Keller, Glynn & Cullen Crowned Irish Laser Champions on Lough Derg

27th August 2018

Afloat.ie Team

A start of the Radial Championships at Lough Derg Yacht Club Credit: Deirdre Horgan

Olympic trialist Aisling Keller was carried from her home waters of Lough Derg shoulder high by supporters eager to crown the 2018 Irish Laser Radial Champion yesterday evening at Dromineer. The Tipperary sailor, who is in a two-way fight for selection against Aoife Hopkins for the single Tokyo place, (who did not compete due to illness) was a clear winner by seven–points in the championships biggest fleet of 46 boats. Second overall in the Radial division was Spanish youth sailor Arturo Moratilla and third Micheal O'Suilleabhain from Kinsale. The first master was Dublin Bay's Sean Craig in fifth place overall.

Glynn Adds Irish Title to Season's Haul

In the full rig, there was also a straight win for men's Olympic trialist, Liam Glynn who adds the Irish title to July's bronze at U21 World level also earned this season. The full rig results ended as they started last Thursday with Belast Lough's Glynn dominating the 23-boat fleet ahead of Daragh O'Sullivan, the only competitor to challenge the former Topper World Champion. O'Sullivan, of Kinsale Yacht Club, took three race wins from nine starts to be only three points behind Glynn at the end of the championships on 14 points. Third on 25 points was the National Yacht Club's Grand Master Mark Lyttle.

Cullen is Irish 4.7 Champion, Valetta is Open Champion

Royal St. George youth sailor Edoardo Valletta, sailing for Italy, is the Laser 4.7 open champion emerging three points clear of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Atlee Kohl, sailing under US Virgin Islands on 22 points. Charlie Cullen of the National Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club was third in the 38–boat fleet and took the Irish title.

Irish 4.7 champion Charlie Cullen (centre) with LDYC Commodore John Leech (left) and Race Officer Con Murphy

Overall results are here

Published in Laser

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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