HYC's Scott Flanigan, one of Ireland's most promising young sailors, is to seek an Olympic nomination for the London 2012 Games as crew for double Olympian Ger Owens in the International 470 Class.
Hard on the heels of the announcement that David Burrows was aiming for his fourth Olympics crewing in the Star Class, 18-year Scott has teamed up with the experienced Owens in a bid to gain the 470 slot next year. Owens previously raced at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the last Games in Qingdao four years ago.
Together, they face a gruelling schedule of eight major international events this year in the UK, Spain, Germany and Holland. To qualify for next year's Games, they must be selected as the Irish 470 in trials held over two of these major events this summer and if successful, must then qualify Ireland for a nation spot with a top 20 nations result at the ISAF Worlds in Australia in December.
Scott has racked up an impressive set of results in his sailing career to date. He has competed in over 15 World and European Championships in Optimists, Lasers and 420s and last year crewed on the Irish entry in the ISAF Youth Worlds.
Selected as a member of the ISA's Youth Academy/Olympic Development Squad late last year, he was 14th out of 120 boats at last year's 420 Junior Europeans. If he and Owens are successful, he is likely to the youngest sailor at the Olympic Regatta being staged at Weymouth.
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