The 2024 Optimist World Championship kicked off on Saturday (7 December) in Mar del Plata, Argentina where Ireland is represented by Max O’Hare, Patrick Fegan and sisters Lily and Maeve Donagh.
The wind forecast for the week promised a varied event with 5-27 knots of wind, strong currents and up to two-and-a-half metre waves. And the conditions certainly delivered on that promise for the three days of the qualifying series.
Two fast-paced races were completed on Day 1 in 22-knot south-westerly winds and massive waves pushing the 227 sailors from 52 countries to their limits. Competition was fierce and the sailors’ skill in handling the strong winds and tide and ability to capitalise on wave opportunities was critical.
From left: Patrick Fegan, Lily Donagh, Maeve Donagh and Max O’Hare in Mar del Plata
The second and third days were again challenging marked by tricky, shifty conditions where racing was delayed to allow the wind to settle but the scheduled two races were completed each day. Maeve Donagh had the top Irish result finishing eighth in Race 4.
With six races completed and the qualifying stage concluded, the gold, silver and bronze fleets will now battle it out for the final stage starting on Thursday 12 December.
For the Irish team, Maeve and Lily Donagh qualify for the silver fleet having placed 108th and 148th respectively, and Max O’Hare and Patrick Fegan qualify for the bronze fleet.
There is a close contest at the top of the leaderboard with two Brazilian and two Spanish sailors vying for the world champion title, and so Mar del Plata’s challenging conditions should ensure an exciting and unpredictable championship until the final day of racing on Saturday 14 December.
