Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland achieved a significant milestone in his 23-year journey in the Laser dinghy by winning a silver medal in the Apprentices at the ILCA 7 Worlds in Adelaide this month, as Afloat reported previously.
Colin considers this event the most challenging he has ever experienced, citing the need to sail fast past a shark as a great incentive not to capsize. Dolphins were an acceptable alternative.
The Ulsterman posted a string of top-three results in the twelve-strong fleet, including a first in the fifth race, seven seconds, and two sixth places (one of which was his discard) over the ten races. The other podium from Ireland was Mark Lyttle (National YC), who came third in the Grand Masters fleet. Unfortunately, both Bill O'Hara and Conrad Simpson from Ballyholme had to pull out of the event due to injury.
The ILCA Masters Worlds at the Adelaide Sailing Club was a phenomenal event. Stunning, challenging conditions with big breeze, big waves, and glistening waters under the Australian sun Photo: Jack Fletcher/Down Under Sail
Colin grew up in a sailing family, with his grandfather Gerry being involved in setting up the Northern Ireland branch of the Irish Yachting Association (later becoming RYA Northern Ireland). He came through Toppers and competed at the Worlds in Cork in 2000. He also underwent RYA training at the then-Seaboard Sailing Centre at Killyleagh on Strangford Lough. In 2001, at the age of 16, Colin bought his first Laser and met sailing coach Russell McGovern and his brother, two-time Olympian Matt, who encouraged him to continue racing Lasers.
Apart from an occasional foray in the Finn class and family cruising, and the very important studying for his medical degree at Cambridge, Colin, now an ENT Consultant in the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, came back to the Laser class in his mid-20s and did the usual circuit of the Munsters, Ulsters, and Irish Nationals. It took a long time for him to be in the hunt for top results. His decision to enter the Worlds was helped by the fact that Bill O'Hara and Conrad Simpson would be there. He boosted his fitness for the event over three months with a mixture of sailing, cycling, and Pilates.
Colin said the Worlds was the most challenging event he had ever raced in. Only one day of the ten was light, with the rest presenting two-meter high waves and 25/30 knots of wind. The upwind legs were technically and physically demanding, with the only mitigating factor being weather and the water were warm. He continued, "The ILCA Masters Worlds at the Adelaide Sailing Club was a phenomenal event. Stunning, challenging conditions with big breeze, big waves, and glistening waters under the Australian sun. I was fortunate to have good boat speed in the conditions and sailed consistently and ended up delighted with my second place after some great racing."
Colin Leonard cites the need to sail fast past a shark as a great incentive not to capsize at the ILCA 7 Worlds in Adelaide, Australia Photo: Jack Fletcher/Down Under Sail
The host Club is on a beachside location with launching off the beach and accommodation in a nearby holiday park. Rob Milligan, Commodore of Ballyholme YC, was delighted with Colin’s achievement. He said, "It was fantastic to have Ballyholme Yacht Club represented by three sailors at the ILCA 7 Worlds, and massive congratulations go to Colin Leonard for finishing second in the Apprentice Division."
Although Colin has nothing on the horizon competition-wise, he says he will continue racing in the BYC Icebreaker series, keeping his fitness with a mixture of cycling, sailing, and Pilates. At the ICC prize-giving in Howth YC (16th February), he was awarded the Wybrant Cup for the Best Scottish Cruise in 2023, and his father Alan won the Fortnight Cup for the best cruise undertaken in a maximum of 16 days.
