The 17-year old Howth Yacht Club sailor won the 2021 Youth World Championship at Lake Garda, Italy, last August.

McMahon celebrated in the traditional manner by jumping overboard. Her close competitor Roos Wind from The Netherlands congratulated McMahon back on her dingy.

The ILCA6, previously known as the Laser Radial, is the women’s single-handed event for the Olympic Games. Annalise Murphy won silver for Ireland at Rio 2016 after narrowly missing the podium at the London Games four years previously.

“You really couldn’t get better than that”

“Originally, I was using this regatta as a warm-up event as I hadn’t sailed for a long time while sitting my Leaving Cert,”said McMahon shortly after coming ashore. “I was really pleased with my final day, I finished with two bullets so you couldn’t really get better than that.”

McMahon now heads to The Netherlands for the Sailing Youth World Championships next week followed by Texas for the defence of her class world title.

“I’m just focussing on my processes and on my own sailing and not at results too much – but obviously a win would be great,” she said.

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There was a stormy conclusion to Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Cork Harbour

The final day of the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships was cancelled as gale-force winds swept across Cork Harbour.

However, final results from Saturday’s long day afloat weren’t initially confirmed as two protests on Sunday morning might have affected the standings.

On Saturday evening, a protest by ILCA6 (Laser Radial) overall leader Eve McMahon saw the Howth Yacht Club sailor extend her lead over Michael Crosbie of the Royal Cork YC when he was disqualified from Race 10 due to a port and starboard incident.

However, the Crosshaven sailor returned to the protest room on Sunday morning. He had his result reinstated as McMahon had not informed the race committee of her protest on Saturday.

McMahon still emerged as ILCA6 Youth National Champion after the tie-break with Crosbie.

Meanwhile, the host club’s James Dwyer with Ben O’Shaughnessy won the 29er skiff national title by a single point. This was after a close contest with Timothy Norwood and Nathan Van Steenberge from Royal Irish YC and National YC.

The runners-up were also in the protest room on Sunday morning. They were seeking redress for equipment failure in their second race of the series on Friday but their submission was ruled out of time.

Crosshaven’s Rian Collins handsomely won the 38-boat Topper class with a 12-point lead over his clubmate Dan O’Leary. Collins will now be considering whether to move into single or double-handed classes within the Irish Sailing Academy.

The Topper fleet shared the same course as the ILCA4 (Laser 4.7) class. This was the second largest of the event with 31 boats. A newcomer to the class Sam Ledoux of the National YC emerged youth national champion.

The Malahide and Wexford Harbour pairing of Jack McDowell and Henry Thompson continued their three-day lead of the 420 class. They won over Eoghan Duffy with Conor Paul of Lough Ree YC in their battle in the nine boat class.

“We have seen incredible racing over the past three days and great sailing by all 144 young sailors,” said David O’Brien, President of Irish Sailing. “To achieve three out of four days in mid-Autumn and only lose one race from the schedule is a mark of the dedication of the 100-plus volunteers led by organiser Maurice Collins.”

“From the standard of competition that we have seen over the series, these sailors have clearly managed to keep up their training during the Covid pandemic,” said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing’s Youth Academy manager. “Our prospects for 2022 are very good thanks to this resilience and positive attitude.”

Irish Sailing’s Olympic Steering Group (OSG) will now review the results of the championships. They will also decide the line-up for Ireland’s squad at the Youth World Championships in Oman in mid-December.

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The ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) Youth World Champion delivered two first places and a second in winds ranging from light to medium on the Curlane Bank racecourse.

Howth Yacht Club’s Rocco Wright took the other race win though had a mixed set of results to lie seventh overall.

Michael Crosbie of the hosting Royal Cork YC leads the chasing pack in seventh but is still some ten points behind McMahon.

Meanwhile, in another strong showing for north Dublin clubs, Malahide’s Imogen Hauer with Hugo Micka have a narrow overnight lead in the 420 class as a tight top three battle is already emerging.  Lough Ree’s Eoghan Duffy with Conor Paul are a point behind the Dublin crew but only on tie-break from Jack McDowell with Henry Thompson, a Malahide and Wexford Harbour combination.

