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Event Videos - April 16 2012

What a weekend! Check out all the videos from the 2012 ISA Mitsubishi Youth National Championships here: http://vimeo.com/channels/isayouthnats2012

Day 4 Report - April 15 2012

NYC’s Finn Lynch wins the Laser Radial class at ISA Mitsubishi National Youth Championship and Irish Team for Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds announced.

Four intense days of racing at the ISA Mitsubishi Youth National Championships on Dublin Bay out of Dun Laoghaire, involving 380 sailors across seven classes with 10 nations including GBR and Ireland, concluded today with world class racing.

This morning’s racing started with all to play for in each class with some of the most exciting racing in the Laser Radial boys’ class. All three top boats were within one point of each other going into the last race. ISA Academy Sailors Finn Lynch (IRL/ NYC) and Robbie Gilmore (IRL/ Strangford YC) punched the line well in the last race. Finn pulled in front and controlled the fleet well to win the last race and overall event ahead of Tomasgaard (NOR/ RNor YC) and Robbie Gilmore.

In the Laser Radial girls class, Sophie Murphy (IRL/ RStGYC) leapfrogged Georgina Povall (GBR/Hickling Broad SC) and Ellie Cumpsty (GBR/Chew Valley Lake SC) to take ‘first girl’ and secure her place on the Irish team for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds this July.

In the 420 class, the French continued their dominance winning by 15 points and overall there was a tremendous international showing in this class. Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts (IRL/ RCYC) were the first Irish boat coming in at 8th place with 84 points and taking the Irish 420 slot for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds this July.

In the Topper class where the sailors battled changeable conditions, Liam Glynn (IRL/ Ballyholme YC) takes the Topper title with a large 12 point lead ahead of William Thomas (GBR/ Teifi YC). Dougie Power (IRL/ WHYC) placed 3rd just two points off the GBR boat.

In the Laser 4.7 class, Erica Ruigrok (IRL/ Rush YC) was the top Irish with a 3rd overall and first girl overall.

In the Optimist Championship class after the final two races, Peter Fagan from the NYC took 1st and Michael O’Suilleabhain from Kinsale YC took 2nd.

Announcing the Irish team for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds, Niamh McCutheon, ISA President said ‘The ISA is delighted to confirm the team for the Youth Worlds where 64 nations will compete, at the conclusion of the national trials. We are equally proud of the exceptional standard of the team and their commitment to representing the very best of Irish youth sailing on the world stage. We wish them fair winds and excellent sailing.’

Brian Craig, Chairman, Dublin Bay 2012 said “The ‘nationals’ gave the organisers a fantastic opportunity to test out all systems for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds in July, both on the water and ashore, as we have a lot of the same teams in place for both. We were also fortunate to have had good mix of weather including some difficult onshore winds, which tested the teams in boat retrieval on the water. We have also learnt the race lengths and time and distance for the fleets which has been very useful.”

Irish Team Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth World Championship 2012:

Laser Radial Boy: Finn Lynch (National YC)

Laser Radial Girl: Sophie Murphy (Royal St George YC)

420 Boys: Patrick Crosbie & Grattan Roberts (Royal Cork YC)

29er: Sean & Tadhg Donnelly (National YC)

Sailing: ISA Mitsubishi Youth National Championship 2012

OVERALL WINNERS

Laser Radial Class, after 11 races, inc 1 discard:

1 F Lynch (IRL/National YC) 43pts. 2 H Tomasgaard (NOR/ RNYC) 54 pts 3  R Gilmore (IRL/Strangford Lough YC) 50pts. Other top 10 Irish: 6 S Guilefoyle (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 109pts.

420 Class, after 11 races, inc 1 discard:

1 G Pirouelle/V Sipan (FRA/SNPH) 25pts, 2 J Poret/L Chevet

(FRA/SNPH) 40pts, 3 A Vose/ K Urwin (GBR/RLYC) 40pts. Leading Irish: 8 P Crosbie/G Roberts (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 84pts, 9 A Hyland/ B Staunton (IRL/ RStGYC) 87pts 12 R Dickson/S Waddilove (IRL/Howth YC) 105pts

RS Feva Class, after 8 races inc 1 discard:

1 C Totterdell/C Maguire (IRL/Royal St George) 10pts, 2 D Johnston/L Flynn-Byrne (IRL/Howth YC) 20pts, 3 J Tingle/C Guilfoyle (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 23pts

29er Class after 11 races inc 1 discard:

