Kinsale Sailors Shine at Irish Optimist Nationals in Cork
Kinsale Yacht Club sailors returned with podium finishes and a national team racing title from the 2026 Irish Optimist National Championships, staged at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven from August 13th to 16th.
The KYC contingent competed across the Senior, Junior, Regatta Racing and Regatta Coached fleets, with Síofra Buckley and Jamie Blennerhassett combining to win the Irish Optimist Team Racing Championships.
In the Senior fleet, Blennerhassett finished 11th overall in Gold Fleet, including a sixth place in race nine. Joe Kingston placed 17th in Gold, with a seventh among his best individual race results, while Buckley finished 19th after recording ninth- and tenth-place finishes during the championship.
Goggin Takes Bronze Fleet Podium
Annabelle Goggin provided another Kinsale podium result, finishing second in the Senior Bronze Fleet. Her championship included an eighth place in race four.
Bronze breakthrough — Annabelle Goggin secured second place in the Senior Bronze Fleet as Kinsale Yacht Club collected podium finishes across the Irish Optimist Nationals. Photo: Ted Murphy
Tom Kingston recorded a 13th in race six during his campaign, while Ellen Kingston returned to national championship competition following an injury lay-off.
In the Junior Fleet, Ally O'Riordan represented KYC and added further championship experience following her participation at the British Nationals.
Building experience — Tom Kingston showed his progress in the Senior Fleet at Crosshaven, with a 13th-place finish in race six among his best results of the championship. Photo: Dan Clohessy
Sorensen Scores Regatta Coached Podium
Kinsale fielded three sailors in the Regatta Racing Fleet, headed by Olaf Sorensen, who finished seventh overall. Sorensen's results included second place in race nine and several other top-ten finishes.
Harry Hunt finished 18th overall, with fifth in race four and tenth in race three among his strongest scores. Arthur Hunt placed 27th, including ninth in race nine and 11th in race two.
There was another podium for Kinsale in the Regatta Coached Fleet, where Penny Sorensen finished third overall. Sorensen won race eight, took a second and added several other top-five finishes during the series. George O'Riordan finished 16th overall and ended his championship with victory in race ten. His other leading results included fourth- and fifth-place finishes.
Kinsale Squad Shows Depth at Crosshaven
Former KYC Optimist sailor Rory Buckley was also involved at Crosshaven, assisting with the coaching of younger sailors in the Regatta Coached fleet.
The results gave Kinsale representation across the championship fleets, including three sailors in the Senior Gold Fleet's top 20, podium finishes for Goggin and Sorensen, and the national team racing title for Buckley and Blennerhassett.
KYC coach Olan Dillon worked with the club's sailors during the championship. The four-day Irish Optimist Nationals were hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven, Co Cork.
