George Creighton and Jack Ryan emerged as the Senior and Junior champions at the 2026 IODAI Optimist Connacht Championships, hosted by Galway Bay Sailing Club over the weekend of 12th and 13th September.
The Senior and Junior Main fleets completed six races over two contrasting days on Galway Bay, while the Regatta Racing and Regatta Coached fleets completed four and five races respectively after their Saturday programme was cancelled.
Strong Winds Delay Saturday Start
Saturday began with a one-hour postponement as winds above 25 knots eased and the tide turned.
Race one eventually got underway in a south-westerly breeze of around 15 knots, gusting to 20, combined with a typically lumpy Galway Bay sea state.
Conditions moderated considerably during the afternoon, with the breeze settling at around 10–12 knots and the sea flattening. The race committee took advantage of the improvement to complete four races, one more than originally scheduled.
Creighton Takes Senior Title
George Creighton (RCYC/BSC/MBSC) secured the Senior Connacht title after a consistent six-race series, capped by victories in both of Sunday’s races.
Oscar Rowan (WHSC/RCYC) finished second overall after scoring two race wins during Saturday’s stronger conditions.
Brendan Hughes (RCYC) was third, ahead of Jamie Blennnerhassett (RCYC/KYC) in fourth and Lilly Sheridan (RCYC/WHSC) in fifth.
Senior Main – Top Five
- George Creighton – RCYC/BSC/MBSC
- Oscar Rowan – WHSC/RCYC
- Brendan Hughes – RCYC
- Jamie Blennnerhassett – RCYC/KYC
- Lilly Sheridan – RCYC/WHSC
George Creighton: Senior Main Fleet winner George Creighton receives his trophy after a consistent six-race series that included victories in both of Sunday’s races at the IODAI Optimist Connacht Championships
Ryan Wins 54-Boat Junior Fleet
In the Junior Main Fleet, Jack Ryan (MBSC/RCYC) claimed the Connacht Championship title from a competitive 54-boat fleet. Ryan was third in the opening race and also recorded a second place before finishing the championship with a race victory.
Rian Foy Joyce (LRYC/RSGYC) took second overall, with Seamus Hurley (RCYC) third, Andrew Arthurs (RSGYC/LDYC) fourth and James Weir (WHSC) fifth.
Junior Main – Top Five
- Jack Ryan – MBSC/RCYC
- Rian Foy Joyce – LRYC/RSGYC
- Seamus Hurley – RCYC
- Andrew Arthurs – RSGYC/LDYC
- James Weir – WHSC
Jack Ryan: Junior Connacht Champion Jack Ryan receives his trophy after taking overall honours in the 54-boat Junior Main Fleet at Galway Bay Sailing Club
Light and Shifty Sunday on Galway Bay
Sunday provided an altogether different test, beginning with another one-hour postponement as the race committee waited for the breeze to establish from the south to south-east.
When racing started, the Main Fleet faced winds of just 5–7 knots and shifts of up to 20–30 degrees. Two races were completed to bring the Main Fleet championship to six races and provide a marked contrast with Saturday’s stronger conditions.
O'Suilleabhain and Arthurs Win Regatta Fleets
The Regatta fleets also got their championships underway on Sunday, with 27 sailors competing in Regatta Racing and another 14 in the Regatta Coached fleet.
Dara O'Suilleabhain (MBSC/RCYC) won Regatta Racing after four races, including two race victories. Olaf Sorensen (KYC) was second and Mary Kenneally (MBSC) third.
Regatta Racing – Top Three
- Dara O'Suilleabhain – MBSC/RCYC
- Olaf Sorensen – KYC
- Mary Kenneally – MBSC
In the Regatta Coached fleet, Matthew Arthurs (RSGYC/LDYC) won three of the five races to take overall honours. Penny Sorensen (KYC) finished second with two race victories, while Timothee Richard (NYC) completed the podium in third.
Regatta Coached – Top Three
- Matthew Arthurs – RSGYC/LDYC
- Penny Sorensen – KYC
- Timothee Richard – NYC
Across the four fleets, the championship gave Optimist sailors a varied Galway Bay test, ranging from Saturday's strong breeze and lumpy seas to Sunday's light and highly variable conditions.
