#optimist – Kinsale Yacht Club is busily preparing for the first of two major sailing events to be held at the club over the next number of months. The Volvo/Davy Irish Optimist Championships begin next week, while the Brewin Dolphin Dragon Gold Cup follows in September.
Next weeks Optimist Nationals will attract almost 200 sailors aged between 8 and 15, and entries include large teams from the UK and India, and individual entries from France, Hong Kong and the US.. We can expect top class sailing over five days under the guidance of leading Race Officer Alan Crosbie.
The twelve race series begins on Tuesday 31st and runs through to Saturday August 4th. The highly competive fleet will compete for the title of National and Open Champion and the foreign entrants can be expected to be amongst the leading contenders, with Max Clapp from the UK returning to try to add the Senior title to the Junior Open title he won last year. Irish eyes will be on our International squad who will be returning from the European and World Championships. Among these Douglas Elmes and Harry Whitaker from RCYC can be considered serious contenders, while local sailors Scott Levie and Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain (returning from a fine 8th place at the French Nationals) won't be far from the leaders.
Whatever happens on the water, these young sailors are sure to bring a lot of excitement and energy to the town over the course of the weeks sailing. The program of events for the week kicks off with an opening ceremony at Charles Fort on Monday 30th July at 7pm.
