Howth Sailor Eighth After Windy ILCA U21 Worlds Day Five

23rd January 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Howth sailor Sienna Wright racing in strong west-north-westerly winds during Day Five of the 2026 ILCA Under-21 World Championships off Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote. Credit: Sailing Energy

Howth sailor Sienna Wright dropped one place to eighth overall after a demanding penultimate day at the 2026 ILCA Under-21 World Championships in Lanzarote.

Wright is the sole Irish competitor at the regatta and faced tough conditions as strong west-north-westerly winds reshaped the standings across the fleets.

Racing on Friday was held off Marina Rubicón in steady winds of around 18 knots, with gusts above 20 knots testing fitness, tactics and concentration.

Multiple general recalls delayed racing, particularly in the ILCA 7 gold fleet, before two races were eventually completed.

Despite the challenges, Wright remains inside the top ten overall heading into the final day, carrying a mixed series that includes several top-20 finishes.

At the front of the fleets, Italy’s Ginevra Caracciolo strengthened her hold on the ILCA 6 title, while Spain’s Karol Krupski and Slovenia’s Luka Zabukovec are tied at the top of ILCA 7.

The championship concludes on Saturday with two final races scheduled, followed by the prize-giving ceremony later in the day.

Race Results

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Published in Laser, Howth YC, Youth Sailing

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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