Irish Olympic & Paralympic Team Join World's Top Sailors On The French Riviera for World Cup

On Easter Monday the complete seven-member Irish Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team, Providence Team IRL, will join a staggering 1,100 sailors on the French Riviera for the final instalment of the ISAF Sailing World Cup 2013-2014 series. The regatta in Hyères will bring together the world's top Olympic and Paralympic class competitors campaigning for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The newest ISA Development pairing; Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey will also join the squad for what will be their second event of the season in the female 49erFX class. And the final Irish representative will be Dun Laoghaire Finn class sailor Ross Hamilton.

This is an important regatta for the team as they prepare for their individual European Championships in June and July before the focal event of the season - the Olympic qualifier in Spain in September. ISA Performance Director James O'Callaghan remarked "The guys were a little rusty at the first event in March after months of winter training and no competitive racing. We're optimistic we'll see improved performances across the board this week".

Meanwhile in Croatia another ISA Development sailor; Finn Lynch yesterday (16 April) moved one step closer to realising his Olympic dream. The 17 year old was competing at the Split Olympic Week in the hopes of earning the second allocated Laser Standard place for the Olympic qualifier in Santander this autumn. James Espey already has the first spot and with only one other place available, and strong competition from his fellow Development teammates, Finn needed to be on form. The U21 Laser Radial World Champion didn't disappoint. Finn finished 10th overall and as the first Irish boat he'll now join James Espey and the rest of Providence Team IRL in the hopes of qualifying the nation this September.