Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Royal Cork Yacht Club

The Jones family J/122 Jelly Baby from the host club were the winners of the annual Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour on Saturday. 

Racing in the seven-boat spinnaker division, skipper Brian Jones beat season-long big boat club rivals Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo. 

Winner J122 Jelly Baby on starboard crosses Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo on the second leg of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanWinner J122 Jelly Baby on starboard crosses Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo on the second leg of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Brisk northerly winds gave the fleet a reaching start to No.5 buoy from a RIB-based Committee Boat start that proved more than adequate, with flags flying from a stick. 

Videos by Bob Bateman and Mary Malone

The 19-boat sailed close hauled to No.13 Cuskinny buoy, about a mile off Cove, then outside the harbour with a traditional finish at the Haulbowline Naval Base.

Third was Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star.

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star racing under spinnaker in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanFiona Young's Albin Express North Star racing under spinnaker in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board Imp, helmed by Paul Gibbons in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman(Above and below) Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board vintage one tonner Imp, helmed by Paul Gibbons in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board Imp, helmed by Paul Gibbons in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

In the 12-boat Club ECHO division, Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet continues his recent White Sail success (winning the RCYC August/SeptemberLeague, as Afloat reported previously) with a win in the Naval Race.

Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanKieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Frank Caul and John Molloy's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides finished second ahead of Des Corbet's entry Netta J, from Cove Sailing Club.

Des Corbet's entry Netta J, from Cove Sailing Club, competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanDes Corbet's entry Netta J, from Cove Sailing Club, competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Results are below

Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Published in Royal Cork YC

Evening cruiser-racing concluded in Cork Harbour with the final race of the August/September Whitesails League at the RCYC.

Evening cruiser and dinghy racing has also finished at Cove SC. Monkstown Bay Sailing Club dinghy racing is moving from evenings to Saturdays for September.

The June/July and August/September Friday whitesail leagues at the RCYC were both won by SCRIBBLER (Tom and Cormac MacSweeney). The dual success of the Sigma 33 was helmed respectively by the young brothers Oisin (June/July) and Rowan (August/September). They are also both Laser sailors at the RCYC.

Second in August/September was John O’Connor and John Hanley’s Impala FAST BUCK, and third Clive Doherty’s PHAETON. Second in the June/July League was Peter Webster’s, THISTLE and third was FAST BUCK.

Bob Bateman's RCYC Whitesails League and Prizegiving 2022 Photo Gallery

Published in Royal Cork YC

Established in 1944, the Sutton Book Trophy (‘the book’) is arguably the oldest team racing event in Ireland which has seen Royal Cork dinghy sailors do battle with Sutton Dinghy Club sailors on Dublin Bay in order to establish which club gets to win and retain ‘the book’ year on year.

Last weekend, Sutton Dinghy Club played host to the 2022 iteration, and as is always the case with Sutton Dinghy Club, the Royal Cork sailors were warmly received over breakfast prepared in the clubhouse prior to the race briefing.

Competing for the Junior Sutton Book, the Royal Cork Junior team were first to hit the race course in a light warm northerly breeze and the sun shining. The team was made up of a cross-section of our many talented junior dinghy sailors from the RCYC Laser, Optimist, 29er and Topper club fleets.

Isabel McCarthy, Megan O Sullivan, Fionn Daly, Oisin Pierce, Liam Duggan and Jonathan O Shaughnessy (Captain) all worked in a cohesive manner and sailed very well as a team to secure the overall win and retain the Junior Sutton book trophy for the second year in a row.

the rcyc Junior Sutton Book Winning TeamThe RCYC Junior Sutton Book Winning Team

Sutton DC commodore Ciara O‘ Tiarnaigh presenting the Sutton Junior bookSutton DC commodore Ciara O‘ Tiarnaigh (right) presenting the Sutton Junior Book

Next up were the senior teams, and by the time they were ready to compete, all the signs were that the breeze would fade as the afternoon wore on. Nonetheless, the race officer did very well to get three races completed, with Sutton winning by two races to one and deserved winners in the conditions.

