IRISH OPTIMIST TEAMS FOR 2025 ANNOUNCED

ALL GIRLS TEAM PREPARES TO TAKE ON THE WORLDS

The Irish Sailing Youth Nationals hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC) concluded recently after four days of racing on Dublin Bay, with fifty of Ireland’s most experienced Optimist sailors taking part under the watchful eye of Race Officer Ed Totterdell.

Sailors completed a full programme of ten races in a range of spring conditions, gaining valuable experience across the series. With places on the Irish Optimist Worlds, Europeans, and Development Team for 2025 up for grabs, the racing was close, with team spots shifting up to the final race.

Throughout Youth Nationals, the Donagh sisters — Maeve, Emily, and Lily (RSGYC/LDYC) — sailed consistently at the front of the fleet, joined closely by Charlotte Crosbie from RNIYC, who was close on their heels. After a consistent series, Patrick Fegan (RSGYC/MYC) earned a place on the Worlds Team but accepted a spot on the Europeans Team instead. This allowed Holly Cantwell (RSGYC) to step in to complete the World Team lineup, forming Ireland’s first-ever all-girls Optimist Worlds Team — a historic milestone for Irish youth sailing.

The Irish Optimist Worlds Team, coached by Søren Laugesen, will travel to Portorož, Slovenia, in June (26th June – 6th July) for the 2025 Optimist World Championships. Portorož, set on the Adriatic coast, is renowned for its excellent sailing conditions and will welcome young sailors from across the globe for a week of top-level competition.

THE IRISH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM 2025 (Portorož, Slovenia) IS MADE UP OF:

Maeve Donagh (RSGYC/LDYC)

Emily Donagh (RSGYC/LDYC)

Lily Donagh (RSGYC/LDYC)

Charlotte Crosbie (RNIYC)

Holly Cantwell (RSGYC)

Meanwhile, the European Championships Team, coached by Dara O’Shea, will take place in Izmir, Turkey, from the 28th May to 4th June. The 2025 Optimist European Championships will bring together the best young sailors from across the continent, offering another valuable step in their sailing development. Felix Crinion (RSGYC) finished 11th overall after an impressive regatta performance, but due to the Worlds Team reshuffle, missed out on a Europeans Team spot and will instead be competing with the Irish Development Team.

Maeve Donagh RSGYC finished in first place and will go to the Optimist Worlds in Slovenia.
Picture – Dan Clohessy

World Team 2025 for Slovenia – (L-R) Lily Donagh, Emily Donagh, Maeve Donagh, Holly Cantwell and Charlotte Crosbie – the first-ever all-girl Irish Worlds Team. They are one of only two all-girl teams at Worlds 2025, the other all-girl squad will be representing Hong Kong.
Picture – Laura Greer

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM 2025 (Izmir, Turkey) COMPRISES OF:

Patrick Fegan (RSGYC/MYC)

Dylan O’Sullivan (RCYC)

Kate Spain (RSGYC/HYC)

Dougie Venner (RCYC)

Isaac Vaughan (RCYC)

Annabelle Wilson (KYC)

Amy Whyte (RCYC/WHSC)

This weekend, the World and European teams met in the RSGYC with their coaches to train ahead of their upcoming international events.

The European Team 2025 attended a training weekend with Coach Dara O’Shea at the RSGYC this past weekend. Pictured L – R – Coach Dara O’Shea, Issac Vaughan, Dougie Venner, Kate Spain, Amy Whyte, Dylan O’Sullivan and Patrick Fegan. Fellow team member Annabelle Wilson is not pictured.
Picture Laura Greer

The Irish Development Team (IDT), coached by Adam Walsh, will travel to France to compete at the 2025 French Optimist Nationals in Brest from July 12th to 18th. Hosted by Brest Bretagne Nautisme, the event promises high-quality racing in a fantastic sailing venue. With a strong international fleet expected, it will offer an excellent opportunity for the team to gain experience and race at a high level against sailors from around the world.

THE IRISH DEVELOPMENT TEAM 2025 (French Optimist Nationals, Brest, France) IS MADE UP OF:

Felix Crinion (RSGYC)

Ollie Ryan (RSYGC/MYC/HYC)

Ethan Murphy (RCYC)

Aoife McElligott (RCYC)

Ruairí Slattery (RSGYC/LDYC)

Ava Molloy (RSGYC)

Philippa Arthurs (RSGYC/LDYC)

Huge thanks to Irish Sailing and the RSGYC for arranging such an incredible regatta. Race Officer Ed Totterdell and the team at RSGYC were praised for delivering a full series in varied conditions, allowing Ireland’s young sailors to demonstrate their progress and prepare for the upcoming international season.

Well done to all the sailors who took part in this year’s Youth Nationals. It offered competitive racing and a great chance to see friends from around Ireland and catch up with sailors who have moved on from the Optimist class to compete in ILCAS, 420s, 29ers and Toppers.

More information on the Irish Optimist Teams’ preparations and upcoming events will follow in the weeks ahead.