Irish Optimist Sailing Dinghy News & Regatta Results
![Max O'Hare, RSGYC, Winner of Senior Optimist fleet at the IODAI Connaught Championships Max O'Hare, RSGYC, Winner of Senior Optimist fleet at the IODAI Connaught Championships](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ouyvJ7KNpbk/s/848/I0000ouyvJ7KNpbk.jpg)
Victory for Max O'Hare as 121 Optimists Make Western Championships Biggest-Ever Regatta for Galway Bay Sailing Club
25th July 2024 Optimist
'Let's go sailing way out west' went up the cry, and with that, 121 young sailors and their families travelling from all over Ireland headed to Galway Bay for the IODAI Optimist Connaught Championships 2024. Such was the flawless programme…
![The IODAI Optimist Munsters at Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) attracted a fleet of 122 The IODAI Optimist Munsters at Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) attracted a fleet of 122](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000txaijO0lwLk/s/848/I0000txaijO0lwLk.jpg)
Intense Optimist Competition at Royal Cork and High Expectations at Upcoming IODAI Sailing Championships
19th June 2024 Optimist
The 122-boat IODAI Optimist Munsters at Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) last weekend provided great practice for the Irish European teams competing at events in Carrara, Italy, and Monfalcone, Italy, this July and the International Development Team preparing for the…
![Optimist dinghy senior fleet sailors contesting the 2024 Munster Championships in Cork Harbour. See photo galleries below Optimist dinghy senior fleet sailors contesting the 2024 Munster Championships in Cork Harbour. See photo galleries below](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000lzoZn.6xr1U/s/848/I0000lzoZn.6xr1U.jpg)
Royal St. George Youth Sailors Fill the Optimist Senior Podium at Royal Cork Hosted Munster Championships (Photo Galleries)
17th June 2024 Optimist
Royal St. George's Max O'Hare (14) emerged as the winner of the senior fleet in a cut-short Optimist dinghy Munsters Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club over the weekend. No racing was held on Saturday due to high winds in…
![The winner of the main fleet at East Antrim's IODAI Optimist Ulster Championships was Juliet Ryan (RSGYC/MYC/HYC) The winner of the main fleet at East Antrim's IODAI Optimist Ulster Championships was Juliet Ryan (RSGYC/MYC/HYC)](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000p5UCZnq0a0A/s/848/I0000p5UCZnq0a0A.jpg)
The Oppie circuit was in full swing last weekend as East Antrim Boat Club hosted almost 100 sailors and their families for the Ulster Championships. The next day, as the sun shone and the craic started to build, the main…
![National Yacht Club junior sailors (from left to right) Sam Ledoux, coach, Alex Butcher, Jacob Browne, Louis Tricket, Eabha Brennan Hobbs, Alanah Whelan and Cormac Whelan National Yacht Club junior sailors (from left to right) Sam Ledoux, coach, Alex Butcher, Jacob Browne, Louis Tricket, Eabha Brennan Hobbs, Alanah Whelan and Cormac Whelan](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003uKDlu_Vfgg/s/848/I00003uKDlu_Vfgg.jpg)
National Yacht Club Junior Sailors Make Great Start to the Dinghy Racing Season
15th May 2024 National YC
After a frustrating May Bank Holiday weekend and the absence of wind that led to the cancellation of the Feva East Coast championships, the various host yacht clubs around the country were rewarded with great conditions last weekend. The Optimist…
![Irish Optimist Development Squad in alphabetical order by first name: Aisling Morrin, Alex Hoban, Amy Russell, Arthur Fegan, Ben Smyth, Brendan Hughes, Caroline Byrne, Cian Farrell, Edward Fitzmaurice, Eabha Brennan-Hobbs, Elena Hoffman, George Creighton, Jack Ryan, Jamie Blennerhassett, Jess Tottenham, Jess Walsh, Joe Kingston, Louis Trickett, Maximilian Millane, Max O’Sullivan, Milo Slattery, Oliver Kenneally, Oscar Rowan, Oran Collins, Rebecca Murdock, Ruairi Slattery, Stephanie Rock, Tristan Bendon, Zoe O’Hare (Felix Crinion not pictured) Irish Optimist Development Squad in alphabetical order by first name: Aisling Morrin, Alex Hoban, Amy Russell, Arthur Fegan, Ben Smyth, Brendan Hughes, Caroline Byrne, Cian Farrell, Edward Fitzmaurice, Eabha Brennan-Hobbs, Elena Hoffman, George Creighton, Jack Ryan, Jamie Blennerhassett, Jess Tottenham, Jess Walsh, Joe Kingston, Louis Trickett, Maximilian Millane, Max O’Sullivan, Milo Slattery, Oliver Kenneally, Oscar Rowan, Oran Collins, Rebecca Murdock, Ruairi Slattery, Stephanie Rock, Tristan Bendon, Zoe O’Hare (Felix Crinion not pictured)](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ULq6dRODAHA/s/848/I0000ULq6dRODAHA.jpg)
Last weekend, Lough Ree Yacht Club hosted young Optimist sailors from clubs all over Ireland for their annual Development Squad training session. The session was led by Head Coach Dara O’Shea from Cork and under the guidance of IODAI Training…
![Following the Youth National Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club, the Irish Optimist Dinghy teams have been announced for 2024 Following the Youth National Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club, the Irish Optimist Dinghy teams have been announced for 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000iqGWhywORgY/s/767/I0000iqGWhywORgY.jpg)
The anticipation had been building for weeks, and as a group of 39 of the country's more experienced Optimist sailors headed for the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven from April 4th to 7th, excited at the prospect of four…
