Conor Cronin Sixth at ILCA 6 Men’s Worlds in Vilamoura

30th September 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Irish challenge: Eolann Miles and Jackson Clark are among the Irish sailors competing at the ILCA 6 Men’s World Championship in Vilamoura. Photo: Prow Media

Crossing tacks: Ireland’s Eolann Miles (IRL 223479) approaches on port tack as the ILCA 6 Men’s World Championship fleet races off Vilamoura, Portugal Credit: Prow Media

Irish interest in international ILCA racing continues in Portugal this week, where Conor Cronin lies sixth overall after six races at the 2026 ILCA 6 Men’s World Championship in Vilamoura.

The championship follows a particularly busy period for Irish ILCA sailing, coming after the ILCA 7 Men’s and ILCA 6 Women’s World Championships on Dublin Bay in August and September, and just days after Royal St George sailor Roger Craig won the ILCA 7 Master European title in La Baule.

Cronin is heading the Irish challenge in Vilamoura, holding sixth place on 44 points after Tuesday’s two races in the 60-boat international fleet.

Brazil’s Francisco Dal Ri leads on nine net points after six races, one point ahead of compatriot Erik Scheidt on 10, with Croatia’s Toma Smirčić third on 20.

Cronin Holds Sixth

Cronin remains well placed in the international fleet after the third day of racing, with all six scheduled races completed.

Spain’s Alberto Medel Castrillón is fourth on 21 points, followed by Italy’s Lorenzo Ghirotti in fifth on 34, with Cronin sixth on 44.

Tuesday brought steady southeasterly conditions to Vilamoura. Race five was sailed in 12 to 13 knots, with the breeze easing to around 11 to 12 knots for Race 6.

Scheidt strengthened his challenge with two race wins, while Dal Ri scored a third and a second to retain the overall lead.

Irish Boats in Vilamoura Fleet

Ireland has a sizeable representation in the championship, continuing a season in which Irish sailors have been prominent across ILCA competition at home and overseas.

The Dublin Bay ILCA 7 Worlds featured a six-strong Irish team headed by Finn Lynch, while the subsequent ILCA 6 Women’s Worlds saw Eve McMahon finish seventh on home waters.

Craig then carried the Irish challenge to the ILCA Master Europeans in France, where he secured the Master title by a single point after nine races.

Brazilians Set the Pace

At the head of the Vilamoura fleet, Dal Ri and Scheidt have established a Brazilian one-two.

Smirčić remains third after a consistent series that has included four consecutive top-two finishes, while Medel Castrillón and Ghirotti complete the top five ahead of Cronin.

The ILCA 6 Men’s World Championship continues in Vilamoura and concludes on Friday, 2 October.

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