festival, James Lyons winning skipper and Aine Ryan O'Brien. Photo: Bob Bateman(L to R) Anthony Scannell, Commodore Kinsale Yacht Club, Celine Henderson of St. Patrick's Maritime Festival, James Lyons winning skipper and Aine Ryan O'Brien. Photo: Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club played an important role in the event, with members' boats involved in the on-the-water parade. The RNLI Kinsale lifeboat featured along with inshore and offshore fishing vessels, as well as yachts led by Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell on board his yacht, "Hansemer." This resulted in a wonderful display as the boats emerged from the mist and passed by James' Fort. The coinciding fireworks provided great entertainment for all.

Commodore Scannell welcomed Festival organisers back to the clubhouse after the parade, where awards were presented to the best-dressed boats. 

Tenth Kinsale St. Patrick's Maritime Festival Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

The logistics of putting on such a spectacular show were not without their challenges. The nearby Cork airport had to control permission for the fireworks display, which only gave a narrow window in which to hold it. However, the organisers pulled it off with aplomb, and the fireworks display was a true feast for the eyes.

The festivities kicked off at 7:30 pm, with participants gathering behind the Blockhouse to prepare for the parade. The procession began with a minute's silence in memory of Des Hurley, the Kinsale fisherman who passed away in December, setting the tone for a sombre yet celebratory occasion. 

Vid below by Mary Malone

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The 42nd annual Frank Godsell League kicks off this Sunday at Kinsale Yacht Club, located on the South Cork coastline.

The cruiser league will run for three weeks, with two more races to follow after Sunday's opening.

The next race will occur on Monday, March 18, the day after St. Patrick's Day, and the final race will occur on Sunday, March 24. The first gun for each day of the race will be at 13:55.

Kinsale Yacht Club is anticipating a strong turnout of boats for the event, which, according to them, is sponsored by Frank Godsell for a record 42nd consecutive year, a feat that is "surely unequalled anywhere."

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After 12 races sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2024 Custom Rigging Frostbite Series, Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan sailing Outlaw were crowned overall Squib keelboat division winners on 16 points, three points clear of Colm Dunne and Daniel McCloskey in Allegro.

KYC Club mates Harvey Tucker and Harvey Matthews in Fagan were third on 21. 11 competed.

Kinsale Frostbite Prizegiving 2024 - John Stallard, Principal Race Officer, Michele Kennelly (Sailing Secretary of Kinsale YC), Daniel McCloskey (Squib keelboat division second place crew), Harry Lewis (Custom Rigging Sponsor) and second-placed skipper Colm Dunne Photo: Bob BatemanKinsale Frostbite Prizegiving 2024 - John Stallard, Principal Race Officer, Michele Kennelly (Sailing Secretary of Kinsale YC), Daniel McCloskey (Squib keelboat division second place crew), Harry Lewis (Custom Rigging Sponsor) and second-placed skipper Colm Dunne Photo: Bob Bateman

Mixed dinghies

First in the mixed dinghies division after 11 races sailed was Mark O'Driscoll in the Laser 4.7 on 21. Second was Ben Fusco and Aisling Fiuza in an RS 400 on 28. Robert Hughes sailing a Laser 4.7 was third on 33. Five competed.

Mark O'Driscoll (left) was the Kinsale Yacht Club's Custom Rigging Frostbite Series mixed dinghies division winner and Rachel Bogue was the Topper class winner Photo: Bob BatemanMark O'Driscoll (left) was the Kinsale Yacht Club's Custom Rigging Frostbite Series mixed dinghies division winner and Rachel Bogue was the Topper class winner Photo: Bob Bateman

Toppers 

Rachel Bogue topped the four boat Topper fleet on 11 points, one point ahead of Fintan Tuohy with clubmate Ollie Lyons third on 15.

Kinsale Yacht Club Frostbite Prizegiving 2024 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

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Irish Olympic Sailing Team

Ireland has a proud representation in sailing at the Olympics dating back to 1948. Today there is a modern governing structure surrounding the selection of sailors the Olympic Regatta

Irish Olympic Sailing FAQs

Ireland’s representation in sailing at the Olympics dates back to 1948, when a team consisting of Jimmy Mooney (Firefly), Alf Delany and Hugh Allen (Swallow) competed in that year’s Summer Games in London (sailing off Torquay). Except for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Ireland has sent at least one sailor to every Summer Games since then.

