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Displaying items by tag: Supernova

#boatsforsale – Looking for a great performer for club racing or a chance to join the growing Quarter Ton Fleet in time for the European Championships in Ireland 2013?

€13,750 gets you the professionally refitted Quarter Tonner Supernova that has an impressive list of victories including the 'Boat of the Week' title at the 2011 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Week. The boat is also a frequent top performer in Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) leagues. The boat has been dry sailed over the last five years and wintered indoors.

It's not the first competitive quarter tonner to come on the market in recent times either. Last year Kinsale's Ian Travers sold his similarly well priced top performing 'Bandit' after posting it on the Afloat Boats for Sale site.

All the details on the full Supernova Quarter Tonner advert are on the Afloat's Boat for sales website

Published in Boat Sales
Tagged under
It looked like Supernova (Ken Lawless) would continue her success on Dublin Bay with weekend wins in a blustery DBSC end of season fixture for the Cruisers III class until a broken boom in the penultimate race gave the event to arch rivals Hard on Port.

In what at first glance looks like a repeat of the results from July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta there are familiar name at the top of the leaderboard after the weekend's Dublin Bay Sailing Club Cruiser Challenge contested by 70 boats from 7 classes.

So far overall results have yet to be published and only provisional results are appearing online.

As in July, the J24 Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll) was second to Supernova in the 16-boat Cruisers III IRC fleet, the biggest fleet of the combined classes event until the final race of the series when disaster struck for the Dubois Starflash desgin.

Wow J111

Wow tackles the breeze at the Cruiser Challenge. Photo: Gareth Craig. more on the Afloat Gallery here.

In the six boat Cruisers Zero fleet, Howth visitor Crazy Horse (Norbert Reilly) counting two firsts won by a margin of 5 points from Tiamat. Third was the new J111 Wow skippered by George Sisk.

Published in DBSC
The Royal Irish Yacht Club is gearing up to host the inaugural Best In The Bay 2011 Shootout this Sunday the 31st July 2011.

The Best In The Bay is a new sailing event designed to take the top helms from the various Dublin Bay Sailing Club keelboat classes and put them and their trimmers and tacticians head to head in the ISA Sailfleet J80 keelboats.

The competitors have been selected based on the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta results, with the highest finishing DBSC boat based on either IRC, scratch or standard ECHO qualifying.

The event structure has two qualification fleet racing flights with the finals then emphasising match racing tactics in a reduced field final.

Notables in the field include Supernova, the boat of the week in the VDLR, competing against White Mischief, the VDLR one design boat of the week as well as J109, Cruisers 1, SB3, Dragon and other Cruiser fleet representatives.

The sailing will be kept close inshore to entertain the Bank Holiday crowds in Dun Laoghaire and will feature on the water judges for instant penalties and short match racing style courses for maximum tactical opportunities.

The Best In The Bay is modelled on the successful formula already used in the ISA All-Ireland Helmsman Championship and the King of Cowes event to bring the top helms from differing classes that would not normally compete against each other into an event on one design boats for a head to head challenge.
Published in Dublin Bay

She maybe old but she's still a fast one. Don't let the fact that a 33-year old local yacht took top prize from a combined fleet of 420 competitors at Ireland's biggest sailing regatta, the Volvo regatta in Dun Laoghaire yesterday.

The three sailors involved in the campaign, skipper Ken Lawless, Sybil McCormack and Pat Shannon have invested in a three year campaign to get the quarter tonner Supernova up to speed and it was only after a season of modifications last year that they found the real go button on the Dubois Starflash design.

supernova_montage
supernova_prize

David Baddeley of Volvo (left) and Alan Moore of Spirit (back row) present the award to the Supernova crew (from left) Ken Lawless, Sybil McCormack, Edel Harvey, Pat Shannon and Daryl Balf

In a hard fought battle for honours in the biggest class of the regatta Supernova of the Royal Irish Yacht Club overhauled the 2009 Volvo trophy winner, Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll) of the Royal St. George Yacht Club by five seconds to win yesterday afternoon's final sixth race for Class III and lift the overall Volvo Trophy for the best performance of the regatta.

In fact, Supernova won from O'Driscoll by only the narrowest of margins and only after the third tie-break was applied to the arch rivals.

