Irish championship sailing at Kinsale

Kinsale Yacht club is busily preparing for the Volvo/Davy Irish Optimist Championships, which get under way next Tuesday, July 31st, and runs through to Saturday.

It’s the first of two major sailing events to be held at the club over the summer and autumn, with the Brewin Dolphin Dragon Gold Cup taking place in September.

Next week’s Optimist Nationals will attract almost 200 sailors aged between 8 and 15 years, with team entries from the UK and India, and individuals from France, Hong Kong and the US.

The 12-race series, which begins on Tuesday, after an opening ceremony at Charles Fort on Monday July 30th, will provide top class sailing over the five days.

A highly competitive fleet will compete for the title of National and Open Champion and the foreign entrants can be expected to be amongst the leading contenders, with Max Clapp from the UK returning in a bid to add the senior title to the Junior Open title he won last year.

Irish eyes will be on our International squad who are returning from the European and World Championships, with Douglas Elmes and Harry Whitaker from RCYC among the serious contenders, while there are strong expectations too for local sailors Scott Levie and Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain returning from a fine 8th place at the French Nationals.