The prize giving was conducted over dinner hosted by Sutton Dinghy club members for all competitors and their wider entourage. The Junior Sutton book was presented to the team and will remain in the Royal Cork clubhouse for another 12 months. The Senior Sutton Book will remain in Dublin for now but the Royal Cork sailors are already looking forward to try and wrestle the book back to Cork in 2023.

Special thanks to Royal Cork club member Richard McGlade for organising the 2022 team and great to see the competition is still very much alive 78 years on.

Published in Team Racing

Denis Byrne's Trapper Cracker is the overall winner of Royal Cork Yacht Club's August/September League for cruiser-racers in Cork Harbour.

After seven races sailed and one discard, the Byrne crew finished on 23 points, seven ahead of Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca. In third place in the 13-boat fleet was Ria Lyden's X332 Ellida on 31 points. 

J122 Jelly Baby (jones family) and X4 Alpaca race in the light airs of the last race of RCYC's August/September LeagueJ122 Jelly Baby (Jones family) and X4 Alpaca race in the light airs of the last race of RCYC's August/September League Photo: Bob Bateman

The last race was sailed in light winds to bring the curtain down on RCYC's summer season. 

Kieran O'Brien's MG335, Magnet Photo: Bob BatemanKieran O'Brien's MG335, Magnet Photo: Bob Bateman

A separate start for the 11-boat white sail division was won by Kieran O'Brien's MG335, Magnet. The O'Brien team beat Pat Vaughan's Contessa 33, Aramis by 17 points.

In third overall after seven races sailed and one discard was Frank Caul and John Molloy's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides. 

Bob Bateman's Photo Gallery of RCYC's August/September League Race is below 

The league results are below.

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under

Evening racing ends this week at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven with the final races in the Thursday and Friday leagues which have been running in Cork Harbour since August.

After six races, Denis Byrne’s Trapper, Cracker, is leading the IRC Spinnaker Division on 16 points, followed by Ria Lyden’s X332, Ellida on 20. In third place is Paul and Deirdre Tingle’s X4, Alpaca on 25. Ellida leads under ECHO with Cracker second and Wan and Eric Waterman’s X37, Saxon Senator, third.

Denis Byrne’s Trapper, Cracker, is leading the IRC Spinnaker DivisionDenis Byrne’s Trapper, Cracker, is leading the IRC Spinnaker Division Photo: Bob Bateman

IRC Whitesails is led by Kieran O’Brien’s MG335, Magnet, on 6 points. Pat Vaughan’s Contessa 33, Aramis, is second on 21. Third is Paul O’Shea’s Sun Odyssey, Elegance, on 22.

Magnet also leads under ECHO handicap, where John O’Connor’s Impala, Fast Buck, is second and Elegance third.

Friday night IHS Whitesail is led, also after six races, by Tom and Cormac MacSweeney’s Sigma 33, Scribbler, on 11 points from John O’Connor and John Hanley’s Impala, Fast Buck, on 16 points. In third place is Clive Doherty’s Phaeton on 18 points.

RCYC Thursday Evening Racing Photogallery By Bob Bateman

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under

The Royal Cork Yacht Club's two-day At Home regatta in Crosshaven attracted good fleets, with racing in light winds and sunshine on Saturday, followed by high winds on Sunday and a lumpy sea for the cruiser fleet offshore.

Dinghies raced in the harbour.

The National 18 class was won by Patrick Crosbie and Conor Kelly. Second Colin Chapman, third Ronan Kenneally/Robert Vincent O’Sullivan.

Eoin Dunne of sponsors AIB and RCYC Admiral Kieran O'Connell presented the winners with prizes along Maurice Collins, Rear Admiral Dinghies and Paul Tingle, Rear Admiral Keelboats.

