| Photos by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com) |
| International Development Team  (Back L-R) Richard Hogan, Ronal Cournane, Alacoque Daly, Adam Hyland (Front L-R) Sean Waddilove, Sean Gambier Ross, Robert Dickson, Fergus Flood, Aoife Hopkins |
| The 2nd leg of the IODAI National Optimist trials was held over the bank holiday weekend in Dun Laoghaire along side the Mitsubishi Youth Nationals. In contrast to the very light sailing conditions in the 1st leg at Kinsale before Easter, the 2nd leg had the promise of much more wind from the east. Again 8 races were scheduled under PRO David Lovegrove. Saturday was again light on breeze. Sunday brought some more wind with as much as 15 knots for the 3rd race of the day. Unfortunately with 2 races still left to go racing on the Monday was postponed and then cancelled due to a building 20 knot wind and a sea state that would have made sailing conditions very difficult for the sailors and race management teams alike. The IODAI National Trials is an invitation only event to determine teams to represent Ireland at the World and European championships and an International Development Team. 53 sailors entered from all over Ireland. The event was won by Sophie Browne (TBSC/ RCYC) who sailed a very consistent 2nd leg to take the lead from Sean Donnelly (NYC). Sophie was the only sailor to elect to go to the World championships in New Zealand later this December. Team places for the European championships were secured by Sean Donnelly (NYC), Peter McCann (RCYC), Harry Whitaker (RCYC), Eoin Lyden (RCYC), Jil McGinley (RCYC) Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain (KYC) and Megan Parker (SSC). The European championships will be held in Tavira, Portugal in July. The European team must have a minimum of 3 boys or girls. |
| HYC sailors secure team places  (Back L-R) Isabelle Delamer, Aoife Hopkins, Sean Waddilove (Front L-R) Richard Hogan, Robert Dickson, Ewan McMahon, Fergus Flood |
| 5 HYC sailors make up half of the International Development Team in what must be one of HYC's most successful years at the trials. This team will travel to Kiel, Germany in August for the Open German championships. The sailors are Robert Dickson (6th), Sean Waddilove (9th), Richard Hogan (11th), Fergus Flood (15th), and Aoife Hopkins (25th). In general, our sailors stepped up to the task for the 2nd leg and moved up the scoreboard. Robert had 4 top 5 places in Dun Laoghaire with Sean Waddilove and Richard Hogan scoring 4 top 10s each over the weekend. Fergus Flood was unable to find the fine form he had shown in Kinsale but he had done enough. Aoife also sailed and scored better in Dun Laoghaire to secure the 1st girl place on the team. The International Development Team is made up of 10 sailors with a minimum of 2 girls. The remaining International Development Team members are Daire Cournane (RCYC/KYC), Adam Hyland (RsTGYC), Ronan Cournane (RCYC/ KYC) and Sean Gambier Ross (KYC). |
| Under 12s  (Back left) Isabelle Delamer & (Front left) Ewan McMahon |
| Ewan McMahon and Isabelle Delamer also performed exceptionally well in their first set of trials and will now travel to the UK Nationals in Pwllheli as part of an IODAI U-12s squad. Our other sailors who entered were Nicole Hemeryck who finished a very credible 45th in her first trials and Anna Potterton who decided after the very light conditions in Kinsale to sail her Topper instead. We wish her great sailing in her new class. Congratulations to the sailors whose training over the winter has now paid dividends. Full results and photos at www.iodai.com |