![An ILCA 6 race start on the only day of racing at the 2024 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships at the Royal Cork Yacht Club An ILCA 6 race start on the only day of racing at the 2024 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships at the Royal Cork Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ztr2yD8IzXI/s/767/I0000ztr2yD8IzXI.jpg)
Storm Kathleen Concludes 2024 Irish Sailing Youth Nationals Early in Cork Harbour
6th April 2024 Youth Sailing
Not many were surprised when the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, which have been taking place at the Royal Cork Yacht Club since Thursday, concluded early due to the landing of Storm Kathleen and a deteriorating forecast for the following…
![29er action at the 2021 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships held in Cork Harbour. The 2024 event returns to Royal Cork Yacht Clubthis morning 29er action at the 2021 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships held in Cork Harbour. The 2024 event returns to Royal Cork Yacht Club this morning](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000i.eV17GJZT0/s/767/I0000i.eV17GJZT0.jpg)
Over 170 Young Sailors Compete in Ireland's Largest Youth Regatta in Cork Harbour
4th April 2024 Youth Sailing
Over 170 young sailors are set to compete in Ireland’s largest youth regatta, which starts today, April 4th at Crosshaven in Cork Harbour. The 2024 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, which will be hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club…
![Juliet Ryan was the Optimist 'Brassed-Off Cup' winner at Howth Yacht Club Juliet Ryan was the Optimist 'Brassed-Off Cup' winner at Howth Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I000091ta3CnmseY/s/767/I000091ta3CnmseY.jpg)
The annual Brassed-Off Cup for Optimists which has been running in Howth for 21 years, was held on Sunday in breezy south easterly conditions over a relatively flat sea with some strong gusts to test the boat handling of the…
![The Royal St George Optimist contingent at Draycote Water Sailing Club in Rugby for the UK Spring Nationals over St Patrick’s Weekend (16-17 March) The Royal St George Optimist contingent at Draycote Water Sailing Club in Rugby for the UK Spring Nationals over St Patrick’s Weekend (16-17 March)](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000oFEkL0Q4vTY/s/500/I0000oFEkL0Q4vTY.jpg)
Optimist sailors from the Royal St George achieved stellar results at the UK Spring Nationals in Rugby over St Patrick’s Weekend. Five of the Dun Laoghaire club’s nine-strong youth group placed in the top 25 out of 120 boats taking…
![](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000DSeP0v_v7KM/s767/I0000DSeP0v_v7KM.jpg)
Irish Optimist Dinghy Association's Sprint Series Offers Exciting Racing Opportunities for Young Sailors
27th February 2024 Optimist
Optimist sailors in Ireland have found a new and exciting way to stave off boredom during winter training. The Irish Optimist Dinghy Association (IODAI) recently created the IODAI Sprint Series, which aims to give young sailors more opportunities to race…
![Irish Optimist sailors are preparing for the IODAI Sprint Series 2024 Irish Optimist sailors are preparing for the IODAI Sprint Series 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000QxBqWAdF088/s/767/I0000QxBqWAdF088.jpg)
Young Irish Optimist Sailors Gear Up for the IODAI Sprint Series 2024 and Youth Sailing National Championships
15th February 2024 Optimist
Young sailors from all over Ireland are getting ready to compete in the highly anticipated Irish Optimist Dinghy Association (IODAI) Sprint Series 2024 and Youth Sailing National Championships. The Sprint Series, is billed as 'one of the most exciting events…
![Optimist dinghy racing returns to Cork Harbour in January 2024 Optimist dinghy racing returns to Cork Harbour in January 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000weYO4_ZVXeI/s/767/I0000weYO4_ZVXeI.jpg)
The Optimists Spring Series will begin at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Saturday week, January 20. The IODAI describes the series as “a support to club winter training programs by giving sailors access to competition through the colder months.…
![The Irish Optimist Dinghy Association Sprint Series 2024 is aimed at Gold and Silver fleet sailors preparing for the Youth Sailing National Championships in April and seeking a competitive edge The Irish Optimist Dinghy Association Sprint Series 2024 is aimed at Gold and Silver fleet sailors preparing for the Youth Sailing National Championships in April and seeking a competitive edge](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000a_IJa5OTUnk/s/767/I0000a_IJa5OTUnk.jpg)
The Irish Optimist Dinghy Association (IODAI) has announced the much-anticipated Sprint Series 2024, an exciting addition to the Optimist 2024 sailing calendar. The series is aimed at Gold and Silver fleet sailors who are preparing for the Youth Sailing National…
![The domestic growth of the Optimist fleet in 2023 was particularly evident, as Neil Spain (HYC, Events Officer, explained with references to the various events across the country, including Royal Cork's National Training Week (above) The domestic growth of the Optimist fleet in 2023 was particularly evident, as Neil Spain (HYC, Events Officer, explained with references to the various events across the country, including Royal Cork's National Training Week (above)](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000XqHHBtkd64M/s/767/I0000XqHHBtkd64M.jpg)
It has been a busy year for the Irish Optimist Fleet, the largest and youngest class in the country, and its class association, the International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland (IODAI), held its AGM on Tuesday, the 28th of November,…