Royal Irish's McDonnell Leads Irish Charge at ILCA U21 Europeans in Split

26th October 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish YC) in action at the 2025 ILCA U21 Europeans in Split, where he secured 14th overall in the ILCA 7 Gold Fleet after six days of high-level youth sailing.

After six days of fierce racing and unpredictable conditions, the 2025 ILCA U21 European Championships & Open European Trophy came to a thrilling close in Split, Croatia. All 12 scheduled races were successfully completed for the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 Gold fleets, while the Silver fleet wrapped up with 11 action-packed races, capping off a demanding yet rewarding week on the water.

Ireland’s Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) emerged with more valuable racing experience in the ILCA 7 class. Part of Irish Sailing’s Development Squad, McDonnell’s top 10 races in the gold fleet give an indication of his future potential and helped him finish a credible 14th overall in the 78-boat fleet.

Also part of the squad, Tom Coulter (East Antrim Boat Club) joined McDonnell in the Gold Fleet and finished 20th overall. In the Silver Fleet, Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) placed 14th, using the event as valuable preparation for the upcoming Youth Sailing World Championships in Portugal this December.

In the ILCA 6 class, Lucy Ives (Royal St George Yacht Club) earned her place in the Gold Fleet and finished a strong 29th overall in a highly competitive field. Italy dominated the ILCA 6 Women’s podium, with Ginevra Caracciolo claiming gold, followed by Maria Vittoria Arseni and Emma Mattivi taking silver and bronze, respectively.

Ireland’s strong contingent also included Andrew Kingston (Royal Cork Yacht Club) and Brian Carroll (Kinsale Yacht Club), who finished 45th and 67th, respectively, in the ILCA 7 Silver Fleet.

As the sailors came ashore after the final races, fatigue was matched only by pride after a week that tested every ounce of skill, endurance, and resilience. From shifting winds to strong currents, the ILCA U21 Europeans showcased the very best of youth sailing talent across Europe.

Next on the horizon for the Irish Sailing Development Squad is the 49er Junior European Championships in Italy, kicking off on 6th November. Following their U23 World Championship bronze, 49erFX sailors Erin McIlwaine (Royal St George YC/Newcastle YC) and Ellen Barbour will be among the key contenders to watch. They’ll be joined by Ben O’Shaughnessy (Royal Cork YC) and Ethan Spain (National YC) in the 49er class, who recently impressed with a strong senior debut at the 49er Worlds in Sardinia, along with Lucia Cullen (Royal St George YC) and Alana Twomey (Royal Cork YC) and Lauren O’Callaghan (National YC) and Charlotte Eadie (Ballyholme YC) who will compete in the 49erFX alongside Barbour and McIlwaine.

Race Results

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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