Strong showing from Northern Irish sailors at ILCA Irish National Championships

Northern Irish sailors put together some strong performances at the ILCA Irish National Championships.

The event, which took place between 15 and 17 August at Ballyholme Yacht Club, featured 130 competitors, making it one of the largest Irish National Championships in years.

The NI Sailing Team was well represented across the ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 classes, even including several of the NI Sailing Team coaches taking part for fun and to gain bragging rights among the coaching team.

In the ILCA 4 class, East Antrim Boat Club’s George Doig finished as top NI Sailing Team sailor in 7^th overall after a consistent series. Elsewhere in the ILCA 4 class, Polly Robinson, Sally Nixon and Sophie Cairns finished as 7^th, 9^th and 10^th females respectively. This is particularly impressive as they normally compete in the RS Feva class but were able to race well in a different boat with different challenges.

In the ILCA 6 class, Daniel Palmer finished 2^nd overall and first Northern Irish sailor. Zoe Whitford completed a largely NI Sailing Team podium with a 2nd girl and 3^rd overall finish. Throughout the rest of the fleet there were strong performances from the NI Sailing Team, including a number of sailors who have now successfully transitioned from the ILCA 4 class.

In the ILCA 7 class, Tom Coulter finished as top Northern Irish boat in 4^th overall, putting in a solid series including 4 top 3 results. Elsewhere in the fleet, there was a battle for ‘fastest coach’ with Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chris Penney, finishing in 9^th overall, Performance Manager, Andrew Baker, finishing in 14^th and Racing Officer, Roger Craig, finishing in 19^th.

Despite missing the first day of racing due to gear failure, Roger still managed to win the silver fleet after a good final two days of racing.

ILCA 4

• George Doig- 7^th overall
• Polly Robinson- 7^th female (16^th overall)
• Sally Nixon- 9^th female (19^th overall)
• Sophie Cairns- 10^th female (22^nd overall)

ILCA 6

• Daniel Palmer- 2^nd overall
• Zoe Whitford- 2^nd female (3^rd overall)
• Bobby Driscoll- 5^th overall
• Cormac Byrne- 7^th overall
• Autumn Halliday- 8^th female (25^th overall)
• Emily Macafee- 9^th female (26^th overall)
• Freddie Doig- 38^th overall
• Hugo Boyd- 41^st overall
• Isabel Nixon- 17^th female (54^th overall)

ILCA 7

• Tom Coulter- 4^th overall
• Chris Penney- 9^th overall
• Andrew Baker- 14^th overall
• Roger Craig- 19^th overall

You can read the full results by clicking here here.

Such high quality ILCA racing taking place at Ballyholme Yacht Club bodes well for the John Minnis Youth Championships on the 13^th and 14^th of September being an excellent event.

The competition is Northern Ireland’s largest annual multi-class sailing competition and early bird entry for this competition closes on the 22^nd of August.

Save money and enter now by clicking here.