Both boats had equal points plus three wins and two second places apiece. Both had also  discarded a second place and so the class, and the 2011 title, was decided on  countback and who won the last race.

In a season of successes for the vintage Dubois Starflash design Dun Laoghaire sailor Lawless and his partners Sybil McCormack and Pat Shannon have already won class honours in June’s Lambay race. The quarter tonner has taken overall honours too in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's first series this season.

Part of the reason for the success has been a winter of overhauls to the 1978 design including extra downwind sail area and improved stability with the relocation of its floorboards. The improvements brought about better performances downwind, especially in light airs.
"We found stability was more important than increasing draft. In anything over 15-knots she proved very difficult to sail, her big rig makin her very skittish" Lawless told Afloat.ie
supernovatacking
Supernova takes a tack

The vintage boat from the old IOR handicap days is in fact a carbon copy of the famous 1979 Admiral's Cupper two tonner Police Car, a boat that has held huge appeal for Lawless.

"We were second to Hard on Port at this regatta two years ago when they won boat of the week so there was intense rivalry today but we knew we could do it!" Lawless said last night.
Published in Volvo Regatta
In one of the busiest racing weekends of the Irish sailing calendar a vintage Quarter tonner sailed by six friends lifted the top prize in Dun Laoghaire. We report on Supernova's success. In a weekend of extremes for the biennial 'big one' we have reports, photos and video from Day one, two, three and overall. Plus how one VDLR competitor skipped the ferry and sailed over, from Wales in a dinghy. We have the DBSC likely first series winners too. On Friday, John Twomey and his crew qualified in Weymouth for next year's Paralympic Games. Yesterday in Croatia Sophie Murphy took a race win at the ISAF Youth Worlds for Ireland. From a lead at the halfway stage Peter McCann ended up eighth at the Oppy worlds in Portugal.We have less serious Optimist action from Crosshaven too.

In offshore news, the Transatlantic Race 2011 Nears a Finish, and RORC yachts that headed West did best in the St Malo from Cowes race. Ireland's entry in the Tall Ships race, Celtic Mist, is safely in Scotland. WIORA starts this week in Clifden, thirty boats are expected.

Two top Cork performers are in Cowes for this week's Quarter Ton Cup.

In other boating news, rower Siobhan McCrohan won bronze at the World Rowing Champs in Lucerne, Kiteboarding debuted in Dun Laoghaire. There were Medals for Irish Kayakers at Athens Special Olympics.

And finally after a Elaine 'Shooter' Alexander is set for hero's welcome this week as she becomes the first woman from Northern Ireland to circumnavigate the island of Ireland.

All on our home page this morning, thanks for your interest in Irish Sailing and Boating.

Published in Racing

Local success is being toasted in Dun Laoghaire tonight following the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta prizegiving this afternoon.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PRIZEGIVING PHOTOS by Gareth Craig.

The bulk of the major trophies were divided among sailors from the waterfront Dublin Bay yacht clubs or Howth at the end of four days of racing today.

The major overall prize went to the Class III IRC winner Supernova who produced three wins and three second places in a 38 boat fleet, the biggest class of the regatta. More on Supernova HERE.

supernova

The quarter tonner Supernova - Shining brightly on Dublin Bay

The biennial regatta is being hailed an enormous success both afloat and ashore as a combined fleet of 420 boats raced over nine courses and a range of conditions since racing began last Thursday from full gale to flat calm.

Supernova won but only after the third tie-break was applied against arch rival Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll). Both boats had equal points plus three wins and two second places apiece. Both had also discarded a second place and so the class, and the 2011 title, was decided on countback and who won the last race.

The cruisers zero IRC winner, in the biggest turn out of the class this year is Alan Chambers and Norbert Reilly's Crazy Horse. Steven Cowie's Beneteau 40, Zephyr from Royal Gourock was 4 points behind the Howth winner with the Dufour 42 Grand Cru from Clyde Cruising club three points further adrift.

