Displaying items by tag: Paris Olympics

24th April 2024

Eve McMahon Stays in Top Ten Overall After Day Three of French Olympic Week at Hyères

There were testing conditions on the third day of French Olympic Week at Hyères on the Cote D'Azur, France but Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon of Howth Yacht Club managed to stay in the top ten, now lying eighth overall after five races sailed in the ILCA 6 class.

ILCA 7

Ewan McMahon is lying 15th in the men's single-person dinghy (ILCA7 class) dropping back from eight overall on Tuesday. Rio 2016 veteran Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club), who is confirmed as the Irish Paris 2024 rep, is lying 34th.

Howth's Eve McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères after five races sailed Photo: Sailing Energy

49er Trial

In the second of the Irish selection trials for Paris 2024, Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) have dropped back from eighth to 13th after seven races sailed. The rival Irish crew of Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) are 23rd.

Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) (IRL 11) are lying 23rd at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing Energy

Organisers of the annual French Olympic Week (SOF) are running two regattas concurrently, double the usual number of events with the 'Last Chance Regatta' to decide the 50 remaining nation places for Paris 2024 alongside the usual World Cup of Sailing series.

Results here

Published in Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing

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Three Howth Yacht Club Boats in Top Ten Overall After Day Two of French Olympic Week at Hyères

Howth Yacht Club boats have moved into the top ten of their respective events on the second day of French Olympic Week at Hyères on the Cote D'Azur, France, one of the last big regattas before the Olympic Games itself.

Eve McMahon Fifth

Both McMahon siblings from Howth Yacht Club fared well with Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon now in fifth overall after her three opening races - Monday's racing for her women's single-person dinghy event (ILCA6 class) was cancelled due to difficult wind conditions.

"It's only the first day, but so far, it's very good, though it was very tricky - there's some wild results on the sheet, so I'm happy to keep my results low," said Eve McMahon. "I've done my time fighting at the back of the fleet and now I feel it's my time to be fighting at the front of the fleet - and I'm enjoying every single minute of it!"

Ewan McMahon Eighth

Her older brother Ewan had a mixed day in the men's single-person dinghy (ILCA7 class) with a 26th, which he was able to use the event discard to drop, so he counts Monday's ninth place, followed by a 13th for the second race of today.

Howth's Ewan McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères with six more races scheduled Photo: Sailing Energy

"It's going well. I'm just keeping everything really simple, especially as it's so shifty out there with the breeze coming off the land," said Ewan McMahon. In a 70-boat fleet with a lot of guys to consider, executing the start is about 70 percent of the race, and then you switch your focus to the next leg ahead of you."

He now lies eighth overall in his event with six more races scheduled for the coming days.

Finn Lynch looking forward to Mistral conditions

Although Eve McMahon is confirmed as the nominee for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ewan McMahon lost out in the selection trials to Rio 2016 veteran Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club).

However, the Carlow sailor has been unable to find form so far this week after 55th and 46th places today saw him drop to 49th place overall in the 69-boat men's single-person dinghy event (ILCA7 class).

"I had a bad day on the water but I think we'll have three races tomorrow," said Lynch after racing ended. "We're expecting strong Mistral (wind) conditions so I'm looking forward to that.

"My speed is okay but with 70 boats on the starting line it’s all about strategy."

49er Trial

Meanwhile, Ireland has two boats contesting a selection trials to decide on the Team Ireland place for the Men's skiff event (49er class) with French Olympic Week the second of three events.

Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) competing at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing Energy

Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) had a solid day, with two top-ten places moving them into eighth overall in their event. Having held second place for most of the second race of the day, the Dublin pair were unlucky to miss a windshift and dropped back to eighth place.

"With two top tens from two races we're pretty happy," said Dickson after racing. "Some of the (training) work since Lanzarote (world championships) has paid off."

However, their rival Irish crew of Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) were unlucky in their second race of the day when the mainsail halyard broke and they scored maximum points.

The Cork pair have dropped to 24th place in the 30-boat fleet, though with potentially nine more races before Saturday's medal race final, they have scope to regain a foothold in the series.

Results here

Published in Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing

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Team Ireland's Bespoke Opening Ceremony Wear Unveiled for the Paris Olympics

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has officially unveiled the bespoke Opening Ceremony wear for Team Ireland at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Designed by Laura Weber, a renowned Irish designer based in New York, the uniform is a perfect blend of traditional and modern styles, in line with the 100th anniversary of Team Ireland's participation in the Olympics.

Laura Weber, the founder of LW Pearl, is known for her innovative and luxurious embellishments and has created a unique uniform for the Irish Olympic team. The ensemble consists of two blazers for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a t-shirt, shoes, and trousers options. Each suit incorporates national emblems and embellishments that are specifically designed to represent the journey of Irish athletes.

Speaking about the design, Weber said, "It's an honour to design the Team Ireland Opening Ceremony wear, especially in this landmark year. I wanted to create something that reflects the rich history of Irish sport while also capturing the energy and excitement of the modern games."

The Irish Olympic team will don the bespoke uniform during the Opening Ceremony on July 26 at the Stade de France in Paris. The ceremony will mark the beginning of the 32nd Summer Olympics, and the Irish team will be among the 206 nations competing in the games.

Published in Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing

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Paris Olympics

About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil