Birthday Boy Finn Lynch Edges Out Espey for Ulster Title

3rd May 2016

Thomas Hall

Overall winner Finn Lynch at the Laser Ulster Championships at Whitehead Credit: Simon McIlwaine/CAYC/Flicker

The Irish Olympic Laser trials looked like they were being sailed on home waters a week ago when the two protagonists for the single mens Laser berth in Rio this summer contested the Ulster Championships at County Antrim Yacht Club at Whitehead. Significantly, perhaps, in advance of the final trial later this month, it was the young Leinster helmsman who was celebrrating his birthday that weekend had the edge over trials leader James Espey from Belfast.

A combined fleet of nearly 100 boats in 4.7, radial and full rigs witnessed the Olympic class dog fight in a windy and cold championships. 'It was superb to see Lynch, Espey plus O’Sullivan on the local circuit', said one seasoned Laser campaigner.

Lynch's NYC team-mates enjoyed the Antrim challenge too and posted results at or close to the top of all of the fleets. Heather Spain topped the Laser 4.7 fleet winning both first place overall and the girl’s first spot. Also achieving podium places were Hugh Perrette second place in the Laser 4.7 fleet, Evie Byrne, second girl and Clare Gorman third girl in only her second Laser event. Jenny Fekkes was third girl in the Laser Radial fleet.

Full results downloadable below.

Downloads

2Z-ZUlsterZ16.pdf (504 Downloads)

Published in Laser

@ CH Marine website

@ CH Marine Facebook

@ CH Marine NI Facebook

@ CH Marine Twitter

Published in Laser

Tagged under

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):

ILCA 4: sail of 4.70m2
ILCA 6: sail of 5.76 m2
ILCA 7: sail of 7.06 m2

ILCA 2026 Calendar

Apr 04–05 — Munster Championships — Baltimore SC
Apr 09–12 — Irish Sailing Youth Nationals — Ballyholme YC
May 09–10 — Ulster Championships — East Antrim BC
May 23–24 — Masters National Championships — Howth YC
Jun 27–28 — Leinster Championships — Skerries SC
Jul 24–26 — National Championships — Royal St. George YC
Sep 11–12 — End of Season Championships — Waterford Hrbr. YC

2026 ILCA World Championships

Men ILCA 7: Aug 23 – Aug 30
Women ILCA 6: Sep 04 – Sep 12
Royal St. George Yacht Club & National Yacht Club (Dublin Bay)

At A Glance – Laser Dinghy Specifications

Designer Bruce Kirby & Ian Bruce

Year 1969

Crew 1
Draft 0.787 m (2 ft 7.0 in)
Hull weight 58.97 kg (130.0 lb)
LOA 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
LWL 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
Beam 1.39 m (4 ft 7 in)
Mainsail area 7.06 m2 (76.0 sq ft)

Racing D-PN 91.1 RYA PN 1088 PHRF 217