Bob Bateman's RCYC At Home Photo Gallery 2022

Results:

Mixed dinghies – 1, Peter O’Leary/Dafne O’Leary; 2, Tim and Isobel O’Connor; 3, Bella Clarke Waterman/Sam Kelleher. Lasers – 1, Patrick Bruen; 2, Rowan MacSweeney; 3, Eve McCarthy.

29ers – 1. Rian Collins/James Murphy; 2, Dara Jenkins/Ben O’Shaughnessy; 3, JP Curtin/Dan O’Leary. Toppers – 1, Craig Jnr. O’Neill; 2, Ellen Bruen; 3, Shane Collins.

Optimists Main Fleet – 1, Lucy Moynan; 2, Andrew O’Neill; 3, Rian O’Neill.Tin and Copper Fleet – 1, Dylan O’Sullivan; 2, Conor Lynch; 3, Emily Lynch.

Cruisers Results

IRC 1Spin Class – 1, Jelly Baby, Jones Family; 2, Alpaca, Paul/Deirdre Tingle; 3, Ellida, Ria Lyden.

IRC 2 -1, North Star, Fiona Young; 2, Illegal, Dominic Losty; 3, Bad Company, Dedmon/Ivers/Keane.

Whitesail Class One IRC – 1, Magnet, Kieran O’Brien; 2, Jolastan, Mike McCarthy; 3, Sweet Dreams, Batt O’Leary.

Class Two – 1, Bic Mc, McGrath Family; 2, Aramis, Pat Vaughan; 3, Esme, John/Fiona Murphy.

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under

At the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, the August/September evening league has had three races and is being led in the Spinnaker Division under both IRC and ECHO handicaps by Ria Lyden’s X332 Ellida.

She is followed under both handicap systems, IRC and ECHO, by Denis Byrne’s Trapper, Cracker and Wan and Eric Waterman’s Saxon. In IRC Ellida has nine points, Cracker 11 and Saxon Senator 12. Close racing there.

In ECHO Ellida leads on six points, with Cracker and Saxon Senator both on 11. Paul O’Shea’s Sun Odyssey, Elegance, leads the whitesails fleet in the league series in both IRC and ECHO, followed by Kieran O’Brien’s Magnet and John O’Connor’s Fast Buck in IRC. Derry Good’s Exhale is second in ECHO, with Fast
Buck third.

Friday Whitesails league under IHS handicapping

The Friday Whitesails league which is sailed under IHS handicapping has also had three races and is being led by the Sigma 33 Scribbler (Tom and Cormac
MacSweeney), with Fast Buck second and Clive Doherty’s Phaeton third.

Published in Royal Cork YC

Finally, after all the frustration in Cork Harbour, the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted 505 Worlds finish in brochure conditions...

The final day again dawned with no wind and again, the wind filled in from the NE out to sea. Today the conditions were even better than yesterday with the wind filling in slightly stronger and holding for longer. Nearly all racing was conducted in 10-12 maybe 14kn of wind. Late in the day, it did move slightly right and start to fade, but by then, boats were turning onto their last upwind of the final race.

Three races again were conducted today, allowing 7 races in total and bringing a drop into play.

The first race of the day (R5) looked like there could be some movement ahead for the leader board. McNay and Payne were 7th and Batchelor/Pascoe 3rd. The winners were Jan-Philipp Hofmann and Felix Brockerhoff in a tight battle with Roger Gilbert and Ben McGrane. Peter Nicholas and Luke Payne were part that trio, but on the last run they went furthest to the left when a little righty came down the centre of the course dropping them to 6th. The German pair of Hofmann and Brockerhoff looked like they could move up to third overall.

The second race of the day (R6) was a return to form for McNay/Payne, but Batchelor/Pascoe were a little deep. Nicholas/Payne were again near the front and this time would make no mistake finishing second. Former champions Mike Holt and Adam Lowry emerged from the forest they had been lost in all regatta to give us a flash of brilliance to pick up third.

And the final race (R7), well it was an exhibition, really. McNay and Paine just sailed away from the fleet. It was impressive! In second, was the other form boat Batchelor and Pascoe with third going to Mike Martin and Adam Lowry.