In Cruiser one IRC the prize went to the National Yacht Club's Something Else (John & Brian Hall & Sue McDonnell). Second was Scotland's Carmen II (Paul Scutt/ Alan Jeffrey) and third Bengal Magic (John Moorehead/ Chris Ferres)

In class two Howth's Impetous lifted the IRC trophy from a fleet of 21. Second was Sligo traveller Conor Ronan sailing Ruthless, a Corby 25,
Third was the half tonner King One (David Cullen) from Howth.

In the one designs class champions prevailed in the SB3, the Sigma and the Flying fifteen classes.

In a new departure for the event Kitesurfing was added to the slate and the sport was showcased yesterday off Seapoint. Francios Colussi won the demonstration event.

The next Dun Laoghaire regatta is scheduled for early July 2013

The full breakdown of overall results is below.

Overall results VDLR 2011 (provisional and subject to protest)

OVERALL WINNER – Supernova (Sybil MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon),

IRC CLASS 0 - 1. Crazy Horse (Chambers/Reilly), 2. Elf Too (Christina Murray) 3. Grand Cru II (Jamie McGarry)

IRC CLASS 1 ­ 1. Something Else (John & Brian Hall & Sue McDonnell 2. Carmen II (Paul Scutt/ Alan Jeffrey) 3. Bengal Magic (John Moorehead/ Chris Ferres)

IRC CLASS 2 - 1. Impetuous (Fergal Noonan/Robert Chambers) 2. Ruthless (Conor Ronan), 3. King One (David Cullen)

IRC CLASS 3 - 1. Supernova (Sybil MacCormack/Ken Lawless/Pat Shannon), 2. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 3. Scandal (Brian McDowell)

NON SPINNAKER 1 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lula Belle (Liam Coyne), 3. Persistance (Charles Broadhead/Jerry Collins/Ian Stuart)

NON SPINNAKER 2 - 1. Bite the Bullet (Colm Bermingham), 2. Voyager (Joe Carton), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

NON SPINNAKER DBSC CUP - ) 1. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 3.Eden Park (Liam Farmer) 3. Nauti-Gal (John and Jason Crawford)

J109 - 1. Joker 2 (John Maybury) 2. Storm (Pat Kelly), 3. Jedi (Barratt/Austin/McGuinness)

J80 WELSH/IRISH CUP- 1. Ireland 1 (Geoff O'Donoghue), 2. Ireland 2 (Stephen Doherty), 3. Wales 1 (Kieron Iniman)

LASER SB3- 1. Sharkbait (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran), 2. TBC Aidan O'Connell, 3. BoMChickaWahWah (John O'Driscoll)

BENETEAU 31.7 ­ 1. Twister (Fletcher/Byers/Fair), 2. Flying Machine (Conor & Donal O'Gallagher),3. 30 Something (Kavanagh/Jones/Gaffney/Lubliner)

SIGMA 33 - 1.White Mischief (Tim Goodbody), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Gwili Two (Dermot Clarke and Paddy Maguire)

RUFFIAN 23- . 1. Diane 2 (Alan Claffey) 2. Ruff Nuff (Derek & Carol Mitchell), 3. Ruff n'Ready (Cullen/Brown/Kirwan)

SHIPMAN- 1.Curraglass (John Masterson), 2. Whiterock (Henry M Robinson), 3. Lulu (Bob & Tom Galvin)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (Donal &Richard O'Connor), 2. Pterodactyl (Roderick & David McCaffrey) 3 .Glenmarissa (Frank Elmes/Wilf Higgins)

FLYING 15- 1. Hy5ive (David Gorman), 2. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole) 3. Deranged (Alan Green)

DRAGON- 1.Phantom (Peter Bowring/David Williams), 2. Jaguar (Martin Byrne), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (Jonathon O'Rourke), 2. Endeavour (Roger Bannon), 3. Dolphin (James O'Toole)

SQUIB - 1. Toy for the Boys (Peter Wallace), 2. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne/Vincent Delaney), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming) (PROTEST PENDING THAT AFFECTS SECOND AND THIRD)

WATER WAG - 1. Little Tern (J Ross-Murphy) 2. Tortoise (William & Linda Prentice) 3. Molly (Cathy McAleavey)

WAYFARER- 1. Black Pear (David Wade) 2. Hofreki (Trevor Fisher) 3. Devil's Advocate (Richard Hartley)

