Søren Laugesen

My name is Søren Laugesen and I am 32 years old. I have been sailing since I was born.

I started out sailing optis, and after I moved into Europes and Lasers. I have also been racing a great number of keelboat classes and Matchrace.

I started coaching when I was 15, and have been doing this full time the last 10 years. I have been a National Team coach in both Denmark and in the States, and now I am working a lot with a group of Irish sailors. During all the years I have been at more than 50 championships either as a sailor or as a coach.

I am educated as school teacher followed with a Master degree in coaching from the International Training Academy.

Grit Müller.

I come from Hamburg, Germany. I have been working as a sailing coach, since I was 15 years old. After the university I got a job in one of the biggest German sailing clubs. We have about 120 kids sailing in optimist an about 70 young people in the next classes (laser, 420, Europe, 29er, J24…).

In 1998 I coached my first World Championship for the German optimist association. I took part in a lot of international clinics (Hyeres, Pula, Palamos…) and events (Worlds, European championships, North Americans). My biggest success was the first title “European champion” for a German girl in 2008 and the double title (boys and girls) one year later in Slovenia 2009.

What I´m doing, when I´m not coaching? Sailing…..

I´m happy to take part in your clinic and I´m sure, we will have a great time together.

Lola Resano

Comes from Argentina/Spain. She started sailing Optimist at age 8 and then progressed into Cadet and 470. She has been coaching advanced racing teams in Barcelona, Spain, for the past 7 years and is currently head coach at CM Altafulla. Last year she was appointed Optimist coach for the Catalan Sailing Federation at the Spanish Nationals. Her international experience includes Malta, Ireland, and hosting a yearly clinic with Optisailor's Manny Resano since 2006. She holds a BA in English Studies and is working on a PhD, and is currently associate professor at the University of Barcelona.

Mathias Laugesen

I am at 22 year old Business- and Psychology student, about to finish my bachelor-degree with main emphasis on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, at the University of Aarhus. I started sailing in 96 and I have specialized my coaching into singlehanded dinghies as Optimists and Lasers which has let to my current position as one of the national coaches of "Optimist Sailing Team Denmark" and head coach at one of the larger Danish yacht clubs (Egå Sejlklub). Furthermore I worked with a Danish private team named Team OptiTop last season. 

I have also been teaching in Unites States for several summers, respectively in Detroit (Bayview Yacht Club) in 2007, in Texas (Team Gust) in 2008, and Wisconsin (private) in 2009. The summer of 2010 I spent with the Danish National Optimist Team in Finland. I have coached a couple of years at the Garda Meeting and I will also be spending my 2011 easter in Italy. In addition to coaching, I have a small consulting company founded on lectures concerning goalsetting, preparation, content- and processmotivation theories in a sailing relevant environment. 

I have sailing instructor certifications from Denmark and US Sailing. (level 1 & 2) I’m also certified in CPR and First Aid. 

Rachel Guy

I have sailed optimists from the age of 6, progressing on to sailing Mirrors, Toppers, Firefly and Laser Radial. .  I have raced in national and international events, in both individual and team racing. In the optimist class I have raced in European Championships, Croatia, 2003 and World Championships, Ecuador, 2004.   I qualified as a sailing instructor in 2005.  I have instructed on ISA course, from Level 1 to Level 4, for the last 4 Summers in various clubs such as RCYC, LDYC, NYC,  RStGYC and BSS.  I have coached club optimists at IODAI regional events in Junior & Senior Fleets for the last number of years.  I coached the Irish Optimist Juniors at British Nationals, Weymouth, England 2010.  I am currently a 3rd year student in DIT and captain of this years Sailing Club.

Katie Malcolm

I have sailed and raced  RS Feva, Laser 4.7 and Laser SB3.  I have raced in national and international events.  Travelling to the Laser Worlds in South Africa in 2007. In 2008 I  was ranked 5^th overall and 1^st girl in Laser 4.7.  I have been instructing sailing since 2007  in both HYC and NYC.  I was  IODAI Regatta fleet Head Coach  in 2010.   In July 2010 I was Assistant Coach to the ISA French open optimist team. .  I am currently a third year Children’s and General Nursing student in Trinity College Dublin.