1 J Hawkins/C Thomas (GBR/Restronguet SC) 15pts, 2 T Rippey/A Munro (NZL/Tauranga YC) 18pts, 3 O Bowerman/M Peach (GBR/Hayling Island SC) 24pts

Topper Class after 8 races inc 1 discard:

1 L Glynn (IRL/Ballyholme YC) 17pts, 2 W Thomas (GBR/Teifi BC) 29pts, 3 D Power (IRL/WHSC) 31pts

Laser 4.7 Class after 8 races inc 1 discard:

1 M Whitfield (GBR/Penarth YC/CBYC) 15pts, 2 R Auger (FRA/CN Claouey) 20pts, 3 E Ruigrok (IRL/Rush SC) 63pts

Optimist Championship Class: after 8 races:

1 P Fagan (IRL/National YC) 7pts, 2 M O’Suillebhain (IRL/Kinsale YC) 9pts, 3 C Gorman (IRL/ NYC) 15pts

Day 3 Report - April 14 2012

A hard won victory in the third of today’s three races just tips the balance in favour of Strangford Lough’s Robbie Gilmore in a very hotly contested 68 boat Laser Radial fleet at the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals Sailing Championship.

Racing on Dublin Bay out of Dun Laoghaire, the stakes for Gilmore extend higher than just vying for the Radials National title.

Selection for Ireland’s Radial spot in July’s Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships to be raced on these same race areas, amounts to a first-past the-post-battle at these four day championships and Gilmore arrived ashore this afternoon feeling that his fifth, second and win today may prove conclusive in what still looks to be a duel with long time rival and fellow ISA Academy sailor Finn Lynch.

The National YC’s Lynch, championship leader this morning, could not match Gilmore as the conditions turned breezier. He returned 3,7,3 for the day to drop to third overall.

After two days of fickle sub-8 knots winds, the five classes which raced today enjoyed brisk, chilly NE’ly breezes of over 20kts accompanied by choppy seas.

Gilmore’s slight speed edge, which he attributed to good fitness and concentrated training in today’s weight of breeze, proved key as he stepped two points clear of Lynch.

He ties New Zealand’s Andrew McKenzie at the top of the international fleet.

“ It was pretty breezy, up to 20kts, but really nice sailing.” Recalled Gilmore, “ The first race I did not have a great one but got a fifth. The second race I was leading most of the way around but on the last leg the Norwegian sailor caught me. But the last race I won and so it really was a good day.”

“I am feeling pretty good now. It was nice to feel like I had a little bit of a speed edge today, which is probably down to good fitness and training in that breeze, so it puts me in a good position for tomorrow when hopefully I will be able to finish things off. I was not particularly watching out for anyone today, just trying to keep on it in that breeze.”

Lynch was less pleased with his three races:

“ Nothing really went wrong or happened but I just did not sail as well as I could have. I sailed well, but I could have sailed better. My speed was really good but my tactics could have been a bit better, especially in the second race. But I will be back tomorrow, it is still very, very close.”

The French duo of Guillaume Pirouelle and Valentin Sipan, from Le Havre, are primarly here on a training mission in advance of their trials series which will select for their Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds team, but they are proving to be the class act in the 26 boat international fleet. They lead the class comfortably after winning all three races today, but crew Sipan cautioned that their regatta is far from won yet.

“We have not won the regatta yet, we still need another good day, but today really set us up.” He said, adding: “ It is not decided yet whether we will be here in July, there are two weeks of trials. But we are the only French boys team who are here, along with the girls.”

In the battle for Worlds selection among the Irish 420 crews, the odds moved in favour of Cork’s reigning ISA Optimist Youth National Champion, Patrick Crosbie with crew Grattan Roberts. They improved race by race, scoring 7,6,5, to move up to sixth overall in the international fleet but crucially gaining themselves a 17pts cushion on their nearest selection rivals Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove of Howth YC.

“We were just concentrating on keeping clear air and following the gusts as much as possible. We are certainly better in the stronger breeze but so we are also grand in the light stuff. We only started sailing together in August last year and would love to do the Worlds here in the summer. I don’t want to say how confident we are, not wanting to jinx anything. We have a friendly rivalry between us all, but for sure there is more pressure this year with the Worlds here, but I like to think we are rising to it.” Said helm Crosbie.

After two more races in the 15 boat RS Feva class, the local duo Conor Totterdell and Conor Maguire effectively maintain their perfect scoreline by virtue of discarding their one second place, leading overall by four points.

