Lightning Stops Racing at ILCA Europeans in Croatia

21st May 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Fleet Focus — An aerial view of the ILCA European Championships fleet packed into the marina at Kaštela Bay as sailors prepared for racing before lightning storms halted competition in Croatia Credit: Sailing Content

Racing at the ILCA European Championships in Croatia was cancelled on Friday after a lightning storm threatened Kaštela Bay during the scheduled racing window. Sailors briefly launched before race officials ordered the fleet back ashore as conditions deteriorated.

The cancellation came on Day Five of the championship, with Irish sailors still firmly in contention heading into the final day.

Finn Lynch of the National Yacht Club remains fifth among the European competitors in the ILCA 7 Gold Fleet after another consistent week of racing. Eve McMahon of Howth Yacht Club also continues to challenge near the top of the standings. The Olympic campaigner sits sixth overall in the ILCA 6 fleet. Ewan McMahon, also representing Howth Yacht Club, has delivered a strong series in the Gold Fleet and is currently 13th overall.

In the Silver Fleet, Royal Irish Yacht Club sailor Fiachra McDonnell is enjoying an encouraging regatta and sits 11th overall.

The championship is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, with podium positions across the fleets still undecided. Officials expect racing to resume if weather conditions improve in Kaštela Bay.

Published in Laser, Howth YC, National YC, Royal Irish Yacht Club

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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