130 days to get ready for the Laser Radial Youth European Championship 2020
by Mark Mackey 26 Feb 2020 10:29 GMT
5-11 July 2020
Laser Radial Youth European Championship 2020 © BYC
Preparations are well under way for the Laser Radial Youth European Championship to be held at Ballyholme Yacht Club this summer from 5th to 11th July 2020. The Championships are supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Over 200 applications have been received from across the world already - although this is a European Championships with entries from 18 European countries so far, there is also an open event with an 11 strong USA team conspicuous amongst other entries from Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Guatemala, Canada, Netherlands Antilles and the US Virgin Islands.
Local interest includes Ballyholme sailor Dan McGaughey who was Irish Youth sailor of the year in 2018 and is currently training with the GBR squad despite the extra travelling required. The Irish squad though is strong as evidenced at the Irish Laser Nationals last summer when Michael O'Sulleabhain won ahead of Tom Higgins, Dan and a number of visiting UKLA sailors. Irish ladies will be focussing on Howth's Eve McMahon who despite only turning 16 recently is trialling for the Tokyo Olympics this week in Melbourne Australia at the 2020 Laser Radial Worlds against 3 seniors including Rio Silver Medallist Annalise Murphy. Eve won the Under 17 section of the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in Canada last summer. Also sailing in Melbourne are 3 Australian girls who are heading to Ballyholme - Eve is ahead of them at the mid way point in the regatta.
Sailors are expected to arrive from as early as Friday 26th June with a number including the GBR squad looking to take part in the Laser Ulster Championships on the weekend of 27th/28th June at County Antrim Yacht Club, Whitehead. This event should allow sailors to acclimatise with their first views of Belfast Lough and what to expect weather wise - their race arena is on the northern side of Belfast Lough opposite Bangor.
The Championships are expecting to host 250 to 350 sailors. Applications (registrations of interest) are made at the minute free of charge via the EurILCA website - links and more information regarding travel and accommodation can be found on the host website, 2020-radialyouth.laser-europeans.org. Close of applications for the initial allocation is on Saturday 25th April. Charter boats are available through SailCoach - details are available on the event website.
Many more entries are expected from the UK and Ireland and it is hoped that there will be plenty of extra spaces beyond the country allocation allowing a bit more depth to the fleets compared to the normal European championships with more local sailors encouraged to enter. It is 16 years since Ballyholme last hosted the Laser Radial Europeans and it is a great opportunity for locals to mix with the variety of talent from across the world with possibly a few future sailing superstars and champions.
Some Ballyholme Yacht Club members will be attending this weekend's RYA Dinghy Show with a launch banner and number of leaflets available - check out the UKLA stand. If you would like to talk to one of our members at the Dinghy Show please email and we will try and put you in touch.