Please select your home edition
Edition
Stoneways Marine 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Irish sailors in strong positions going into finals of ILCA Europeans in Italy

by Treasa Cox 14 Mar 21:33 GMT 12-17 March 2023
ILCA European Championships day 3 © Thom Touw Photography / EurILCA

At the mid-point of the ILCA European Championships in Andora, Italy, Irish sailors are holding strong overall positions at the conclusion of the qualifying round of four races to determine the Gold fleet ahead of Friday's final result.

Olympic veteran Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) delivered another two fifth places on Tuesday before ending the qualification round with a race win.

There was a historic moment when second place in the same race was taken by team-mate Ewan McMahon (Howth Yacht Club) with a 1-2 result for IRL sail numbers at a major championship event.

In the men's ILCA6 fleet, Rocco Wright (Howth Yacht Club) rounded off his qualification round with an emphatic race win and lies second overall in his event by a single point.

As defending champion, the young Irish sailor overcame a shaky start to the day when he capsized while in second place but recovered to finish sixth. In the next race, he placed third before going onto his race win.

As lowest scoring boat overall in his 71-boat event, he is well placed for the coming three days of racing to decide the championship.

Team-mate Fiachra McDonnell (Royal St. George Yacht Club) also had a mixed day and lies 14th overall in the event thanks to a 14th place in the final race.

In the senior ILCA6 women's event, Eve McMahon (Howth YC) recovered from a port-starboard incident shortly after the first race started and sailed well to place 14th and then ninth in the second race of the day.

"It was still quite a shifty day, breeze up and down and quite tricky," said Rory Fitzpatrick, Irish Sailing's Head Coach, speaking of the Irish Youth World Champion. "She's worked quite hard at her boatspeed in the past two months and is able to pick off boats (while recovering places)."

With just three races sailed in the qualification round for the ILCA 6 women, Wednesday will see a further three races scheduled before deciding the finals line-up to be sailed over the remaining two days of the event.

To follow the competition and results please visit 2023-senior.eurilca-europeans.org

Related Articles

Irish sailing teams prepare for Allianz Regatta
But temporary setbacks for some team members Cancellation of the women's 49erFX event at this week's Allianz regatta in The Netherlands will be a temporary setback for Ireland's Erin McIlwaine with Ellie Cunnane as the pair build towards their first full international regatta. Posted on 30 May
Injury concerns end French Olympic Week for Irish
After a week of highs and lows in Hyères After a week of highs and lows at the French Olympic Week (Hyères, Cote d'Azur ) the Irish Sailing squad are returning home with firm resolve ahead of the main season ahead. Posted on 28 Apr
Silver lining for Cork pair at Hyerés
Ireland's Seáfra Guilfoyle with Johnny Durcan holding 5th in 49er Silver fleet After the disappointment of missing out on Gold fleet at French Olympic Sailing Week, Seáfra Guilfoyle with Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) had a good outing in the 49er Silver fleet today in Hyerés. Posted on 27 Apr
Lynch secures Gold fleet place
At French Olympic Sailing Week An easing of conditions saw Ireland's Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) regain some of his better form on the third day of French Olympic Sailing Week (Hyerés, Cote d'Azur Wednesday 26th April 2023) and the conclusion of the qualifying series. Posted on 26 Apr
Mistral winds blow to Irish hopes
On day 2 at French Olympic Sailing Week A second day of strong conditions at the French Olympic Sailing Week (Hyères, Cote d'Azur Tuesday 25th April 2023) proved exceptionally challenging for the three Irish crews competing. Posted on 25 Apr
Steady start for Lynch
As Mistral wind opens French Olympic Sailing Week High winds were the dominant force on the opening day of French Olympic Sailing Week (Hyerés, Cote d'Azur Monday 24th April 2023) where Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) was the only Irish sailor in action, competing in the ILCA 7 event. Posted on 24 Apr
Investwise Irish Sailing Youth Nationals
Home waters victory for Rocco Wright occo Wright won the ILCA 6 Youth National Champion title at the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Sunday, hosted by Howth Yacht Club. Posted on 18 Apr
Disappointment for Irish sailors in Palma
But determination too, and working on several fixable issues is the next priority Gold fleet racing ended today at the Princess Sofia World Cup of Sailing regatta (Friday 7th April 2023, Palma, Mallorca, Spain) with no Irish crews through to medal race finals for the first time in several editions. Posted on 7 Apr
Blow to Irish hopes at Princess Sofia Trophy
Day 4 sees Tokyo Olympians appear to stumble in the lighter winds Hopes of a strong result for Irish sailors competing at the Princess Sofia World Cup of Sailing regatta were set back today (Thursday 6th April 2023, Palma, Mallorca, Spain) when light winds and handling errors proved costly. Posted on 7 Apr
Irish 49er sailors catapult into overall lead
On day 3 of the Princess Sofia Trophy A stellar day on the Bay of Palma today saw Dublin sailors Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove take the overall lead in their 49er skiff event as they comfortably qualified for the Gold fleet final round at the Princess Sofia Trophy. Posted on 5 Apr