FIREBALL- 1. El Rey Del Fuego (Francis Rowan) 3. Moon Monkey (Diana Kissane) 3. Lets Get Messy (Andy Boyle/Barry Hurley),

IDRA 14- 1. Delos II (Patrick O Neill) 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Chaos (Julie Ascoop/Heather Keenan)

HOWTH 17- 1. Oona (Peter Courtney) 2. Aura (Ian Malcolm) 3. Leila (Roddy Cooper)

LASER RADIAL - 1. Pump It (Luke Murphy) 2. No Name (Declan Kickham), 3. No Name (Eoin Foley)

LASER STANDARD - 1. Fossa Too (Will Nesbitt), 2. No Name (Francis Barry) 3. Buster 3 (Garry O'Hare)

KITE BOARDERS 1. Francios Colussi 2. Jade O'Connor 3. Colm Murphy

Published in Volvo Regatta

Ken Lawless's Supernova was a double winner in last night's Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) race, a result that sets up the Dubois Starflash design as a favourite in the biggest fleet of next week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta at the same venue. Our Dublin Bay Correspondent Reports.

On IRC handicap Huggy Bear (S.Doyle/G.Byrne) was second to Supernova and third was the Bolero 26, Two Step (Ross Doyle). On ECHO, Huggy Bear took second too but third went to the club's only Jezequel 116 design, Cri-Cri skippered by Paul Colton.

DBSC are celebrating the success of course changes introduced this year that have received widespread approval across the 17 fleets. The new courses are producing tight racing, a situation very much in evidence last night across the bay but particularly noticeable in the one design classes. Good turnouts from the Ruffian's, Fifteens and SB3s were treated to good courses and some of the closest racing of the season.

Royal St. George crews fared well with Derek Mitchell coming out on top in a 19-boat Ruffian fleet and Andrew Algeo at the helm of Flutter the SB3 winner. Tom Leonard's Mellifluence from the National Yacht Club was the winner of the 16-Flying fifteens. The full results are below:

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Extreme Reality (P.McSwiney/E.O'Rafferty), 2. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald), 2. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 3. Axiom (M.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Bendemeer (Lindsay Casey Power)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Huggy Bear (S.Doyle/G.Byrne), 3. Cri-Cri (P Colton)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Huggy Bear (S.Doyle/G.Byrne), 3. Two Step (Ross Doyle)

DRAGON - 1. Susele (Michael Halpenny), 2. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Mellifluence (Tom Leonard), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. Fflogger (Alan Dooley)

GLEN - 1. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glenroan (Terence Moran)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 2. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)

SB3s - 1. Flutter (Andrew Algeo), 2. Defiant (R.Hudson/J.Hooper), 3. Alert Packaging (Justin Burke)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Therapi (Alan McCarthy et al), 3. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray)

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire), 3. Pippa lV (G.Kinsman/K.Blake/M.O'Brien)

SQUIB - 1. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 3. Chillax (Mary McLoughlin)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Katie (Tom Dunne et al), 2. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson), 3. Edenpark (Liam Farmer)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

Published in DBSC

Ken Lawless's Supernova emerged the winner of tonight's Dublin Bay Sailing Club Cruisers III race sailed in moderate westerly winds writes our Dublin Bay Correspondent. The Dubois Starfish design beat Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle) who finished second. Last Saturday's race winner Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea) was third. The J80 Jawsome was the Cruisers II winner and in Cruisers I another J design, a 109, Something Else (John Hall) from the National Yacht Club finished first.

On the one design course 13 Flying fifteen's enjoyed a tight race and were one of the only classes to hold spinnakers on the shy reach from Bay to forty foot. Snow White, Frank Burgess's FF from the National Yacht Club notched up another win, this time from club-mate Keith Poole's Gruffalo. Third was The Big Bow Wow (N.Meagher/N.Matthews).

