After a week of mixed weather conditions in Ballyholme on Belfast Lough, the sun shone on the final day of the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships and Open European Trophy with exciting results after positions changed from the day before. The breeze was fickle and shifty, with a lumpy sea and the wind dying towards the end of the racing.
Those light to medium winds allowed two final races for the boys and three for the girls, concluding the championships after a fantastic and challenging event both on and off the water, with a huge army of volunteers engineering what was the biggest dinghy event in Ireland's history.
Ukrainian Alina Shapovalova emerged as the Girls' winner, surpassing the overnight leader and this year's World Champion Italy's Maria Vitoria Arseni who ultimately finished second.
The third place overall went to the Under-17 European champion, Hermione Ghicas from Greece. Hermione also won the Under 17 prize with Ireland's Sienna Wright who finished fifth overall taking third U17 after Gaya Datiashvili of Israel.
Ireland's Charlie Keating finished 50th in the Gold Fleet and Andrew Kingston 37th in the Silver.
Boys Prizewinners at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships and Open European Trophy at Ballyholme Photo: Thom Touw
Polish sailor Jacek Kalinowski had an outstanding day on the water, securing a third and a first place, which propelled him from fifth to the top spot overall, earning him the title of Youth European champion. Jacek was surprised that he won the event "I feel very good. I didn't know I could win this regatta. I was thinking maybe top three, so this is a surprise for me. I would like to thank my coach in Poland and my coach here. I would also like to thank Sail Coach and Charter Boat for their help".
He attributed his success to having a good start and heading to the left and aiming to be first at the mark. He continued "My plan today was three good races, but we only sailed two races. I was thinking the Italian sailor would be much closer and I would have some trouble, but it was good for me that they went to the right, and I went to the left."
Overnight leader Healy Ryan from Australia finished second overall in the Open European Trophy and claimed victory in the Open Under-17 category.
Rob Milligan posted on social media "So proud of all our volunteers this week and what we achieved. Everyone I spoke to at the event loved Ballyholme and what we delivered". Looking ahead to returning to club racing he thanked everyone who had been involved in delivering the Championships and asked for one more push and some fresh volunteers to get the club, grounds and racing back to normal.
Barbara Polly, who organised the huge site team celebrates the conclusion of the staging of the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships and Open European Trophy at Ballyholme Yacht Club
The 2025 European Championships & Open European Trophy will take place from April 19th to 26th in Vilamoura, Portugal.
