Ben O’Shaughnessy & Ethan Spain(NYC) take gold at the 29er European Championships in Sweden, while Alana Twomey & Lucia Cullen are the girls 29er European Champions.
Nationally & Internationally, it has been a really busy weekend of sailing for RCYC sailors.
In a world class fleet of 29ers at Royal Sweden Yacht Club, Ben & Ethan win the 173 boat 29er European Championship event. Coming soon after their exploits in Weymouth at the British Nationals where they finished in 2nd place earlier in the month. Not far behind, Alana Twomey & Lucia Cullen are the girls European Champions and 10th place overall. Congratulations to both pairings on such a phenomenal achievement!
Full results here
Ben & Ethan celebrating their achievement.
Meanwhile, in De Hague, Finn Lynch qualified IRL for a place in the Paris Olympics ILCA event. Closer to home, there was 4 National Championships underway throughout the country. With the Optimist National Championships at BYC, the ILCA National Championships at HYC, the Fireball & 420 National Championships at WHSC.
RCYC put on a really strong showing at the Optimist Nationals where wind conditions were gusting to 25+ knots, but our sailors were all up to the challenge that the infamous Belfast Lough could throw at them.
With 20 sailors making the trip North, it was all worth it as the scores were counted on Sunday.
On the podium, we had
Main Fleet – Senior
1st Silver – Blake Vaughan
1st Bronze – Conor Lynch
Main Fleet – Junior
1st Silver – Isaac Vaughan
1st Bronze – Dylan O’Sullivan
1st Bronze – Dylan O’Sullivan
Full results here
Others competing were Rory Whyte, Andrew O’Neill, Rian O’Neill, Ayda Bruen, Annabelle Wilson, Fionn Hayes, Blake Vaughan, Conor Lynch, Emily Lynch, Abigail O’Sullivan, Isaac Vaughan, Dylan O’Sullivan, Charlie McKibben, Luke Power, Tara Hayes, Sadie Bruen. Dougie Venner & Eoin Pierse had to sit it out due to injury in the days beforehand.
An RCYC team wins the IODAI Optimist Team Racing Championships too. That was held the day before the Nationals with the team comprised of Andrew O’Neill, Dougie Venner, Fionn Hayes and Rory Whyte. RCYC also won the silver fleet team racing with a team including Ayda Bruen, Annabelle Wilson and Charlie McKibbon
At Howth Yacht Club, 14 RCYC sailors braved Storm Betty to compete at the ILCA National Championships with RCYC winning the team trophy for the 3rd year running!
Those on the podium were
ILCA7: Jonathan O’Shaughnessy 3rd
ILCA6: Michael Crosbie 3rd
ILCA4: Liam Duggan 2nd
Others competing were Nick Walsh & Ed Rice in ILCA 7s, Andrew Kingston, Michael Doherty, Robert Jeffreys & Joe’Sullivan in ILCA6, Megan O’Sullivan, Craig O’Neill Jnr, Eve McCarthy, Eolann Miles, & Shane Collins in ILCA4.
Full results here.
Down South at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, the 420 & Fireball National Championships were confined to a 1 day event with storm Betty passing through on Friday & Saturday meant the honours were decided on Sunday with 4 races. Ethel & Chris Bateman finished in 3rd place in a strong 18 boat fleet.
Tommy Hiras was the lone RCYC competitor in the 420 event sailing with KYC sailor Matt Trullier. With the 420 fleet starting off at RCYC under the guidance of expert 420 sailor/coach Tom Mapplebeck, we are sure to see increased participation in the 420 class by RCYC sailors going forward.
Results here.
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