“It was a tricky opening day with a switch in conditions after the first race,” said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing’s Youth Academy Manager. “We had a tidal effect as well which made laylines interesting.

“There were quite a few very strong performances with plenty of battles at the front of the fleet although the result of the day came from Eve McMahon in the ILCA 6 class.”

The four-day event steps up a gear on Friday when the remaining classes start racing for the 29er, ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and Topper fleets that will bring the turnout up to 130 sailors.

The championship is normally sailed over the Easter school holidays but was postponed to the Autumn mid-term break due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

To see all the results from day one of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, click here.

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After a gap of two years, 135 young sailors are signed up and raring to go at the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships. The event is unique – not only is it the biggest youth event held in Ireland, it’s the only time that different youth classes come together to compete, gain valuable experience on the water, hear from Irish Sailing coaches, and, along with their families, learn more about the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. There are five classes (types of boat) taking part from all across the country and we’ve outlined some of the names to watch below.

In the ILCA 6 (Laser Radials) there are some well known names including Eve McMahon (Howth YC) who’s fresh from a successful summer of overseas competing where she won the ILCA 6 Youth World Championships in Italy in July, and a previous winner at the Youth Nationals. She’s joined by three of the Irish Sailing Laser Radial Academy athletes: Ellie Cunnane (Tralee Bay SC) and local sailors Jonathan O’Shaughnessy and Michael Crosbie (both RCYC). Rocco Wright (Howth YC) is a new entry coming up from ILCA4 (Laser 4.7s) and one to watch.

The small 420 fleet will have sailors who know each other well, and three clubs dominating: Lough Ree Yacht Club, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, and Malahide Yacht Club.

Female helms lead the way in the 29er class with a 60/40 girl/boy ratio. Three of them are representing Dun Laoghaire’s Royal St George YC: Emily Riordan, Rachel Flood and Clementine van Steenberge.  Local Cork helm James Dwyer had a top 15 finish at the 29er World Championships in Spain in September. This is the first time the 29ers will compete at the Youth Nationals, and the class are in discussions with Irish Sailing about becoming a full Performance Pathway class.

ILCA4 (Laser 4.7s) sees a lot of new entries in the class, with many of the top competitors moving on from the ILCA 4s up to the bigger ILCA 6 or another dinghy. Ones to watch are Sienna Wright (Howth YC) and Hannah Dadley-Young (Ballyholme YC) along with Daniel Palmer (Ballyholme YC) who’s moved up from the Topper class, along with Spaniard Mauro G Regueral Noguerol (RCYC).

Finally in the Toppers, there is a large fleet from across the country with Bobby Driscoll from the North (Royal North of Ireland YC) and Rian Collins from the South (Royal Cork YC) sure to feature. With many sailors finishing the season strongly, Ciara McMahon (Malahide YC), Riona McMorrow Moriarty (Tralee Bay SC) and Dan O’Leary (Royal Cork YC) are also in the mix.

The Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships take place 28-31 October 2021 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, Co Cork.

Young sailors from across Ireland will compete across four different classes: 420, Topper, ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and ILCA 6 (Laser Radial). These are the classes that have been identified as the best to facilitate progression through the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. The remaining four classes will be joined for the first time by the 29er class.

David Quinn, MD, Investwise Financial Planning, commented: “We are delighted to support this wonderful event for young sailors.  Sailing teaches important life skills such as awareness, responsibility, patience and respect, as well as building friendships that last a lifetime. We’re delighted that our youth sailors have the opportunity to get back out on the water to compete again at their National Championships after a break of two years.  It promises to be a superb event in Cork over the mid-term break and I look forward to meeting everyone there.”

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Over 150 sailors will take part and they will be joined by several Olympians, including Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy, and Tokyo Olympic 49er team Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove who will give inspiring talks to the young sailors after hard days racing on the water.

Dickson and Waddilove will be joined by local Crosshaven 49er team Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan who have started their bid to represent Ireland in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Youth National Championships are set to take place from Thursday, October 28 – Sunday, October 31.

The Youth Nationals are unique – not only is it the biggest youth event held in Ireland, but it’s also the only time that different youth classes come together to compete, gain valuable experience on the water, hear from Irish Sailing coaches, and, along with their families, learn more about the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway.

