Irish Sailing Youth & Development Performance Squads
The Youth Development Squads in Irish Sailing started 2025 strong as they all departed for their respective winter camps on December 28th to make the most of the Christmas Break! Irish Sailing has development pathways across five classes, ILCA 4, 6 & 7, 29er and 49er FX.
49ER FX:
We now have a strong development team for Project LA, consisting of four skiff crews: Erin McIlwaine/Ellen Barbour, Lauren O'Callaghan/Charlotte Edie, Lucia Cullen/Alana Twomey, and Ben O'Shaughnessy/Ethan Spain.
For half of the team, this is their first winter away with the squad after stepping up from the 29er class, while the others are entering their second or third winter seasons. Over the autumn in Dublin, we took advantage of the expertise of multiple Olympian Matt McGovern, both in the skiff and coach boat. After returning with his crew, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove, from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His experience and insights are invaluable to supporting the development of this young team.
The crews have now moved to Vilamoura, where they will train for the next few months, applying the skills honed during the recent training block in Dublin while competing against other nations on-site.
The foundations being laid are creating a very promising future for skiff sailing in Ireland, and Development Coach Sean Evans is excited about the potential ahead.
“The attitudes and application of the athletes at present is great to see and as they grow in this space they can only become stronger both on and off the water, being able to deal with the academic and sailing balance to allow both to grow in a very positive manner.”
ILCA’S
Meanwhile, the ILCA 4 squad traveled to Valencia from December 28 to January 5 for their first international training camp of the winter season. This marked a significant milestone as it was also the team's inaugural international training camp.
The team consists of seven sailors: Kate Molloy, Abby Murphy, Rory Brennan Hobbs, George Doig, James Gorman, Leo O'Doherty, and Jack Ives. All are newcomers to the ILCA class, having graduated from toppers or optimists last season.
They encountered a range of wind conditions, which contributed to a productive camp. After seven days on the water, the camp culminated with a race against the local Spanish team.
The ILCA 6 Academy, which includes Bobby Driscoll, Conor Cronin, Marcus Shelley, Lucy Ives, and 29er sailors Gemma Brady and Grace Keating, also began their winter training in Valencia on December 27.
Fiachra McDonnell and Tom Coulter, the Men's ILCA 7 development sailors, were also in attendance.
All teams participated in rules workshops led by Irish Sailing’s rules advisor and International Judge Bill O'Hara, as well as nutrition workshops with Roisin Jordan. Chris Penney from Irish Sailing was also on-site, supporting sailors with their strength and conditioning training.