Diana Kissane

From 2002 to 2007 I sailed in the Optimist Dinghy class. In the latter part of 2007, I moved up to the 420 class and have been mainly sailing this boat since then. I have also competed in a number of Laser 4.7 events.  I also have extensive experience competing abroad every year since, 2004 in European and World championships and a range of other events.  I was placed 16^th in the European Optimist Championships in 2005 and was 3^rd Girl in the Palma City Trophy Event in 2006 with an entry of over 300 boats. I have instructed and coached for the last three Summers in various clubs such as NYC, RIYC, HYC and SDC.  I am a coach with the OPW group of 2010/2011.

David White

I have sailed and competed in Optimist, Laser, Mirror, Mermaid and Topaz.  I have instructed and coached since 2005 in various clubs such as MYC, LDYC, HYC and RstGYC.  I was IODAI National Regatta Fleet Coach in 2006 and Head Coach in 2007. I have been involved with coaching the Leinster Squad since 2007 and was Head Coach in 2008 & 2009.  Most recently I am a coach with the OPG group, Lead Optimist coach with SMV and Elite Squadron Head Coach.  I am currently a student in TCD and captain of this years’ Sailing Club.

David Kenefick

I am from a sailing family. I first started sailing at the age of three in the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC). I now have over 35,000 sea miles in different locations around the world.  In 2005 I qualified to represent Ireland in the Optimist Worlds in Eagadin St.moritz Switzerland.  I was 5^th in the ISA Youth trials during Easter 2009 in the Laser Radial Class. Following the 2009 Volvo Ocean Race I was part of a crew of seven who delivered the Green Dragon from Stockholm to Dublin. I sail a 49er and coach the opys and lasers at RCYC.  I have also coached KYC opys in the 2008 nationals

Aidan McClafferty

I started sailing in optimists aged 11, I qualified for IODAI Junior Squad 2002.  I moved to Laser 4.7 in 2003 finshing 6th in the Nationals and was ranked first Laser 4.7 for the sailing season 2004.  Finished 2nd U15 a 4.7 World Championships in Lake Garda, 2004. I moved to Laser Radial in 2005 and got selected for the ISA Youth Academy. I was ranked first Junior for 2006 season. At Radial European Championships in Riccione, 2006 I finished 3rd U17.  I was ranked 1st overall Radial for 2007 season winning the Munster, Connaught and National Championships.
I was given the position captain of Laser Youth Academy from 2007-2009.  At Laser Radial World Senior Championships, Japan, 2009 I finished 9th.  I began Match Racing this year finishing 5th at the National Championships in Kinsale. Winner of IUSA Eastern Team Racing Championships 2009, Western Team Racing Championships 2008 and 2010.

I have coached the Laser Munster Squad over the past two seasons. I have coached lasers also in Kinsale, Dungarvan, Malahide and skerries. I have coached oppies in Kinsale, RCYC, RStGYC, and Malahide. I was head coach for the regatta fleet at the Schull camp last year. I was also head coach for the Irish contingent at the British Nationals this year.

Gerbil Owens

I am currently sailing  470’s and  I have competed in the last two Olympic in Athens and Beijing representing Ireland.  Double Olympic race winner Beijing (470Class)

Sean Collins

I have sailed Optimist from a young age.  I have raced in national and international events, in both individual and team racing. I competed in the International Optimist event in Sweden in 2004 and was best Irish boy in that event. Ranked 4^th Irish optimist sailor in 2004.  I moved to 420’s.  I was a member of  the international 420 Irish Sailing Team in 2006. Competed in the French Nationals, The Open & Ladies' World Championships in Gran Canaria, Spain and The Junior European Championships in Tavira, Portugal.  I have been instructing since 2006 and have coached in SSC, the Leinster squad out of Malahide, IODAI Schull Clinic last year and spent last summer coaching in Martha’s Vineyard, USA.   I have instructed people in various different classes of boats from single-handed to double-handed dinghies (Lasers, Laser II’s, Mirrors, Fireballs, 420’s, Optimists and Topaz’s).   Currently I participate in college team racing for Dublin City University where I have just completed my second year of study for a Degree in Sport Science and Health.