Ex-Oppie sailor Scott Flanigan qualifies for 2012 Olympics

Scott Flanigan, who has just turned 19, flew home at the weekend for a quick visit with his family, after he and Ger Owens qualified for the Olympics at the 470 Worlds in Spain last week.

During the weekend, Scott came to visit the MYC Optimist sailors who were going out training with their coaches, David Bailey and Colm Roche.

Scott briefs MYC Optimist sailors before their session on the water

Scott began sailing an Optimist in MYC, and then in HYC; he went on to sail a Laser before switching to the 420 and later the 470 class, and he has sailed in Worlds and European championships in a number of classes.

Scott has sailed all around Ireland – he sails in Malahide, Howth, the Royal St George, and Kinsale Yacht Clubs – and says that Ireland is a fantastic place to sail.

He told the sailors that he has been away nearly all year on the Olympic campaign, sailing almost every day. When he leaves after the weekend, he is heading to Holland and then it’s the last weeks of serious training before the Olympic sailing event in Weymouth.

Scott advised the sailors to never give up; although he did well in Optimists, he never achieved a green lifejacket, and that, plus a love of sailing, has spurred him on during the last few years since he came out of Oppies. He has taken every opportunity to sail, keeps a journal of all he has learnt, and says that being ready to take every sailing opportunity and trying to learn from every sailing event are what has brought him to this most exciting time of his sailing career.

He and Ger, who has already competed in two Olympic games in the 470 class, now join the 2012 Olympic sailing team of Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial),  James Espey (Laser), Peter O’Leary and David Burrows (Star) and Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern(49er).

We wish them all luck!