Topper class leader Liam Glynn from Ballyholme YC has a virtually unbeatable lead after a first and second today, lying 16 points clear at the top of the 40 boat class, whilst Welsh helm Matt Whitfield from Penarth also took a first and second, leading overall by seven points.

In the 29er Class GBR’s Jack Hawkins and Christopher Thomas have now won three back to back races in a small fleet which is primarily here to train for the worlds, both the British duo and New Zealand’s Trent Rippey and Alex Munro already know that their worlds selection is secured:

Standings after Day 3 of 4:

Laser Radial Class, after 8 races, inc 1 discard:

1 A McKenzie (NZL/Tamkai YC) 30pts, 2 R Gilmore (IRL/Strangford Lough YC) 30pts, 3 F Lynch (IRL/National YC) 30pts. Other top 10 Irish: 6 S Guilefoyle (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 68pts.

420 Class, after 8 races, inc 1 discard:

1 G Pirouelle/V Sipan (FRA/SNPH) 13pts, 2 N Horwitz/F Fuentes (CHI/CNP) 20pts, 3 J Poret/L Chevet (FRA/SNPH) 28pts. Leading Irish: 6 P Crosbie/G Roberts (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 50pts, 10 R Dickson/S Waddilove (IRL/Howth YC) 67pts, 11 A Hyland/B Staunton (IRL/Royal St George) 68pts.

RS Feva Class, after 5 races inc 1 discard:

1 C Totterdell/C Maguire (IRL/Royal St George) 4pts, 2 D Johnston/L Flynn-Byrne (IRL/Howth YC) 8pts, 3 J Tingle/C Guilfoyle (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 14pts

29er Class after 7 races inc 1 discard:

1 J Hawkins/C Thomas (GBR/Restronguet SC) 9pts, 2 T Rippey/A Munro (NZL/Tauranga YC) 10pts, 3 O Bowerman/M Peach (GBR/Hayling Island SC) 14pts,

Topper Class after 5 races inc 1 discard:

1 L Glynn (IRL/Ballyholme YC) 5pts, 2 N Hemeryck (IRL/National YC) 17pts, 3 W Thomas (GBR/Teifi BC) 17pts,

Laser 4.7 Class after 5 races inc 1 discard:

1 M Whitfield (GBR/Penarth YC/CBYC) 6pts, 2 R Auger (FRA/CN Claouey) 13pts, 3 M Hassett (IRL/Baltimore SC) 19pts

Optimist classes did not race today, standings as per yesterday

Day 2 Report - April 13 2012

Success on Friday 13th was not about luck but about consistency in the very light and variable winds which, once coupled with the strong tidal flow, made for a second mentally taxing day of racing at the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals, raced on Dublin Bay from Dun Laoghaire.

For the very top tier Irish sailors among the armada of 285 competing boats in the six different classes, selection for July’s Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships - to be hosted on these same waters -  may be the ultimate goal from this four day championships which finishes on Sunday, but today most were keeping thoughts of rivalries and outcomes at the very back of their minds.

Clean starts were essential in order to make the best of the gains which were often to be found on the left of the first legs, but the brisk tides were dimension which was always important, as was staying in the best of the wind pressure which rarely topped 6 or 7 knots.

They may both be taking each race step by step, one at a time but in the Laser Radial Men’s Class, the selection rivalry between National YC’s local ace Finn Lynch and Strangford Lough’s Robbie Gilmore is one of the tightest and most engaging of the Championship so far.

After today’s three races, Lynch still holds the upper hand by a matter of just three points but he had to stage a comeback in the third contest today to scrape a ninth which is currently his discard score.

Gilmore also posted three top ten finishes – a 5,8,9 to Lynch’s 3,8,9 - in the 68 boat international fleet to lie second overall as both of the Irish sailors head New Zealand’s third placed Andrew McKennzie who is already selected for the worlds.

“ I had a good day, three top 10’s a 3,8,9 and so I am happy enough with that.” Commented Lynch, “ I could have done better. I think a clear start – it was different in every race – was essential, I had two good starts but in the third race I had to play catch up. I was happy with my speed though. It has all been pretty good so far allround.”

So far at this regatta it has seemed two cornered duel between the Irish Sailing Association Academy’s Laser Radial duo, but Lynch cautions that such thoughts are not a concern at this stage:

“ The rivaly is not just with Robbie, there are a bunch of good Irish guys but so I am not thinking about anyone in particular, maybe if we get to the last race. But I am not thinking anything about selection or rivalries just now. “ “ We are on the same squad. We are close but we have been sailing together for a lot of years, in Toppers before this, so it is a good rivalry.”

