Day 2 Report ISA Youth Pathway National Championships

Almost 200 sailors across five classes and three races courses competed on the waters north of Ireland's Eye in Howth today for Day 2 of the ISA (Irish Sailing Association) Youth Pathway National Championships in excellent light and tactical conditions. Racing will continue for a further two days at what is the most prestigious annual youth sailing event on the domestic calendar with the sailors all vying for places on squads and teams for international events.

In the Laser Radial class it was Conor O'Beirne from the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire that took the first bullet of the day. He was followed by Cian Byrne in 2nd and Gary Fekkes in 3rd. Overnight leader Séafra Guilfoyle finished 5th but still maintained his overall lead by three points. Cork's Cian Byrne led the charge in the next race - and ultimately winning Race 5. With discards now coming in to play Cian moved up the leader board to tie on seven points with frontrunner Séafra Guilfoyle ahead of the final race of the day. Race 6 saw the top three sailors all finish outside of the top five but discarding what were then their highest results so far meant Séafra Guilfoyle is once again top of the leader board with Cian Byrne only two points behind.

Overnight leaders Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove from Howth continued their dominance this morning in the 420 class. They won the first race but Peter McCann & Arran Walsh were hot on their heels followed by Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhan & Jil Mc Ginley from Kinsale who came in 3rd. A discarded 4th in the second race for Dickson & Waddilove still left them five points clear of race winners McCann & Walsh. But not to be outshone by their male counterparts, cousins Lizzy McDowell & Cara McDowell from Malahide and Ni Shuilleabhan & Mc Ginley took 2nd and 3rd place respectively to significantly close the points gap with the three leading boys teams. The McDowell cousins continued to pile on the pressure in Race 6 taking the win and moving them up to 3rd overall. Dickson & Waddilove however are still the ones to beat followed by McCann & Walsh who remain in 2nd place at the mid-way mark in the regatta.

ISA 420 Coach Ross Killian commented "The light conditions saw three different winners in the 420 races. Peter and Arran favour these conditions and had a second place and a race win. Lizzy and Cara proved the girls were up to the challenge and held off strong competition from Robert and Sean to win Race 6. It'll be interesting tomorrow because the forecast is for much stronger winds."

In the Laser 4.7 class Nicole Hemeryck from Dun Laoghaire, who has only recently graduated from the junior Topper class to the Laser, was first to cross the finish line in Race 1. Rory Fekkes from Co. Down came in 2nd ahead of Johnny Durkan from Royal Cork. Hemeryck won Race 2 and was runner-up in Race 3 leaving her in pole position after their first day of racing. Four points behind her is Conor Sherriff who had a 4, 2, 2 and Johnny Durkan who, following his 3rd in Race 1, had two fourth place finishes.

Geoff Power, Heather Spain and Hugh Perrette are the top three respectively in the Topper class while Peter Fagan, James McCann and Daniel Hopkins make up the podium places after the first day of the Optimist Trials.

Racing is scheduled for all classes again tomorrow although the forecast is for more wind than today's 7 knots.