In a post-race interview, McNay and Paine shared their glory with their coach, (and McNay's crew for the last two Olympics), Dave Hughes.

The two lead boats were identical packages. Brand new Ovington V2 hulls, Pinnell and Bax sails and Superspar M2 masts.

The top Irish were locals Ewan Barry and Charles Dwyer in 12th place.

Next year the Worlds return to the US West Coast in Santa Cruz and given the size of the US fleet here in Cork, it should be a great success.

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under

After a long wait, the 505 World Championship fleet in Cork Harbour was greeted with a 12-14kn from the N/E today.

It was a gradient breeze and expected to wane a little as the day went on. The PRO could get a maximum of three races in, and three were needed to constitute a series, so everyone knew what was to come. Whilst the breeze was oscillating, most of the fleet worked to the left upwind, and down. There seemed to be more pressure over there.

There were some performances to highlight throughout the races.

South Africans James Largier and Richard Hutton-Squire in 6th the first race of the day (R2). Lena Stückl and Johannes Tellen 7th in R2 - Lena stated yesterday she prefers breeze and proved it. In R3 Malin Broberg and Johan Röök finishing 4th and locals Ewen Barry and Charles Dwyer in R4 finished 6th, plus youngster Morgan Pickney and Garrett Brown 4th in R4.

Tomorrow the wind looks lighter but hopes remain for a few more races to finish the WorldsTomorrow the wind looks lighter but hopes remain for a few more races to finish the Worlds Photo: Christian Favreau

The first race today, (R2) was almost perfect 505 weather, the lightweight teams were in play and the heavyweight teams were in play. Crews were on the wire and the boats could power reach the runs. At the top mark the first time the team of McNay and Paine were again in the front with Mike Martin and Adam Lowry looming. The other front runners of Batchelor and Pascoe were back in the teens. For the second leg Batchelor and Pascoe moved through the fleet finishing third behind our two original race leaders.

The second race, (R3) was a couple of knots lighter moving to the 9-11kn range and favouring our lighter teams. This time Batchelor and Pascoe lead from start to finish with McNay and Paine second. The fleet was tight, so there was a large bunch fighting for third. Nicholas and Payne won that battle from the Swedish team of Broberg and Röök, the leading mixed team.

In the final race the pressure again dropped a couple more knots and moved right 20 degrees. The order for the lead was reversed with McNay and Paine leading Batchelor and Pascoe, third went to Mal Higgins and Nick (Camel) Johnstone. The big excitement for the whole fleet though was the finish of Earle Alexander and Angus Higgins in 8th. Angus is Malcolm's son and an emerging youth sailor. He joined with Earle (76y.o.), a class stalwart and permanent fixture in the 505 class for at least 40 years, and one of the most popular men in the field. Earle is there for everyone, yet he has never had a top 10 race at a Worlds, until today - there was a lot of celebration.

Tomorrow the wind looks lighter but hopes remain for a few more races to finish the Worlds. No drops as yet, so McNay and Paine have a 5-point lead heading into the final day.

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under

Day three is completed and the 505 World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club still have only sailed one race.

Ireland has a large ridge of no wind sitting stationary above it, and it is wreaking havoc on the 505 fleet.

For the second day in a row, the planned racecourse offshore had zero wind.

The race committee tried to get racing on the inshore course.

There has been localised breeze inshore over the last few days and on the planned inshore course, it varied from 3-8 knots, with large direction changes.

Sailors left shore at midday and the first attempt at racing was around 2.45 pm.

The 505 class requires more than 5 knots over the course otherwise, racing is abandoned. Two races were started in 7-8 knots but both were abandoned halfway through when it dropped to 3 knots.

The fleet was kept on the water until 6 pm, but nothing eventuated, and everyone went home frustrated.

The pressure is on to get some races in. Tomorrow (Thursday) is a scheduled lay day which may be converted to a racing day, but again, no wind is expected. 

Published in Royal Cork YC
Tagged under
Page 10 of 68

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