“ I really have not thought too much about the Worlds being here to be honest, it is race by race day by day for me.” Concludes Lynch.

Gilmore summarised:

“It was tough out there, very tough on the mind, you having to think a lot with a very light breeze and very strong current which added another variable to it all. I am just happy that I was consistent enough, I had a fifth and ninth and an eighth.

It is all good fun, we have trained all winter together and are pretty equal. I don’t mind the conditions. I would rather have a little more breeze than today.

In both of the first two races the left side of the course seemed to pay a lot on the first beat and I missed out on that. But on the second race I made a good comeback on the second beat and then came back to ninth.

Such consistency appeared more elusive in the 420 Class where the French duo Guillaume Pirouelle and Valentin Saipan lead the Chilean duo Nadja Horwitz and Franisca Fuentes  after a 3,6,1 today.

Even on their home waters the Irish pairings at times struggled to keep their scores all in single figures today. Howth YC duo Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove returned to shore long faced after a disappointing 18th in their third race, even believing they would no longer be top of the Irish nationals fleet, but they retain that honour by a single point.

“ We really did not have a good day.” Reported helm Dickson, “We went the wrong way a couple of times. In every race the left paid and a couple of times we did not go far enough left. If you wanted to be in the top three in each race then you really had to invest a lot in the left. We had a bad last race but are still in the hunt.”

The French leaders admit they are more used to finding light wind speeds in the choppy conditions of their native English Channel or ‘Le Manche’ off their native le Havre.

“ It was not easy the wind was shifty and irregular, and usually the pressure was coming in from the left of the course.” Said Pirouelle, “It was complicated tactically and so making a good start was essential. But we had good speed and that let us mostly do what we wanted tactically. We got a second, sixth and first. It is more choppy at home off Le Havre. It will be interesting here in July I am not sure that this weather is representative of what we will see, but it is interesting to learn the current.”

In the Laser 4.7 Class, Welsh helm Matt Whitfield has eked out a a seven points lead with Baltimore’s Mark Hassett the top Irish sailor in third after four races.

A perfect scoreline of three wins from three starts in the RS Feva’s sees Conor Totterdell and Conor Maguire from the host clubs now with a comfortable overall lead while in the Topper fleet it is Liam Glynn of Ballyholme YC who leads by a single point after four races from National YC’s Nicole Hemeryck.

The big Optimist fleet is split between Championship and Trials fleets. Peter Fagan of the National YC has a three points margin over the pursuing Kinsale duo of Michael O’Suilleabhain on 8pts and Michael Carroll on 9pts. The Trials are being lead by Royal Cork’s Douglas Elmes who has won two of their three races.

ISA Mitsubishi National Youth Championships DAY TWO RESULTS:

420 Class after 4 races inc 1 discard:

1 G Piroulle/V Sipan (FRA, SNPH) 11pts, 2 N Horowitz/F Fuentes (CHI) 11pts, 3 J Poret/L Chevet (FRA, SNPH) 12pts. Irish: 8th: R Dickson/S Waddilove (Howth YC) 32pts, 10th P Crosbie/G Roberts (Royal Cork YC) 33pts, 11th A Hyland/B Staunton (Royal St. George YC) 35pts.

Laser Radial after 4 races inc 1 discard:

1 F Lynch (IRL, National YC) 19pts, 2 R Gilmore (IRL, Strangford Lough YC) 22pts, 3 A McKenzie (NZL, Tamkai YC) 23pts, 4 C O’Regan (IRL, Kinsale YC) 26pts, 5 S Guilfoyle (IRL, Royal Cork YC) 27pts.

29er Class after 5 races inc 1 discard:

1 T Rippey/A Munro (NZL/Tauranga YC) 6pts, 2 J Hawkins/C Thomas (GBR, Restronguet SC) 7pts, 3 O Bowerman/M Peach (GBR/Hayling Island SC) 9pts.

Laser 4.7 Class after 3 races:

1 M Whitfield (GBR/Penarth YC) 8pts, 2 R Auger (FRA/CN Claouey) 15pts, 3 M Hassett (Baltimore YC) 18pts

RS Feva Class after 3 races:

1 C Totterdell/C Maguire (IRL/Royal St George YC, National YC) 3pts, 2 N Henry/I Cahill (IRL/Royal St George YC) 8pts, 3 D Johnston/L Flynn-Byrne (IRL/Howth YC) 11pts.

