Defending champions Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain will lead two Irish crews at the U23 49er European Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, from 10–14 November. The 49erFX pairing of Elysia O’Leary and Alana Twomey will also compete.
Ben O’Shaughnessy (Royal Cork Yacht Club) and Ethan Spain (National Yacht Club) return to defend the European title they won in Sicily in 2025. The Irish Sailing Development pair have enjoyed another strong season, gaining experience against senior Olympic-level crews while continuing to deliver impressive results at U23 level.
A highlight of their season was a fifth-place finish at the Junior 49er World Championships in Medemblik, the Netherlands, in July. After qualifying for Gold Fleet in 19th place, the pair climbed 14 places through the final series, recording two race wins and two fourth-place finishes along the way.
Completing the Irish line-up are Elysia O’Leary (Royal St George Yacht Club) and Alana Twomey (Royal Cork Yacht Club), who will compete in the 49erFX fleet.
The up-and-coming pair have continued to build their international experience throughout 2026. Their Kiel Week campaign was hampered by equipment problems, leaving them 47th overall, while a ninth-place finish at the UK Nationals in September included encouraging individual race results.
With defending champions and developing talent in action, the championships provide an important opportunity for Ireland’s next generation of skiff sailors to finish their European season on a high.
Racing gets underway on Wednesday, 11th November, with three races scheduled per day.