Young sailors from across Ireland will compete across four different classes of boat at the Youth Nationals: 420, Topper, ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and ILCA 6 (Laser Radial).

These are the classes that have been identified as the best to facilitate progression through the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway.

Although normally part of the event, this year due to COVID safety measures, Irish Sailing and the IODAI (Irish Optimist class) decided to organise a separate training week.

The IODAI National Training Week is part of an overall plan to kick-start the junior pathway and as such is being supported by Irish Sailing.

This year’s training week is in Malahide; future editions will rotate nationally. The remaining four classes will be joined for the first time by the 29er class who are in discussions with Irish Sailing about becoming a full Performance Pathway class.

Organiser Sean Evans, Irish Sailing’s Laser Radial Academy Coach said: “We’re delighted that the Youth Nationals are back on this year.

“The Youth Nationals are a very important part of the talent pipeline and gives coaches a chance to see what’s coming through.

“It’s a special event where families and friends can gather together in one location to share their experiences, learning and generally have some fun”.

David Quinn, MD, Investwise Financial Planning, commented: “We are delighted to support this wonderful event for young sailors.

“Sailing teaches important life skills such as awareness, responsibility, patience and respect, as well as building friendships that last a lifetime.

“We’re delighted that our youth sailors have the opportunity to get back out on the water to compete again at their National Championships after a break of two years.

“It promises to be a superb event in Cork over the mid-term break and I look forward to meeting everyone there.”

The evening talks include a racecourse debrief with Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove along with 49er teammates Johnny Durcan and Seáfra Guilfoyle.

James O’Callaghan (Irish Sailing Performance Director) and Olympic Silver Medallist Annalise Murphy will discuss her journey on the Performance Pathway.

For more information, visit: https://www.sailing.ie/Racing/Irish-Sailing-Youth-National-Championships

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The event has run every year since 1947 until 2020’s historic pause due to the COVID pandemic. One of the most unusual regattas in the world, the competitors represent sixteen of the thirty-nine Irish Sailing affiliated classes and compete to find sailing’s “champion of champions”.

Despite coming from a wide range of one-design classes, they race against each other in a boat that is often unknown to many. This year’s chosen boat is the National 18.

Homeward bound at evening. (panoramic, click for full view) @PhotosCork @PhotographyWx @ThePhotoHour @pure_cork @Carrigdhounnews @LoveCork @corkharbour @CorkHarbourWX #crosshaven #currabinny #sailing #corkharbour #landscapephotography #seascape #cobh pic.twitter.com/HyQHx1fbVk

— John Hall (@johnhall_john) November 23, 2019

Familiar names competing include Charlie Cullen, the youngest competitor at just 19 and a first-time nomination for the Waszp class; JP Mccaldin who will race his wife Carolyn; Olympians Ger Owens with Ross Killian; Philip Doran with brother Simon; Michael O’Connor with his winning crew from previous years, Davy Taylor; Hammy Baker, RYA Northern Ireland’s Performance Director.

There’s a strong representation this year from the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire with five of their members competing.

Wild cards include Irish Sailing Academy member Tom Higgins sailing with his brother Jack, and Robert O’Leary from the 1720 class who sails with his brother Peter.

This year’s National 18 champion Ewen Barry is one to watch as he will compete in a boat more familiar to him than others.

The Irish Sailing All Ireland Championships are back!
Hosted this year by the Royal Cork Yacht Club on 2 & 3 October, sailors from sixteen different Irish Sailing classes will compete to find the "champion of champions".
Read more about the competitors at https://t.co/4b2R0DYiJ0 pic.twitter.com/o9OjlgcarB

— Irish Sailing (@Irish_Sailing) September 28, 2021

Hosted this year by the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven this weekend, each competitor has been nominated as a result of their achievements and rankings for the year.

Once chosen, each competitor selects one crew member. As the National 18 needs a third crew, the third member of the team is nominated by the class.

Racing will consist of two heats. The top three from each heat go straight into the final. The remaining competitors who placed 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th compete in a repêchage, and the top two then enter the Final with the six other teams.

