International Race Officer, Alan Crosbie was impressed with the standard of racing in both the Junior and Youth fleets. Both fleets sailed in the same race area, just off the sunny shores of Currabinny in Cork Harbour, and enjoyed glorious sailing in today’s south easterly seabreeze (8-10 knots).
“The quality of the starts was very high,” noted Crosbie. “I was further impressed to notice that all fleets showed a continuous improvement as the week progressed. Allowing the Junior and Youth fleets in the same race area for the last two days worked out well, providing the best of conditions for all.”
Ashore, Rory Fitzpatrick explained that the sailors competing here at the Royal Cork Yacht Club ranged from those interested in sailing fulltime and campaigning for future Olympics, to the younger sailors who want to spend every spare minute afloat because they were “just having fun”.
“The competition within the fleets was strong,” explained Fitzpatrick, ISA Youth & Development Manager. “For many their performance in this event contributes to squad selections, which brings with it funding, coaching and support in attending international events.”
In all fleets the overnight leaders held onto their positions.
In the Mirror class Mark Boylan & Eoin Hickey of Skerries Sailing Club closed the day with a 2nd & 4th place while Alan Ruigrok from nearby Howth Yacht Club came first in the Laser 4.7 fleet. Ruigrok can be especially pleased with his four days sailing, as the majority of his results were top two placings.
Counting four race wins, Maria Dolan from Blessington Sailing Club was a convincing winner of the Topper title.
Kinsale Yacht Club sailors, Rob Lehane & Peter Duggan maintained their strong grip over the 420 fleet, while Aidan McLavery took the Laser Radial title with three bullets over the four days of racing. Not to be outdone, fellow club member George Kenefick, with 4 race wins clinched the Laser Standard Youth title.
RCYC sailor Isabella Morehead and Richard Harrington, earlier in the week, claimed first and second respectively, in the 2007 Optimist Junior Pathway Championship in their two day event (April 10th & 11th).
Top Three Final Results of the ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship 2007:
YOUTH NATIONALS:
420 : 14 entries
1 Rob Lehane & Peter Duggan, Kinsale Yacht Club
2 Ed Butler & Sean Collins., Royal St George Yacht Club
3. Alysson Rumball & Suzanne Burke, Royal St George Yacht Club / Howth Yacht Club
Laser 4.7 : 21 entries
1. Alan Ruigrok, Howth Yacht Club
2. Ross Vaughan, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
3. Finn Murphy, National Yacht Club
Laser Radial : 25 entries
1 Aidan McLaverty, Kinsale Yacht Club
2 Simon Doran, Courtown Sailing Club
3 Ben Scallan, Wexford Harbour Boat Club
Laser Standard : 8 entries
1. George Kenefick, Crookhaven Sailing Club
2. Ben Lynch, Blessington Sailing Club
3. Ryan Seaton, Ballyholme Yacht Club
JUNIOR PATHWAY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Mirror : 7 entries
1. Mark Boylan & Eoin Hickey, Skerries Sailing Club
2. Orlagh Cotter & Eimear O’Leary, Royal Cork Sailing Club
3. Graham Daly & Melissa Daly, Skerries Sailing Club
Topper : 17 entries
1. Maria Dolan, Blessington Sailing Club
2. Philip Doran, Courtown Sailing Club
3. Ali Ghareeb, Lough Erne Yacht Club
Optimist : 33 entries
(competed for two days :April 10th & 11th)
1. Isabella Morehead, Royal Cork Yacht Club
2. Richard Harrington, Royal Cork Yacht Club
3. Aodh Kennedy, Kinsale Yacht Club
Full results and additional reports are available on the website at www.sailing.ie/youthnats
