Nail-biting conclusion at Crosshaven Optimist Trials

by ISA on 10 May 2013 An exhilirating weekend in Crosshaven has seen all sixteen races of the Optimist Trials series completed, with a nail-biting finish leaving Johnny Durcan overall winner.

Johnny (RCYC) will now join his brother Harry, Megan Parker and Alix Buckley (SSC) and James McCann (RCYC) to compete in the Optimist World Championships in Lake Garda in June.

Nineteen team places have been allocated, and the European team who will compete at Balatonfoldvar in Hungary are Peter Fagan (SSC), Loghlen Rickard (NYC), Richard McGinley (RCYC), Rebecca O'Shaughnessy (RCYC), Alex O'Grady (HYC), Clare Gorman (NYC) and Gemma McDowell (MYC) .

The seven members of the International Development team who will travel to Crozon in Brittany to compete in the French Nationals are Ben Walsh (SSC), Jamie O'Grady (HYC), Ros Morgan (SSC), Heather Spain (NYC), Hugh Perrette (NYC), Dara Donnelly (NYC) and Kelly Williams (RCYC).

Congratulations also to Adam Darcy and Ronan Cournane who made team places but decided to pass their places to other sailors.

In addition to announcing team places, IODAI President Michael McCann announced that he is stepping down as President after serving two years in the position. Michael has given of his time generously on the IODAI committee over the past years, coordinating all aspects of the Optimist class, and a presentation was made to Michael to thank him for all his contribution and to wish him the best in the future.

Stepping into Michael's shoes will be a difficult task, but Aidan Staunton has agreed to take on the job and we welcome Aidan back to the Optimist class. Aidan served on the committee for a number of years while his children sailed Optimists. He ran the Baltimore Spring Training clinic in its first two years in Baltimore, and last year IODAI nominated him as their choice for Volunteer of the Year. It is always welcome to find a non-parent chairperson who will give their time to the class and we are very grateful to Aidan for agreeing to give so generously of his ISA website