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Royal Cork's Oisin Pierse Takes Overall Victory at IODAI Optimist Trials at Ballyholme

24th April 2022
Oisin Pierse of the Royal Cork Yacht wins the last race (and the overall title) of the 2022 IODAI Optimist Trials on Belfast Lough
Oisin Pierse of the Royal Cork Yacht wins the last race (and the overall title) of the 2022 IODAI Optimist Trials on Belfast Lough

Two race wins on the final day for Oisin Pierse (Royal Cork Yacht Club) sealed the IODAI Optimist Trials at Ballyholme Yacht Club in the 49-boat fleet on Sunday.

The Cork Harbour talent finished the youth sailing series with five race wins from a total of 11 sailed giving him 19 points overall.

Oisin is 14-years-old and has sailed out of the Royal Cork since he was eight. He also sails occasionally in Fenit, County Kerry. Oisin attends the Gaelcholáiste in Carrigaline and lives overlooking the mouth of Cork Harbour.

Second on Belfast Lough was Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell from the RStGYC who had kept the pressure on the Crosshaven youth throughout the championships.

Howth Yacht Club's Harry Dunne displaced Carolina Carra of the RSGYC on the final day to take third place overall.

Harry Dunne from Howth Yacht Club does a dissapearing act after rounding the weather mark of R5 during the IODAI Optimist Trials 2022Harry Dunne from Howth Yacht Club does a dissapearing act after rounding the weather mark of R5 during the IODAI Optimist Trials 2022

Based on the weekend events, the IODAI will now decide on the composition of the Irish squads for this summer's World and European championships.

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2026 IODAI Optimist Calendar

  • Sprint Series – February–March: 3 single-day events. Details to follow. (Suitable for seasoned main fleet sailors in winter programmes only)
  • Irish Sailing Youth Nationals, Ballyholme Yacht Club – 9–12 April (Invite only)
  • Junior and Senior Development Squads Training, Lough Ree Yacht Club – 2–4 May Bank Holiday (Squads only)
  • U12 Training, Lough Ree Yacht Club – 2–4 May (Bank Holiday) (Squad only)
  • Ulsters, Strangford Lough Yacht Club – 16–17 May (Open)
  • Munsters, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club – 13–14 June (Open)
  • Leinsters, Howth Yacht Club – 18–19 July (Open)
  • =National Team Racing Champs, Royal Cork Yacht Club – 12 August (Open)
  • National Championships, RCYC – 13–16 August (Open)
  • Connachts, GBSC – 12–13 September (Open)

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