Topper Class after 3 races:

1 L Glynn (IRL/Ballyholme YC) 7pts, 2 N Hemeryck (IRL/National YC) 8pts, 3 D Power (IRL/Waterford Harbour SC) 11pts

Optimist Championship Class after 3 races:

1 P Fagan (IRL/National YC) 5pts, 2 M O’Suillebhain (IRL/Kinsale YC) 8pts, 3 M Carroll (IRL/Kinsale YC) 9pts

Optimst Trials, after 3 races:

1 D Elmes (IRL/Royal Cork YC, Waterford Harbour SC) 8pts, 2 R Coumane (IRL/Royal Cork YC/Kinsale YC) 14pts, 3 H Durcan (IRL/Royal Cork YC) 17pts.

Day 1 Report - April 12 2012

Light and changeable winds got the tenth, four-day ISA Mitsubishi National Youth Championship 2012 off to a mixed start on Dublin Bay today with a fleet of 102 boats across three classes (Laser Radial, 420 and 29s).
283 boats across the full seven classes competing will be out in the Bay from tomorrow representing the very best in Irish youth sailing. The ‘Nationals’ is primarily a Test Event for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship scheduled to take place also in Dublin Bay in July 2012 and the Irish team for the Championship will be announced on the closing day of the Nationals (Sunday 15th April.)

The Laser Radial, the chosen class used for the single handed boys and girls, follows a one-design concept where all boats are identical and where sailors skills are scrutinised above all else. In the boys, amongst those vying for a place on the Irish team at the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds are ISA Academy members Robbie Gilmore, Finn Lynch and Seafra Guilfoyle and in the girls, Sophie Murphy and Sian Kneafsey are fighting for the single spot. Today Finn Lynch from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire took second place and Robbie Gilmore from Strangford Yacht Club, Down, took third.

The 420s is the double handed boat for all the boys and girls teams and teamwork and communications are of prime importance in this class. Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove will fight it out against Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts for the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Worlds place, which history tells us has been an indicator of future Olympic success. Today Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Howth YC took third place in this highly competitive class.

The 29er is a lightweight high performance skiff designed for two people which provides the stepping stone for the high octane 49er Olympic class and where the crew can be mixed. At this year’s Youth Nationals we have representation from Great Britain and New Zealand in the small fleet where quality is high. Amongst the three 29er’s competing today,  Jack Hawkins and Christopher Thomas representing GBR from Restronguet SC in Falmouth took line honours with Owen Bowerman and Morgan Peach from Hayling Island SC coming in second.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day One Results:
Laser Radial
1st - Pedro Roque (Clube Naval de Portimo; POR) 2nd - Finn Lynch (National YC; IRL)  3rd- Robbie Gilmore (Strangford Lough YC; GBR)

420s
1st – Jennifer Poret/Louise Chevet (SNPH; FRA) 2nd - Guillaume Pirouellel/Valentine Sipan (SNPH; FRA) 3rd - Robert Dickson/Sean Waddilove (HYC; IRL)

29ers
1st - Jack Hawkins/ Christopher Thomas (Restronguet SC; GBR) 2nd – Owen Bowerman/ Morgan Peach (Hayling Yacht Club; GBR) 3rd – Trent Rippey/ Alex Munroe (Tauranga YC; NZL)

Watch Online All Weekend - April 11 2012

We have a dedicated team of 12 twitterers - or "twits" as we like to call them - who will be updating us live about everything happening on the water all this weekend! So, whether you're at your desk, on your phone, or in the NYC or RSGYC Bars, you can enjoy full updates about all the action afloat and be the first to hear the Race Results.

Live Updates are available....

The Twitter Hashtag for this event is #ISAYouthNats.

Please note: All Results posted to Twitter are provisional.

Enjoy the virtual Regatta at SailX.com - April 10 2012

As over 400 sailors come together to compete in Dun Laoghaire this weekend, you are invited to join in the sailing experience online at SailX.com!

SAILX.COM is an Internet environment for Sailing. It was primarily created by active sailors, racers, as a trainning tool, something to help us to a better understanding of racing tactics and to provide a frame where discuss about rules.

Today it is a service for users,  it is a community (a social network in some sense) and  also an interactive game. We try to keep the same goal we had at the beginning and make it also fun and useful.

SailX will run daily online races at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 22:30. There will be subscription prizes for best 5 sailors!

All Sailors competing this weekend will have the opportunity to try out the game in the Clubs after sailing! So watch out for the SailX Screen in the RSGYC on Thursday, RIYC on Friday and Saturday, and back in the RSGYC on Sunday.

