Two of Ireland's four competing boats are in the top ten, and another is just shy of it after the opening day of the Youth Sailing World Championships on Lake Garda, Italy.
On the world stage in Italy - The 2024 Irish youth sailing team in Lake Garda comprising four boats: boys ILCA 6; Bobby Driscoll, mixed/boys skiff; Oisín Pierse and Fionn Daly, girls skiff; Clementine Van Steenberge and Jessica Riordan and girls ILCA 6 Lucy Ives Photo: Martina Orsini
Van Steenberge and Riordan third
Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Clementine Van Steenberge and Jessica Riordan (pictured top) are lying third after three races (including a race win in the day's final race).
Swiss pair Malena Rüegge and Liv Wicki were the standouts alongside Germany’s Victoria Egger, who both finished on three points in two races, followed by the National Yacht Club/Royal St. George combination.
Lucy Ives ninth
In further strong results for the four-boat Irish team, Carlingford's Lucy Ives is lying ninth overall after two races sailed in the ILCA 6 division.
The County Louth sailor scored 16 and then an eight in her 53-boat fleet.
Hermionie Ghicas of Greece and Ukraine’s Alina Shapovalova took the top two spots with a bullet each in their ILCA 6 openers.
The Netherlands’ Amelie Swan finished on 22 points and took the positives from a second-place finish in the second race of the day.
Maria Vittoria Arseni enters the rest with nine points after a consistent showing for third overall.
“It was about just keeping the fleet behind me,” Ghicas said.
Cork's Oisín Pierse and Fionn Daly are 12th from 29 starters after three races in the boys/mixed 29er skiff class Photo: Tamborini Alessio/World Sailing
Pearse and Daly 12th in mixed/boys skiff
Cork's Oisín Pierse and Fionn Daly are 12th from 29 after three races in the boys/mixed 29er skiff class.
Following on from her gold in Brazil last year, Poland's Ewa Lewandowska started strong in the skiff alongside Krzysztof Królik, as they claimed two bullets in their opening three races.
Marie Maier and Marius Melbye of Denmark came out on top in the second race as Great Britain’s Morris and Green remained consistent after finishing 13th in their opener to sit in second on five points.
Driscoll in ILCA 6
In the boy's ILCA 6 class, Belfast Lough's Bobby Driscoll lies 47th in his 62-boat fleet.
A steady opening was key in the men’s dinghy for New Zealand’s Zach Stibbe, who finished on 12 points after finishing sixth in both opening races.
The Netherlands’ Hidde Schraffordt stormed the racecourse for a bullet in race one, finishing the day just a point behind Stibbe.
He said: “It was great. I had a good start, but it’s very tricky racing, and I’m just looking forward to the next race.
“I’ve been training here for a week and it’s been great every day, it’s always sunny.
“We’ll get a good start again, hopefully like the last race, and see how it goes.”
Results and more here
