#ISAYOUTHNATS – Although there is a Portuguese leader of the Irish Laser Radial class championships, Dun Laoghaire's Finn Lynch is only three points adrift of Pedro Roque after the first two races in light airs of the Mitsubishi Irish Youth National Championships off Dun Laoghaire today.
The event, attended by ten countries, is a test event for July's ISAF Four Star Pizza Youth World Championships to be staged in Dun Laoghaire. Seven classes of boat and 380 youth sailors are competing in a combined fleet of nearly 300 boats.
Strangford Lough's Robbie Gilmore is one behind Lynch in third on nine points and Kinsale's Colm O'Regan is fifth in the 67-boat fleet.
Hotly tipped for the Irish team at the youth worlds in the Laser radial class Sophie Murphy finished the day 12th and first girl five places clear of selection rival Sian Kneafsey of the National Yacht Club.
French female teams top the 420 leader board in first and second places but Ireland's Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Howth are third after two races in the 26-boat fleet.
So far there are no results available this evening for the Toppers, Laser 4.7s and Fevas or Optimist fleets.
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)
Results here.
Additional reporting from organisers:
(Thursday 12th April 2011 @ 1900 hrs) 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 100 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.
