Irish Sailor Seafra Guilfoyle Has Won Silver At The ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships In Portugal

Séafra Guilfoyle from Crosshaven in Co, Cork has this afternoon won Silver at the 44th ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships in Portugal. The 18 year old member of the Irish Sailing Association's Academy competed against 56 other nations in the boys Laser Radial class to become the third ever Irish sailor to medal at this prestigious event.

Commenting on his triumph Séafra enthused "This morning I knew I had a medal secured so I had nothing to lose. My plan with my coach Russell was to sail as fast as I could and I went out there and won the race. I nearly had gold but in the last minute Joel moved up to finish fourth. I tried my best and I'm still thrilled with the result. I've the Laser Radial Worlds next week in Poland so hopefully I can medal there too".

Racing began on Monday (14th July) in Tavira and Séafra was quick to set the tone for the week, winning the first race and propelling himself to the top of the leader board. During the first three days of the championship Séafra remained untouched in pole position after six races. Then, dramatically, a 16th in yesterday's penultimate race saw the teenager slip to third for the first time. However Séafra had already generated enough of a points lead to guarantee himself a spot on the podium.

The final deciding race began this afternoon shortly before 1pm in 11 knots. Séafra, overnight leader Joel Rodriguez Perez from Spain and Ryan Lo from Singapore - separated by only seven points - were all in contention for Gold. A battle between the trio unfurled off the Algarve coast but it was Séafra who came out on top to win the final race. Rodriguez Perez finished fourth putting him four points clear of Guilfoyle to claim the Gold.

ISA Performance Director James O'Callaghan remarked "Séafra has sailed a fantastic event this week. To win the final race and claim Silver makes the achievement even sweeter. He has always been cool under pressure".

Séafra has become the second Irish sailor to medal in as many years, clear evidence that the Irish Sports Council's investment in the Irish Sailing Association is delivering a great return. In 2012 Séafra's former ISA Academy teammate Finn Lynch won Silver, prior to which only a Bronze had been claimed by duo Ciara Peelo and Laura Dillon in 1996. Finn is now sailing full-time and will compete at the Olympic qualifiers in September with the 2016 Rio Olympics firmly in his sights.

The ISAF Youth Worlds is widely recognised as being the equivalent of the youth sailing Olympics. Only one sailor is allowed to compete per nation in each class with Séafra having qualified to represent Ireland earlier this year. The majority of the world's top Olympic medallists finished off their youth careers with a medal at this event.

For full results see http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/results/index.php