ILCA 6 Youth Europeans draw to a close in Ballyholme Yacht Club

The ILCA 6 Youth Europeans have drawn to a close at Ballyholme Yacht Club following an historic week of sailing at Ballyholme Yacht Club.

This competition saw 358 of the world’s best youth sailors go toe to toe between 27 July and 3 of August, making it the largest and most internationally diverse sailing competition to ever be hosted in Northern Ireland.

This event was years in the making. To win the right to host an event of such magnitude, Ballyholme Yacht Club successfully bid against other yacht clubs in Europe highlighting it as one of the premier locations for high performance racing across the continent.

During the week, the girls Gold Fleet successfully completed 11 races and the boys Gold Fleet successfully completed 10 races. Completing this number of races in challenging conditions is a credit the efforts of event organiser Aidan Pounder, the race committee and the huge team of volunteers who helped to make the event possible.

That the team of volunteers consisted of members from a wide range of clubs and we are incredibly thankful for commitment of the Northern Irish sailing community to the success of sailing in the country.

In a nail-biting finish which came down to the last race for both the boys and girls’ fleets, it was Poland’s Jacek Kalinowski who emerged victorious in the boys fleet, while Ukraine’s Alina Shapovalova won the girls fleet.

For young sailors in Northern Ireland who watched on as the week unfolded, it is hoped that an event of this magnitude can serve as inspiration to push forward to compete among the world’s best.

11 Northern Irish sailors competed in the competition, allowing them to gain valuable experience at a venue close to home.

Girls Fleet

Zoe Whitford- 23^rd in Gold Fleet

Autumn Halliday- 34^th in Silver Fleet

Sophia Cahill- 54^th in Silver Fleet

Isabel Nixon- 55^th in Silver Fleet

Boys Fleet

Daniel Palmer- 7^th in Broze Fleet

Bobby Driscoll- 23^rd in Bronze Fleet

Lewis Thompson- 25^th in Bronze Fleet

Cormac Byrne- 24^th in Emerald Fleet

Joseph Robinson- 29^th in Emerald Fleet

Luke Simpson- 53^rd in Emerald Fleet

Rory Pollard- 57^th in Emerald Fleet