  • 1948 – London (Torquay) — Firefly: Jimmy Mooney; Swallow: Alf Delany, Hugh Allen
  • 1952 – Helsinki — Finn: Alf Delany * 1956 – Melbourne — Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1960 – Rome — Flying Dutchman: Johnny Hooper, Peter Gray; Dragon: Jimmy Mooney, David Ryder, Robin Benson; Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1964 – Tokyo — Dragon: Eddie Kelliher, Harry Maguire, Rob Dalton; Finn: Johnny Hooper 
  • 1972 – Munich (Kiel) — Tempest: David Wilkins, Sean Whitaker; Dragon: Robin Hennessy, Harry Byrne, Owen Delany; Finn: Kevin McLaverty; Flying Dutchman: Harold Cudmore, Richard O’Shea
  • 1976 – Montreal (Kingston) — 470: Robert Dix, Peter Dix; Flying Dutchman: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Wilkinson; Tempest: David Wilkins, Derek Jago
  • 1980 – Moscow (Tallinn) — Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson (Silver medalists) * 1984 – Los Angeles — Finn: Bill O’Hara
  • 1988 – Seoul (Pusan) — Finn: Bill O’Hara; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; 470 (Women): Cathy MacAleavy, Aisling Byrne
  • 1992 – Barcelona — Europe: Denise Lyttle; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; Star: Mark Mansfield, Tom McWilliam
  • 1996 – Atlanta (Savannah) — Laser: Mark Lyttle; Europe: Aisling Bowman (Byrne); Finn: John Driscoll; Star: Mark Mansfield, David Burrows; 470 (Women): Denise Lyttle, Louise Cole; Soling: Marshall King, Dan O’Grady, Garrett Connolly
  • 2000 – Sydney — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, David O'Brien
  • 2004 – Athens — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, Killian Collins; 49er: Tom Fitzpatrick, Fraser Brown; 470: Gerald Owens, Ross Killian; Laser: Rory Fitzpatrick
  • 2008 – Beijing (Qingdao) — Star: Peter O’Leary, Stephen Milne; Finn: Tim Goodbody; Laser Radial: Ciara Peelo; 470: Gerald Owens, Phil Lawton
  • 2012 – London (Weymouth) — Star: Peter O’Leary, David Burrows; 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; Laser Radial: Annalise Murphy; Laser: James Espey; 470: Gerald Owens, Scott Flanigan
  • 2016 – Rio — Laser Radial (Women): Annalise Murphy (Silver medalist); 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; 49erFX: Andrea Brewster, Saskia Tidey; Laser: Finn Lynch; Paralympic Sonar: John Twomey, Ian Costello & Austin O’Carroll

Ireland has won two Olympics medals in sailing events, both silver: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson in the Flying Dutchman at Moscow 1980, and Annalise Murphy in the Laser Radial at Rio 2016.

The current team, as of December 2020, consists of Laser sailors Finn Lynch, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon, 49er pairs Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle, and Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, as well as Laser Radial sailors Annalise Murphy and Aoife Hopkins.

Irish Sailing is the National Governing Body for sailing in Ireland.

Irish Sailing’s Performance division is responsible for selecting and nurturing Olympic contenders as part of its Performance Pathway.

The Performance Pathway is Irish Sailing’s Olympic talent pipeline. The Performance Pathway counts over 70 sailors from 11 years up in its programme.The Performance Pathway is made up of Junior, Youth, Academy, Development and Olympic squads. It provides young, talented and ambitious Irish sailors with opportunities to move up through the ranks from an early age. With up to 100 young athletes training with the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway, every aspect of their performance is planned and closely monitored while strong relationships are simultaneously built with the sailors and their families

Rory Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Irish Sailing Performance. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and was an Athens 2004 Olympian in the Laser class.

The Performance Director of Irish Sailing is James O’Callaghan. Since 2006 James has been responsible for the development and delivery of athlete-focused, coach-led, performance-measured programmes across the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. A Business & Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is a Level 3 Qualified Coach and Level 2 Coach Tutor. He has coached at five Olympic Games and numerous European and World Championship events across multiple Olympic classes. He is also a member of the Irish Sailing Foundation board.

Annalise Murphy is by far and away the biggest Irish sailing star. Her fourth in London 2012 when she came so agonisingly close to a bronze medal followed by her superb silver medal performance four years later at Rio won the hearts of Ireland. Murphy is aiming to go one better in Tokyo 2021. 

