RYA announces 2020 GBR eSailing Nations Cup team

RYA announces 2020 GBR eSailing Nations Cup team © RYA

Following the excitement of the eSailing National Championships, a team of highly skilled and talented eSailors have been selected to represent GBR in the eSailing Nations Cup.

The inaugural event organised by World Sailing, will see national teams of ten compete on virtual waters in a bid to be crowned the best eSailing country in the world.

The virtual competition kicks off this Saturday (10 October) at 9pm with competitors from across the world battling it out in back to back qualifier fleet races. All races will be streamed on the eSailing World Championship Facebook page and World Sailing's YouTube Channel.

Currently ranked no.2 in the UK, eSailGP World Champion, Mike O'Donovan (Deja-Vu) has been selected as the GBR eSailing Team Captain.

Mike said: "I am really looking forward to competing and leading the GBR team in the upcoming Nations Cup eSailing event. I feel honoured to be selected as Captain of such a good team with so many great eSailors and I hope to lead us to many wins. The competition is looking strong, so we'll have to take each race as it comes, but we will give our best shot and if all goes well, I believe we've got the team to go all the way and take the win".

The fleet events will be followed by knockout stages taking place throughout October with the surviving teams advancing to the Quarter and Semi-Finals. The top two teams will then meet in the final on 06 November to battle it out to be crowned eSailing Nations Cup Champions.

The 2020 GBR eSailing Nations Cup team, captained by Déjà vu:

Donnie Gillies

Race name: Donnie Gillies (formerly Maradonnie)
Sailing Club: Castle Semple Sailing Club - Scotland
Experience: Winner of inaugural British e-sailing championships 2019. 2nd in 1995 Scottish Champion of Champions

Mike O'Donovan - Team Captain

Race name: Déjà vu
Sailing Club: Stokes Bay Sailing Club / ASYC - South Region
Experience: eSailGP World Champion, RYA Class Champion, 2nd RYA Club Champs

Alasdair Ireland - GBR National Champion

Race name: speedy_1
Sailing Club: Royal Northern & Clyde Sailing Club - Scotland
Experience: Winner of RYA eSailing Club Championships, Winner of Royal Northern & Clyde eSailing Series

Douglas Newell

Race name: TP52GLAD
Sailing Club: Island Sailing Club - South Region
Experience: Half tonner -Round the Island race (x8), Cowes Week (x4), double handed series Royal southern (x3), Nab tower race (x6). Boat captain / Boatbuilder Gladiator Sailing Team

Adam McGovern

Race name: AdamGP14
Sailing Club: Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club - North West Region
Experience: 2019 GP14 Northern Champs - 2nd, RYA eSailing Demo Event: 1st, GP14 eSailing Irish Nationals: 1st, GP14 eSailing World Championships: 4th

Bryan Davies

Race name: Skippafire
Sailing Club: King and Queen - South Region
Experience: Lots and lots of sailing

Cavan Fyans

Race name: ACF
Sailing Club: Ballyholme Yacht Club - Northern Ireland
Experience: Local / Regional / National Laser sailor of varying success

Phil Manning

Race name: Phil Manning
Sailing Club: Delph Sailing Club - North West Region
Experience: 1st Streaker Northern Championships 2019, 1st Streaker Border Reivers Series 2019, 2nd Streaker Northern Paddle 2019 (tied points with 1st)

Issy Waha

Race name: isswizz (top ranked female GBR eSailor)
Sailing Club: Royal Southern Yacht Club - South Region
Experience: Finalist in eSailing Youth Nationals, represented RSYC in the South eSailing Regional Finals, represented SB20 class in RYA eSailing Spring Class Championship Final

Hugh Brayshaw

Race name: Hugh Brayshaw
Sailing Club: Lyme Regis Sailing Club - South West Region
Experience: Navigator/ skipper, 3x Solitaire du Figaro sailor, 1st IRC overall RORC myth of Malhem 2019, former British Sailing Team 470 crew and 420 National Youth Champion.

Where to watch

So tune into the eSailing World Championship Facebook Page or World Sailing's YouTube Channel this Saturday at 9pm for all the action.

Find out more about eSailing here