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 19 MAY 2011

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Contango (Barry Cunningham), 2. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 3. Jedi (Sarratt/Austin/McGuinness)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Jedi (Sarratt/Austin/McGuinness)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Jester (Declan Curtin), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 3. Small Wonder (Hugh Kelly)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 3. Puca (P.Burke/R.Henry)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 2. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole), 3. The Big Bow Wow (N.Meagher/N.Matthews)

GLEN - 1. Glenshane (P Hogan), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 2. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al), 3. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe)

SB3s - 1. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill), 2. Defiant (R.Hudson/J.Hooper), 3. Smoke (L. McKenna/B.Hobby)

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 3. Gusto (C Heath)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Chillax (Mary McLoughlin)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Zephyr (R Cahill-O'Brien), 2. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford), 3. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

Published in DBSC
A retro class of sailing boats will give a shot in the arm to the two major south-coast regattas this June. Although its heyday was 30 years ago, the revitalised Quarter Ton class in Britain and Ireland, is experiencing a new lease of life.

Up to 25 Quarter Tonners have signed up for Cork harbour's Irish Cruiser (ICRA) National Championships and the Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale – only a week separates the two fixtures. (Latest Sovereigns Cup news here)

The budget-minded class has been back building numbers steadily since 2001 when Peter Morton revived the class on the south coast of England. Now over 40 boats compete in Britain and up to 10 will visit Cork this summer after a successful trial here two years ago.

From June 17th they'll go head to head with a number of hot Irish campaigns that have emerged in the last 12 months, including the host port's "Tiger" (O'Brien, Kenefick and Kenefick), Eamon Rohan's recently refurbished Anchor Challenge and Dún Laoghaire's Supernova, skippered by Ken Lawless.

anchor_challenge1

The crew of Anchor Challenge Complete a gybe. Photo: Bob Bateman

 

For this year's event, some of these dated 24-26 footers are being pulled from hedgerows and fields rather than building new ones.

Last raced in the 1980s, others are getting the full make-over and have been extensively remodelled for today's IRC handicap rule.

"Budget sailing with five friends, that's the ethos", claims Kinsale skipper Ian Travers about the style of the passe class.

The current fleet contains boats from €6,000 to €30,000, the more expensive boats having extensive optimisation and new sail plans.

It's well within the rules to alter rudders and keels but hull shapes must stay original.

To qualify to race in the Quarter Ton cup, a boat must fall within the old IOR rule or be a production boat derivative. This means many mainstream class-three craft such as Farr 727s, GK24s, Starflash 26s and Boleros all qualify.

Travers reckons therefore a potential Irish fleet could reach 50 boats, if enough owners showed interest.

One boat of particular interest in June will be "Black Fun" a fully refurbished and IRC optimised 1977 Laurie Davidson- designed Quarter Tonner.

Back then she was the top Quarter Tonner in New Zealand but for financial reasons did not make the journey to Finland to compete in the Quarter Ton Cup that year. Now, 34 years later, the current owners are shipping her from New Zealand to compete in this year's cup in Cowes in July but beforehand will compete in both Irish regattas as warm-ups.

And in further good news for the ICRA event a west coast cruiser fleet have confirmed that at least 15 boats will be entering the national championships.


Published in Sovereign's Cup

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

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition

Where is the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition being held? Sailing at Paris 2024 will take place in Marseille on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea between 28 July and 8 August, and will feature Kiteboarding for the first time, following a successful Olympic debut in 2018 at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. The sailing event is over 700 km from the main Olympic Games venue in Paris.

What are the events? The Olympic Sailing Competition at Paris 2024 will feature ten Events:

  • Women’s: Windsurfing, Kite, Dinghy, Skiff
  • Men’s: Windsurfing, Kite, Dinghy, Skiff
  • Mixed: Dinghy, Multihull

How do you qualify for Paris 2024?  The first opportunity for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024 will be the Sailing World Championships, The Hague 2023, followed by the Men’s and Women’s Dinghy 2024 World Championships and then a qualifier on each of World Sailing’s six continents in each of the ten Events. The final opportunity is a last chance regatta to be held in 2024, just a few months before the Games begin.

50-50 split between male and female athletes: The Paris 2024 Games is set to be the first to achieve a 50-50 split between male and female athletes, building on the progress made at both Rio 2016 (47.5%) and Tokyo 2020 (48.8%). It will also be the first Olympic Games where two of the three Chief roles in the sailing event will be held by female officials,

At a Glance -  Paris Olympics Sailing Marseille

July 28th – August 8th Paris Olympics Sailing Marseille

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