Under head coach Rory Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff consists of Laser Radial Academy coach Sean Evans, Olympic Laser coach Vasilij Zbogar and 49er team coach Matt McGovern.

The Irish Government provides funding to Irish Sailing. These funds are exclusively for the benefit of the Performance Pathway. However, this falls short of the amount required to fund the Performance Pathway in order to allow Ireland compete at the highest level. As a result the Performance Pathway programme currently receives around €850,000 per annum from Sport Ireland and €150,000 from sponsorship. A further €2 million per annum is needed to have a major impact at the highest level. The Irish Sailing Foundation was established to bridge the financial gap through securing philanthropic donations, corporate giving and sponsorship.

The vision of the Irish Sailing Foundation is to generate the required financial resources for Ireland to scale-up and execute its world-class sailing programme. Irish Sailing works tirelessly to promote sailing in Ireland and abroad and has been successful in securing funding of 1 million euro from Sport Ireland. However, to compete on a par with other nations, a further €2 million is required annually to realise the ambitions of our talented sailors. For this reason, the Irish Sailing Foundation was formed to seek philanthropic donations. Led by a Board of Directors and Head of Development Kathryn Grace, the foundation lads a campaign to bridge the financial gap to provide the Performance Pathway with the funds necessary to increase coaching hours, upgrade equipment and provide world class sport science support to a greater number of high-potential Irish sailors.

The Senior and Academy teams of the Performance Pathway are supported with the provision of a coach, vehicle, coach boat and boats. Even with this level of subsidy there is still a large financial burden on individual families due to travel costs, entry fees and accommodation. There are often compromises made on the amount of days a coach can be hired for and on many occasions it is necessary to opt out of major competitions outside Europe due to cost. Money raised by the Irish Sailing Foundation will go towards increased quality coaching time, world-class equipment, and subsiding entry fees and travel-related costs. It also goes towards broadening the base of talented sailors that can consider campaigning by removing financial hurdles, and the Performance HQ in Dublin to increase efficiency and reduce logistical issues.

The ethos of the Performance Pathway is progression. At each stage international performance benchmarks are utilised to ensure the sailors are meeting expectations set. The size of a sailor will generally dictate which boat they sail. The classes selected on the pathway have been identified as the best feeder classes for progression. Currently the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway consists of the following groups: * Pathway (U15) Optimist and Topper * Youth Academy (U19) Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 420 * Development Academy (U23) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX * Team IRL (direct-funded athletes) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX

The Irish Sailing performance director produces a detailed annual budget for the programme which is presented to Sport Ireland, Irish Sailing and the Foundation for detailed discussion and analysis of the programme, where each item of expenditure is reviewed and approved. Each year, the performance director drafts a Performance Plan and Budget designed to meet the objectives of Irish Performance Sailing based on an annual review of the Pathway Programmes from Junior to Olympic level. The plan is then presented to the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) where it is independently assessed and the budget is agreed. The OSG closely monitors the delivery of the plan ensuring it meets the agreed strategy, is within budget and in line with operational plans. The performance director communicates on an ongoing basis with the OSG throughout the year, reporting formally on a quarterly basis.

Due to the specialised nature of Performance Sport, Irish Sailing established an expert sub-committee which is referred to as the Olympic Steering Group (OSG). The OSG is chaired by Patrick Coveney and its objective is centred around winning Olympic medals so it oversees the delivery of the Irish Sailing’s Performance plan.

At Junior level (U15) sailors learn not only to be a sailor but also an athlete. They develop the discipline required to keep a training log while undertaking fitness programmes, attending coaching sessions and travelling to competitions. During the winter Regional Squads take place and then in spring the National Squads are selected for Summer Competitions. As sailors move into Youth level (U19) there is an exhaustive selection matrix used when considering a sailor for entry into the Performance Academy. Completion of club training programmes, attendance at the performance seminars, physical suitability and also progress at Junior and Youth competitions are assessed and reviewed. Once invited in to the Performance Academy, sailors are given a six-month trial before a final decision is made on their selection. Sailors in the Academy are very closely monitored and engage in a very well planned out sailing, training and competition programme. There are also defined international benchmarks which these sailors are required to meet by a certain age. Biannual reviews are conducted transparently with the sailors so they know exactly where they are performing well and they are made aware of where they may need to improve before the next review.

©Afloat 2020