Irish Optimists Make the Grade at British and German National Championships

4th August 2011

Following on from the success of the IODAI European team in Portugal last month where Royal Cork's Peter McCann finished in 7th place and Tralee's Sophie Brown had an overall win in the Girls section of the French Nationals, Irish Optimist sailors continue to show promise at regattas this week.

At the British Nationals in Abersoch in the Seniors u 15 Sean Donnelly from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire has recovered from his Black Flag Disqualification in race 2 to 17th. Kinsale's 13year old Clíodhna Ni Shilleabhain having shown her potential in the light and shifty conditions on day 1 where she was lying in second after 2 races has suffered in yesterday's windier and more tidal conditions to fall to 23rd overnight.

In the Juniors Niamh Henry from the RstGYC is showing here experience by leading the Irish sailors in 13th position after seven solid races in the all in the top 10. With new guys Ewan McMahon of Howth Yacht Club and Colin O'Sullivan (Malahide) are showing that they are learning and earning.

in the Regatta Fleet Grace O'Beirne is leading the Irish Challenge in 12th place.

At the German Optimist Nationals, the results are slow to update online.

Fate seemed to have been conspiring against the Irish yesterday because Sean Wadillove from Skerries was won his second race yesterday only to be disqualified because of a technical infringement.

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