Murphy, McDonnell and Spain Honoured as ILCA Nationals Conclude

26th July 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Family Legacy – ILCA 6 national champion Annalise Murphy of the National Yacht Club receives the championship trophy at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Murphy also won the First Lady plate previously claimed by her mother, Cathy MacAleavey, in 1980 and 1981 Credit: Con Murphy

Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy (National Yacht Club), Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) and Kate Spain (Royal St. George Yacht Club) received their national championship trophies after strong winds brought the Grant Thornton ILCA Irish National Championships to an early close on Sunday.

Race officials launched to the course area on Dublin Bay on Sunday morning, but average winds of around 24 knots and gusts exceeding 30 knots whipped up white horses across the race area. With little prospect of conditions easing, the final day's racing was abandoned, leaving Saturday's standings as the final results after six races and one discard.

Murphy's victory marked a successful return to championship ILCA racing after a five-year absence. The National Yacht Club sailor finished nine points clear after mastering two demanding days of racing ahead of September's ILCA 6 World Championship on Dublin Bay.

Joining Murphy on the ILCA 6 podium were Sienna Wright (Howth Yacht Club) in second place and Marcus Shelley (Royal St. George Yacht Club) in third.

Podium Finish – ILCA 6 medallists Sienna Wright (Howth Yacht Club), champion Annalise Murphy (National Yacht Club) and Marcus Shelley (Royal St. George Yacht Club) celebrate at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Photo: Con Murphy

Murphy's success also carried a remarkable family connection. The First Lady perpetual trophy she received already bears the name of her mother, Cathy MacAleavey, who won the award representing the National Yacht Club in 1980 and Ballyholme Yacht Club in 1981. Forty-five years later, Murphy added her own name to the same trophy.

McDonnell produced one of the performances of the championship in the ILCA 7 fleet, opening his campaign with four consecutive race wins before securing the national title with six net points.

East Antrim Boat Club's Tom Coulter finished as second Irish sailor, while Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) completed the Irish podium.

Irish One-Two-Three – ILCA 7 Irish medallists Tom Coulter (East Antrim Boat Club), champion Fiachra McDonnell (Royal Irish Yacht Club) and Bobby Driscoll (Ballyholme Yacht Club) with sponsors Mick Shelley (left) and Jason Crawford (right). Photo: Con Murphy

Although ineligible for the Irish title, James Juhasz of the Canadian Sailing Team finished second overall and used the championship as a key part of his preparations for September's ILCA World Championship on Dublin Bay.

Juhasz praised the event and the opportunity to race on the Worlds course.

"It was great to be here in Dublin for the Nationals, preparing on the same race course we'll be using in a few weeks for the Worlds," he said.

"It's quite a tricky venue with lots of local knowledge to acquire, so it's been a valuable few days of fact-finding on the bay and I certainly picked up a few tips from Fiachra. I'll be sailing here for the next few weeks leading up to the regatta, continuing my preparations, so fingers crossed the brilliant weather we've been having will hold up."

Worlds Warm-Up – James Juhasz of the Canadian Sailing Team receives his trophy after finishing second overall in the ILCA 7 championship, using the regatta as preparation for September's ILCA World Championship on Dublin Bay. Photo: Con Murphy

Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors dominated the ILCA 4 fleet, with Kate Spain winning the championship by two points from clubmate Amy Kieran, while Jackson Clark completed an all-host-club podium.

Home Sweep – Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors Amy Kieran, champion Kate Spain and Jackson Clark completed a clean sweep of the ILCA 4 podium on home waters. Photo: Con Murphy

Additional awards reflected the depth of competition across the championship.

Leading Ladies – Sienna Wright (Howth Yacht Club), ILCA 6 champion Annalise Murphy (National Yacht Club) and Elsbeth Simms (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron) were the leading women sailors at the championship. Photo: Con Murphy.

Masters Honour – Roger Craig, representing the Royal St. George Yacht Club and Kircubbin Sailing Club, receives the ILCA 7 Masters trophy following the championship on Dublin Bay. Photo: Con Murphy.

McDonnell's outstanding championship was further recognised when he received the event's principal perpetual trophy.

Champion's Reward – ILCA 7 champion Fiachra McDonnell receives the championship's premier trophy after a dominant series that included four consecutive race victories. Photo: Con Murphy

Hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club, the championship attracted 91 sailors from Ireland and overseas and provided an important test event ahead of September's ILCA 6 World Championship, when many of the same sailors will return to compete on Dublin Bay.

Published in Laser, RStGYC

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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