ISA Youth National Championship event summary

by ISA on 12 Apr 2013 At the 2013 ISA Youth National Championships on Lough Derg in Tipperary, Robbie Gilmore from Strangford Lough reigned supreme. Gilmore sailed masterfully throughout the four day, 11 race regatta to beat last year’s champion Finn Lynch to the gold in the 44 boat Laser Radial fleet. Never relinquishing the top spot on the podium he has deservedly earned the title of Ireland’s best youth Laser sailor.

With two races to sail today and only five points separating Gilmore and Lynch nerves were running high. The fleet launched for the 11am start and immediately the two sailors entered in to a dual of strategy and tactics. It was overall bronze medallist Fionn Lyden who won the first race but Gilmore came in second followed by Lynch in third which only served to widen the points buffer between them. 12 months of preparation and all that stood in Gilmore’s way was one final race.

If he could remain close to Lynch on the water he’d win but he did better than that. Robbie Gilmore took the gold medal with style winning the 11th and final race, giving him his fourth bullet of the regatta and a seven point overall lead on Finn Lynch. And it was another Northern Irish sailor, Sarah Eames from Ballyholme, who took home the gold in the girl’s category.

Commenting on Gilmore’s win, ISA Performance Director James O’Callaghan remarked 'Robbie showed what a class act he is, having been narrowly beaten by Lynch in the same event last year this time the tables were turned. It speaks volumes for the depth of talent in Irish sailing'.

The 420 double-handed class had proved to be highly competitive over the course of the championship. Four teams, two from Dublin and two from Cork, were clear leaders from the outset but which pair would take the overall title was unclear. 11 intense races and plenty of drama only added to the suspense. But ultimately a fourth and a first in today’s races secured the win for Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Howth. The pair finished 12 points clear of Peter McCann and Arran Walsh and 13 points ahead of bronze medallists Adam Hyland and Bill Staunton from Dun Laoghaire. First in the girl’s category were Cork duo Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain and Jill McGinley.

Nicole Hemeryck cemented her success in the Topper class today during two final races. The Dun Laoghaire sailor continued on her streak of posting only top results and never slipping from pole position on the leader board. After eight races, Hemeryck was crowned overall champion with a grand total of 10 points. Both silver and bronze were won by male competitors from Northern Ireland; Liam Glynn with 22 points and Tom Purdon with 28 points.

In the Laser 4.7 class Conor O’Beirne easily maintained his lead by winning both scheduled races. He secured gold with a healthy 12 point lead on Ciaran Finnegan from Waterford. Cliodhna O’Regan began the regatta with a win but couldn’t quite manage to repeat the feat. Although she did position herself consistently near the top of the fleet and with a total of 32 points she takes overall bronze and also gold in the girl’s category.

There was a dramatic turn of events within the Optimist Championship fleet on their third and final day of racing. Corkonian Emily Whitaker, who had been in first place for the duration, had a tenth in the penultimate race and did not complete her final race. This meant she lost her lead and took home bronze. The overall winner was Tom Higgins from Dublin while Sarah Fogarty, also from Dublin, finished second overall and won gold in the girl’s For full results click here

Day Three Report

Frustratingly light patchy conditions made it a difficult day for both sailors and race committees alike at ISA Youth National Championships on Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary today. Racing had been scheduled to begin at 11am but the fleets were delayed over two hours as competitors waited patiently for a steady breeze. In the end all three planned races were sailed within each class later in the afternoon once conditions stabilised.

Finn Lynch made a charge back into contention positing a 1,1,3 in the difficult conditions. However, he was deemed to have been over the line in the final race. Lynch felt he had got the perfect start and challenged the race committee decision by lodging a protest. The Jury deemed that in fact an error had been made and Lynch was reinstated. Gilmour sailed another consistent day and retains the overall lead. In a repeat of last year’s event Gilmour and Lynch go head to head on the final day to see who ultimately wins the right to represent Ireland this summer.

There was plenty of drama on the 420 course as the top four teams were all disqualified in the third and final race of the day. Robert Dickson / Sean Waddilove, Peter McCann / Arran Walsh, Patrick Crosbie / Grattan Roberts and Adam Hyland / Bill Staunton were over the line at the start of the race. Although the four boats remain at the top of the leader board the addition of 16 points each for the error means that tomorrow’s final two race results are all the more crucial. Up for grabs is the potential for one of the pairs to represent Ireland at the Youth World Sailing Championships this summer so tensions will be high.

Firmly holding on to the lead, Nicole Hemeryck had another successful day in her Topper. The 35 boats sailed three races, two of which were won by Hemeryck. That, coupled with a second place finish in the remaining race, gives the Dublin girl a six point lead. In second place Liam Glynn from Ballyholme worked hard to close the gap between himself and his female rival. He won one race and remained in the top five for the other two giving him a total of 13 points. Further back on 21 points is another Northern Irish sailor; Tom Purdon who has knocked Daniel Raymond from third place.

In the Laser 4.7 class Conor O’Beirne sailed swiftly from third overall in to first place when he won two of the three races and placed third in the other. Yesterday’s leader Cliodhna O’Regan had three top 10 results but ultimately slipped to the silver medal position, seven points behind O’Beirne. Trailing O’Regan by only a two point margin is newcomer to the podium positions Ciaran Finnegan from Waterford.