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Seventeen-year-old McMahon was consistent from the early stages of the week’s racing in Italy and won three out of the five qualifying races.

A disqualification in the first race of the final series moved her back a few points, but her lead was too great and she beat Anja Von Allmen of Switzerland and Sara Savelli of Italy to take Gold.

The ILCA 6 Youth World Championships are open to sailors who were 18 or younger on the registration day, July 23, but at least 15. The Girl’s Fleet saw 109 athletes compete.

A former Irish Sailing Youth Sailor of the Year in both 2020 and 2019, today’s medal marks a three-in-a-row run for McMahon.

This summer she has taken silver in the U19 category of the EURILCA (European region of International Laser Class Association) U21 European Championships in Montenegro, and silver in the EURILCA Laser Radial Youth Championships in Croatia.

Irish Sailing coach Vasilij Zbogar said:

“It was a tough day with tough conditions. The wind went from 10 knots to 0 at some points, so it was really hard to manage. Eve did an amazing job because it was really unpredictable. She kept herself calm and didn’t panic even in a stressful situation”.

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The duo ended the drought with a consistent row to put themselves in the centre of the podium following a strong second half of the race.

Undisputed lightweight boxing champion Katie Taylor was the last Irish gold medal winner, beating Russia’s Sofya Ochigava to become the first-ever female Olympic champion at her weight class.

Since Taylor’s victory, Team Ireland had won eight medals – three silver and five bronze – but had failed to win gold until Thursday morning.

Let’s take a look at the medalists who made the country proud between the  Summer Olympics golds.

John Joe Nevin – London 2012 Silver, Boxing

John Joe Nevin won silver in the Men’s Bantamweight event in London after a 14-11 loss to now-professional Team GB fighter Luke Campbell.

The Mullingar-born two-time Olympian reached the final after beating the reigning bantamweight world champion at the time, Lázaro Álvarez of Cuba in impressive fashion.

Nevin has turned professional since earning silver at the Olympic Games and currently holds a record of 14-0.

However, he has not fought since 2019.

Paddy Barnes – London 2012 Bronze, Boxing

Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes earned his second consecutive Bronze medal at the Olympics after reaching the semi-finals of the Men’s Light Flyweight event in London 2012.

Old foe Zou Shiming defeated the Team Ireland boxer at the semi-final stage for the second time in a row after a countback saw the Irishman lose by a point (45-44).

Shiming went on to win gold once again while Barnes settled for bronze after two strong wins in the previous stages.

Barnes competed in Rio 2016 but was beaten in the Round of 16 and has had a professional career since, retiring in November after three losses in his last four fights.

Michael Conlon – London 2012 Bronze, Men’s Flyweight

Michael Conlon is the third and final boxer on this list and the fourth Irish boxer to come home with a medal in 2012.

Conlon was beaten by the eventual champion, Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba, after a close win against Frenchman Nordine Oubaali guaranteed the then 24-year-old a medal.

The bantamweight was controversially knocked out at the quarter-final stage at Rio 2016 but has since gone on to greater things, currently holding a 15-0 record in professional boxing.

The fighter is scheduled to fight T.J. Doheny at Falls Park, Belfast on Friday, August 6th.

Cian O’Connor – London 2012 Bronze, Equestrian

Cian O’Connor took home the bronze medal in London 2012 for the Individual Showjumping event.

The equestrian won the medal with his horse Blue Loyd 12 and the pair reached a silver medal jump-off after they were tied with Dutch showjumper Gerco Schroeder and his horse London.

The Irish duo racked up a four-second penalty while their opposition went flawless and O’Connor settled for bronze.

Rob Heffernan – London 2012 Bronze, Athletics

Rob Heffernan won bronze for his performance in the Men’s 50km Walk in 2012.

The Corkonian had crossed the line in fourth but was retrospectively awarded the bronze medal for the event.

The initial race winner, Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin, was disqualified almost four years after the race took place due to doping violations.

In the time since 2012, Heffernan had become a world champion with victory in Moscow in 2013.

The now 43-year-old competed in a fifth Olympic Games at Rio 2016 and finished three spots off the bronze medal in sixth.