For more information please visit http://www.sailx.com.

2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships - February 08 2012

Calling Irish Youth Sailors.

Once again in 2012, the Royal Yachting Association is inviting selected MNA’s to send small international teams to compete at the RYA Volvo UK Youth Nationals Championships at Pwllheli. The event concludes on Friday the 6th of April and is just a short drive from Holyhead where you can get the ferry to Ireland direct back to the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals the following week.

  • World Class Event Organisation
  • Excellent Competition and Venue
  • Free Entry for a maximum of 2 boats/boards per class from invited MNA's
  • Excellent travel links
  • Classes: 29er, 420, Laser STD, Laser Radial, RS:X 8.5m, Spitfire Catamaran
  • Event Organisers will endeavour to assist with charter equipment as well as coach boats for those travelling from further afield.  Further details on request.

To express an interest and discuss in more detail please contact Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager (GBR Team Leader) on:
(0044)7909 994639 or duncan.truswell@rya.org.uk

All Systems go for ISA Mitsubishi Youth National Championships 2012 - January 04 2012

•400 sailors to compete for opportunity to represent Ireland internationally in 2012
• Test event for organisers of the ISAF Youth World Championships to be held in Dun Laoghaire 12-21 July 2012
• Youth teams from Great Britain, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Canada expected to travel to the ISA Mitsubishi Nationals in preparation for the ISAF Worlds in July

In April (12th-15th) over 400 sailors will compete in Dublin Bay in seven different classes (Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, 420, Feva, Topper, 29er and Optimist). For youth sailors, this event is the most important in the annual calendar as it is the decider for the top Irish sailors to compete internationally during 2012 and is the pathway for future Olympic sailors.  Not only will the ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals be an important event for youth sailors it is also a major milestone for the organisers of the ISAF Youth Worlds 2012 as it offers them the opportunity to finalise the logistics of managing such a large event incorporating three clubs, three race courses and hundreds of volunteers.

‘We are in the final planning stage for the ISAF Youth Worlds so it is a great opportunity for the organising committee and the hundreds of committed volunteers to test drive systems during the ISA Mitsubishi  Youth Nationals just three months in advance of the youth worlds which is the considered the youth Olympics in the sailing world’ stated Event Chairman Brian Craig. In excess of 350 sailors and windsurfing champions from over 60 nations will participate in July 2012. The granting of this prestigious sailing event to Ireland is a major boost to the sport and secures Ireland’s position as an ideal location for hosting world class sailing events. It also establishes Dun Laoghaire as one of the prime major racing locations in the world, capable of running multiple classes and courses to the highest international standard. ‘The ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals is a significant event on the racing calendar. It involves young sailors from all of the ‘Olympic Pathway’ classes, some of whom are competing for places on the team that will represent Ireland in the ISAF Youth Worlds which will be held in Ireland for the first time in July. The ISA Mitsubishi Motors Nationals are even more important for young Irish sailors this year as they will be sailing alongside some of the best youth teams in the world preparing for July’ commented ISA Chief Executive Harry Hermon.

Mitsubishi Motors have been a proud supporter of junior sailing in Ireland for the last 8 years. In recent years Ireland has had successes at youth level with winner of the girls Laser World Championships, a top 10 at the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds and wins at the British National Optimist Championships. Mitsubishi Motors have played an important role in these successes by sponsoring the Youth Nationals.
Four hundred sailors from around the country are expected to compete for national youth and junior pathway titles and the Mitsubishi coaching grant during the event. As this will be a test event for the ISAF Youth Worlds, teams from other countries such as Great Britain, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Canada have expressed an interest in participating. It is recommended that sailors register early for this event at http://www.dublinbay2012.com

For further information please contact:

Rachel Solon
ISA Communications Officer
Rachel@sailing.ie
0035 87 6245326

NZL and GBR Squads confirmed to participate at ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals 2012 - November 21 2011

Next year's ISA Mitsubishi Youth Nationals are shaping up to be a very special event.  The event is being used as a test event for the ISAF Youth Worlds which will take place from 12-21 July next. Squads from GBR and New Zealand already confirmed and other countries expected with interest also received from Japan, Mexico and Portugal, who also will be travelling here for the ISAF Youth Worlds next July.

Scheduled for the week following the UK Youth Nationals in Pwllheli it is the ideal opportunity for overseas teams to compete in the ISAF Youth Worlds on Dublin Bay. Notice of Race & Early Bird Online Entry and Event Schedule are now available under the Racing Section