Tom Higgins wins Irish Optimist National & Open Senior Championship at Lough Derg.
Tom Higgins, Royal St George Yacht Club, winner of Irish Optimist National & Open Senior Champion 2016 @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
With the full series of 10 races sailed over the four day event Tom Higgins of the Royal St. George Yacht Club beat Harry Twomey of the Royal Cork Yacht Club by one point to be the Irish Optimist National & Open Senior Champion 2016. Tom’s win topped off a very successful summer which also saw Tom win the British Optimist Nationals in Scotland earlier in August. This is a great reflection on the high standard of Irish optimist sailing.
Justin Lucas @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Justin Lucas of Royal Cork Yacht Club won the title of Junior National Champion at the event. And Russell Bolger of the Royal St George Yacht Club won the Irish Optimist Open Regatta Fleet.
Russell Bolger @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Lough Derg Yacht Club was the venue for the 2016 Irish Optimist National & Open Championships. They took place from August 15th to 19th. General consensus was that it was one of the best National Championships ever with really great facilities and amazing work done by all the team from LDYC. Coupled with a great sailing area and good on the water organization. The great week of sailing was topped off when our sailors got a great lift from seeing Annalise winning her medal at the Olympics.
Start Line @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
It was wonderful to see many countries represented at the event including, Great Britain, Australia, Spain, Greece and Bermuda,
A special well done to all the really great sailors and parents who made this event so memorable.
All photos attached courtesy of Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
For full event gallery please follow this link: http://www.fotosail.com/2016oppienationals/
Brief Result Overview below
SENIOR FLEET – 66 Sailors
Senior Gold Fleet
Tom Higgins, Royal St George Yacht Club (1st Irish, 1st Overall)
Harry Twomey, Royal Cork Yacht Club (2nd Irish, 2nd Overall)
Harry Bell, Howth Yacht Club (3rd Irish, 5th Overall)
Leah Rickard, National Yacht Club (1st Overall Girl, 4th Irish, 6th Overall)
Senior Silver Fleet
Kitty Flanagan, Royal St George Yacht Club
Eoghan Turner, National Yacht Club
Kate Horgan, Royal Cork Yacht Club
JUNIOR FLEET – 91 Sailors
Junior Gold Fleet
Justin Lucas, Royal Cork Yacht Club (1st Irish, 4th Overall)
Luke Turvey, Howth Yacht Club (2nd Irish, 11th Overall)
Moss Simington, Royal St George Yacht Club (4th Irish, 15th Overall)
Alejandra Peleteiro, Kinsale Yacht Club (1st Irish Girl, 29th Overall)
Junior Silver Fleet
Johnny Flynn, Howth Yacht Club (3rd Irish, 13th Overall)
Thomas O’Neill, Howth Yacht Club
Eimer McMorrow-Moriarty, Tralee Bay Sailing Club
REGATTA FLEET – 50 Sailors
Russell Bolger, Royal St. George Yacht Club (1st Irish & 1st overall)
Jessica Riordan, Royal St. George Yacht Club (2nd Irish & 2nd overall)
Rocco Wright, Howth Yacht Club (3rd Irish & 4th overall)
Leah Rickard @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Harry Twomey @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Hundreds of competitors and supporters crowding the balconies at Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer during the opening ceremonies of the Irish Optimist National Championships.
Russell Bolger Royal St George Yacht Club @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Start Line @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Justin Lucas @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Regatta Fleet in action @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
On the water action @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
Regatta Fleet action @ Irish Nationals 2016. Photo by Gareth Craig (fotosail.com)
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