Gary and Paul O’Donovan – Rio 2016 Silver, Rowing

One of Ireland’s latest gold medal winners, Paul O’Donovan, makes an appearance on this list alongside his brother Gary.

The pair took home silver in the same event that Paul and Fintan McCarthy won on Thursday morning in Tokyo.

The O’Donovan brothers won one World Championships after their Olympic silver in 2018.

Paul won a World Championship for the fourth year in a row alongside new partner Fintan McCarthy in 2019, having won two single sculls World Championships previously.

McCarthy and O’Donovan are now reigning Olympic champions, with Gary having been their reserve rower.

Annalise Murphy – Rio 2016 Silver, Sailing

Annalise Murphy won silver in the Women’s Laser Radial at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The sailor won Ireland’s first Olympic medal in the sport since 1980 with her performance in the medal race.

The Dún Laoghaire club member came fourth in London 2012 and got the medal she had wanted for so long after four more years of hard work.

The 31-year-old is currently taking part in the same event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty – Tokyo 2020 Bronze, Rowing

Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty won the first medal for Team Ireland on Wednesday, July 28th with a bronze medal performance in the Women’s Coxless Fours final.

The quartet kicked off Ireland’s medal haul with their third-placed finish, rowing over the finish line after gold medal winners Australia and the Netherlands.

The four women had only been together as a crew for six months when they got their spot on the podium.

Their win doubled the number of Irish women that have won Olympic medals for the team – the number is now at 8.

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The Dublin pair won from Britain and Germany and will lead going into race 2 in the 49er class.

Light and shifting winds delayed racing, including an abandoned race in which the pair were also at the front of the fleet.

The thrilling single race of the day saw the pair gradually improve from fourth place to first over the three laps of the course close to Enoshima Island. The actual finish was delivered with a watery flourish as the Irish crew skidded over the line barely centimetres ahead of the British boat.

“You only have to win by a few centimetres”

“It was pretty close but you only have to win by a few centimetres,” said Robert Dickson of Howth Yacht Club. “We didn’t know (crossing the line) that we’d done it until we came in and Matt (coach McGovern) told us.”

While three races had been planned for the opening day, a near calm followed by shifting wind direction meant a series of delays plus the abandonment of the first race attempt in which the Irish crew also sailed well.

“I feel thrilled, we can’t ask for a better start,” Skerries Sailing Club man Seán Waddilove.  “But you have to remember that this is the very first race and anything could change with eleven races to go, plus a medal race – hopefully.”

The event rules prevent race starts after 5pm local times so racing resumes on Wednesday as scheduled with the missed races added where the programme allows later in the week.

Meanwhile, Annalise Murphy had her best day of the regatta so far with a consistent ninth and ten places partially off-setting her disappointment of the opening two days.

The double-Olympic veteran and Rio Silver medallist moved from 32nd place to 20th overnight and the series will have a rest day on Wednesday. Four further races on Thursday and Friday will decide the top ten places for the medal race final on Sunday.

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Challenging light winds marked the start of the Tokyo Olympic Sailing regatta at Enoshima on Sunday where Annalise Murphy was the first Irish competitor into action.

In the women’s single-handed event, what was looking like a good starting position became a missed opportunity. Another competitor snagged a control line on the Irish sailor’s boat, delaying her start into ‘clear air’.

Conditions remained at close to near calm levels for the opening race. Murphy had to accept 35th place in the 44-strong fleet.

Race 2 went better for the National Yacht Club sailor who rounded the first mark in 24th place. She spent the next three legs steadily picking off other boats to place 12th. Her combined score for day one leaves her 23rd place overall.

Reaction

Murphy was frustrated with the race one incident but resolved to improve for the second race.  “I’m glad the first day is done and I’m looking forward to moving up from here – no more mistakes,” she stated.

With eight more races to decide next Sunday’s medal race finale, normal weather patterns over Sagami Bay are being influenced by the development of a neighbouring typhoon.  Depending on how the weather system develops in the coming days, windier or lighter conditions equally could result.

Ireland’s second boat features the Olympic debut for Rob Dickson and Seán Waddilove from Howth Yacht Club and Skerries Sailing Club respectively in the Men’s 49er skiff event.  Their series is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 27th July with a medal race on Monday 2nd August.

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