Five flying for the Irish at the International Moth World Championship
by Louay Habib 25 Jul 2014 12:16 BST
19-25 July 2014
Irish Olympic Laser sailor, Annalise Murphy (National YC) is the current Laser Radial European Champion and was 4th in the London Olympic games. Annalise is competing at her second Moth World Championship and Moth sailing in Ireland is on the increase. Five Irish Moths are competing at the Moth World Championship in Hayling Island. Annalise Murphy explains to Louay Habib, how the Moth scene in Ireland has developed.
"Just over a year ago, there was only one Moth in Ireland and myself and Rory Fitzpatrick got Moths and we were giving other sailors a try and it just grew from there. We have ten Moths at the National Yacht Club, one at Howth YC and another from Northern Ireland, making 12 in total. When everybody is able to get out, we organise races often at Lough Ree, which has flat water and not too much breeze. The National YC has the bulk of the Moth fleet as it is easy to launch and sail into there and the National has provided a Moth rack, four wide and three up, so we can get the whole Irish fleet in there.
"It is great to come to the Moth Worlds, even though I can't really sail as well as I would like. Racing the Laser is full on and this gives me a chance to relax but also enjoy some sailing with a great crowd. This is my two weeks off from sailing! So I really am here just for fun. Nathan (Outteridge) and A-Mac (Andrew McDougall) have been really helpful but everybody has been really friendly at the regatta."
The Irish Moth sailors at the World Championships are; Annalise Murphy, John Chambers, Rory Fitzpatrick (all National YC), Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme YC) & Alistair Kissane (Howth YC).
www.mothworlds.org