SAILING ISA CHAMPIONSHIPS: IN MIRROR image of last year's event, Nicholas O'Leary yesterday lifted the Helmsman's silver salver trophy at the conclusion of the ISA All-Ireland Sailing Championships. As in 2008, he left his father Anthony taking second place and this year the result was delivered on his home waters of Cork Harbour.

“It was a close event and I needed to do a bit of maths at the end to figure it out (that I had won),” O’Leary said last night.

Racing was difficult yesterday as light airs delayed racing and the programme had to be extended to facilitate three races for the senior event’s final.

In a break with tradition, the series started on Friday afternoon when the first flight of eight helms raced to decide the first three qualifiers for the final. There was considerable depth to this bunch as both O’Learys plus Howth-based New Zealander Ben Duncan of the Laser SB3 class qualified.

All three featured prominently in yesterday’s final.

“It was the group of death, really,” said O’Leary junior. “All the names – top yachties – were there – you just had to get through that. Luckily we had a few good scores.”

However, Nicholas confirmed his father, Anthony, was always his prime concern.

Yesterday’s final three races began with a straight repeat of Friday’s qualifier outcome with O’Leary junior, O’Leary senior and Duncan in a straight first, second, third. That result went on to be repeated in the final overall standings, though count-backs were needed to break the tied runner-up places.

“It was a relief after the last race as the conditions were so tricky,” said O’Leary junior. “There were just points in the difference between first and fourth places – pretty tight!”

Coming ashore, his father offered his congratulations but also warned it might not happen for a third year running.

“Next year will be an interesting event,” remarked the 2009 champion.

Runners-up were Paul McMahon of the Laser class, David Dwyer, the Irish and British IRC champion, and Tim Corcoran, the GP14 national champion.

Meanwhile, in the junior and girls’ championships, Mattie O’Dowd from the Royal St George YC and who qualified as a wildcard from his performance in the Eurocup in Denmark this year, won the overall junior title with five points to spare.

Diane Kissane, representing the Laser 4.7 class, placed sixth overall of the 16 sailors competing and as best female, collected the girls championship title.

Under-17 world champion Philip Doran was unable to compete due to an ankle injury and watched the racing from a RIB over the weekend.