An emphatic gold fleet performance kept Finn Lynch's Rio ambitions alive at this month's European Laser Championships in Gran Canaria but money – or the lack of it – may yet be the deciding factor for the 2012 youth world silver medallist who has issued an appeal for campaign support through his club.
The Co Carlow sailor scored two top-five results in the week-long event putting down a marker to Belfast's James Espey, who leads the Irish trial by a single point.
According to a National Yacht Club (NYC) statement, the campaign's financial situation is "now critical" as a fund-raiser did not reach its target. Campaign costs are estimated at €35,000.
Although the European championship was not part of the Irish selection trial, this month's massive Princesca Sofia trophy regatta in Palma de Mallorca is. In what is a three-way race for the single Olympic berth, the 19-year-old is a point behind the Royal Ulster man after the first test in Brazil last December. Baltimore's Fionn Lyden is five points off.
International carding
Lynch’s 28th overall result from Gran Canaria guarantees international carding from Sport Ireland and direct state funding of €12,000 but it won’t kick in until January 2017.
The final selection trial for the men’s Laser slot is the World Championships in Mexico in May.
A Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) team finished second overall on the Saronic Gulf last weekend at the 2K Team Racing Regatta hosted by the Yacht Club of Greece. The two-boat keelboat team, skippered by Fred Cudmore and George Kingston were runners up to Britain's Spinnaker Auspicious team. Seven teams from five countries competed.
In Miami, a Royal Cork trio were just pipped for an overall win in the Viper 640 EFG Winter Cup Regatta in Miami last weekend. Anthony and Robert O’Leary and Tom Durcan are racing this weekend as the sole Irish entry in the Bacardi Cup regatta. The Viper 640 sportsboat fleet is coming to Volvo Cork Week this July.
Schull Sailing Club will host an inaugural International Schools Team Racing Championships in West Cork next weekend. 16 teams are entered including Tabor Academy and Cape Cod Academy who are sending four teams from the USA. Eight teams are entered from Ireland, all from from Munster except one from the Royal St George YC in Dún Laoghaire.
RS400 National champions Alex Barry and Richie Leonard from Monkstown Bay Sailing Club (MBSC) could only manage third in the first outing of the season for Cork Harbour's growing 11-boat fleet last Saturday. Club mates John Downey and Sandy Rimmington were clear winners with a scoreline of three firsts and two seconds. Dublin-based Barry MacCartin and Ronan Wallace were a convincing second.
Tomorrow, Howth Yacht Club (HYC) stages its 41st Laser dinghy Round the Island Race, a course circumnavigating Ireland’s eye. The HYC warning signal is at 10.45am.
The Royal Alfred Yacht Club (RAYC) founded in 1857 has merged with Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) as part of a rationalisation of the Dún Laoghaire sailing scene. The result is “Dublin Bay Sailing Club incorporating the Royal Alfred Yacht Club”.
