Lough Derg Yacht Club hosted the 2021 Optimist National Championships over 4 days from August 18th – 22nd, and the event, though scaled back due to COVID 19 restrictions saw 134 sailors compete across 3 fleets. Light winds prevailed and in true Irish weather there were gusts, squalls – all the conditions to test the sailors.
Despite the limited training opportunities over the past 18 months, the standard of sailing was high and an energetic and competitive spirit prevailed. Main fleet sailors sailed 11 races over the 4 days, with 2 discards, and the regatta fleet sailed 7, with one discard.
The 2021 Optimist National Champion is 13 year old Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell, RStGYC who won the Junior National Championship in 2020, congratulations Caoilinn, and the 2021 Junior National Champion is Andrew O’Neill, RCYC. 10 year old Patrick Fagan from Malahide Yacht Club took first prize in the Regatta Fleet.
The National Yacht Club was represented by Ava Ennis in the senior main fleet, who despite a 2nd, two 4th places and a 5th finished 9th overall, and Theo Madigan. There were 4 NYC competitors In the junior main fleet, James Gorman, Jamie Kirrane, Jonathan Dempsey, and Louise Hanley who won 1st place in race 4, and finished 12th overall – a great performance for only her 2nd event, well done Louise.
Regatta fleet was represented by Max Neary in 8th, Louis Tricket and Amelia Chapman.
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