There was no change at the very top of the leader board in the Optimist Championship fleet. Corkonian Emily Whitaker remains in pole position on 10 points but Tom Higgins’ two bullets of the day leaves him on 13 points and within close grasp of the gold. Sarah Fogarty also had a win today moving her up to third overall on 17 points.

A final deciding two races are scheduled for each class tomorrow, Sunday the sixth of April.

All results are For full results click here

Day Two Report

Almost 200 young sailors braved the uncharacteristically cold April waters of Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary today for the second day of the ISA Youth National Championships. The competitors who are split across five different classes; Laser Radial, 420, Laser 4.7, Topper and Optimist are all vying for the coveted places on teams for international events and summer squads. As the most prestigious annual youth sailing event on the domestic calendar the excitement rippled through the water with every boat launch.

For the second day in a row Robbie Gilmore ended the day leading the 44 boat Laser Radial fleet. The Strangford Lough sailor clinched his third win of the regatta so far as well as a second and a fifth which allowed him to storm in to the lead on a total of eight points overall. Also taking a bullet today was medal contender Finn Lynch. Lynch held on to his overall spot in second place, but a 14th and 12th place finish in the following two races sees him trail Gilmore on a total of 20 points. Hot on Lynch’s heels in third place is Seafra Guilfoyle on 22 points. A total of five more races are scheduled for the weekend so it’s all still to play for.

In the competitive 420 fleet yesterday’s three leading teams remain the same although the top two pairings have swapped places. Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, who started today in the lead, have now slipped to second overall on 10 points. Peter McCann and Arran Walsh had an impressive day winning two of the three races and consequently stole the top spot from Dickson / Waddilove by one single point. Holding on to their potential bronze medal position with 14 points are Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts.

Meanwhile it was the first day of racing for the Topper, Laser 4.7 and Optimist fleets and it’s the girls that are dominating across all three classes. In the 35 boat Topper fleet Nicole Hemeryck from Dublin tops the leader board on a six points after three races. Her closest rivals, Liam Glynn from Baltimore and Daniel Raymond from Dun Laoghaire, each had a race win but that wasn’t enough to keep up with their female competitor. Glynn ends Day 1 on 13 points and Raymond is third on 15 points.

In the Laser 4.7 class it’s a Cork lass that is leading the pack. Cliodhna O’Regan had a first, a third and tied 10th in her last race of the day. This was enough to see her take pole position ahead of fellow Kinsale Yacht Club member Sean Gambier-Ross who follows closely behind on 17.5 points. With only 0.5 of a point keeping him from Gambier-Ross, Conor O’Beirne from Dublin settles for third place overall today.

In the Optimist Championship and proving she’s a force to be reckoned with is Emily Whitaker, another Corkonian, who won all three of her races today. She sits comfortably ahead of Dubliners Leah Rickard and Tom Higgins who both leave today on 11 points.

Racing will continue tomorrow and Sunday (7th of For full results click here

Day One Report

A crisp, sunny spring day greeted the 57 youth sailors who began competing at the ISA Youth National Championships on Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary this afternoon. Entrants in both the Laser Radial and 420 classes sailed the scheduled three races in gusty 10 to 15 knot winds. They will be joined by a further 150 sailors tomorrow when the Laser 4.7, Topper and Optimist fleets take to the lake for three more days of highly competitive racing.

It was neck and neck at the head of the Laser Radial fleet as four old rivals tested their limits in the pursuit of the top spot. Race 1 got underway at midday with Robbie Gilmore from Belfast narrowly taking the win from Fionn Lyden and Seafra Guilfoyle, both from Cork, who finished in second and third place respectively. Gilmore didn’t get off to the best start in Race 2 but he fought his way to the top of the 42 boat fleet to take his second win of the day. Finishing in second place was Finn Lynch from Carlow followed by Guilfoyle in third.

Race 3 began shortly before 3.00pm but this time it was Lynch who took the bullet. Gary Fekkes from East Antrim came in second but Gilmore wasn’t too far behind and claimed third place. His two earlier wins coupled with the third place finish meant Robbie Gilmore had won today’s battle on the water and will start racing tomorrow from the top of the leader board on five points. Finn Lynch also had a respectable day and follows Gilmore closely on seven points. Guilfoyle had a ninth in Race 3 which, although in third place overall, gives him a total of 15 points.

In the double-handed 420 fleet it was Robert Dickson and crew Sean Waddilove from Dublin that took the first win. They faced serious pressure from two rival teams for the 45 minute race but in the end it was the Dubliners expertise that clinched it. The duo were followed closely by Corkonians Peter McCann and Arran Walsh in second and Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts, also from Cork, in third. The three teams spent the next two races battling for the top three spots but Race 1 ultimately was an indication of how the day would end.

Taking their first win of the regatta in Race 2 was pairing McCann / Walsh followed by Dickson / Waddilove while brothers Harry and David Whitaker, yet another team from Cork, took third place. Having won one race each it came down to Race 3 to decide who would finish day one in pole position; Dickson and Waddilove or McCann and Walsh?

Earning their second bullet of the day, it was Dickson / Waddilove that sailed to victory in Race 3 finishing the first day of the 2013 ISA Youth National Championships on a total of four points. In second place overall on seven points is McCann / Walsh followed closely by Crosbie / Roberts on nine points. The Racing will continue tomorrow until Sunday (7th of April) as over 200 sailors across all of the ISA Performance Pathway classes compete for the coveted places on summer squads and teams for international events.

All results are provisional.

For Laser Radial results, click here and for 420 results, click ISA website