Celebrating the Future of Irish Sailing, Youth Sailor of the Year Nominees...
Coming up through our pathways and academies are some of Ireland’s brightest young sailing talents. To recognise their dedication, skill, and achievements both at home and on the world stage, these athletes have been nominated for the Irish Sailing Foundation Youth Sailor of the Year!
This year’s nominees include World Champions, National Champions, and top international competitors, showcasing the incredible depth of talent within Irish sailing.
Meet the Nominees:
Sienna Wright (East, Howth, ILCA):
U17 ILCA 6 Youth World Champion and Overall ILCA 6 Youth Worlds Silver Medalist, with standout performances at the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans finishing 3rd U17 and 5th Overall.
Gemma Brady (West, LDYC, Topper):
Female Topper World Champion and 9th overall at the Topper Worlds, also the Women's 2024 Irish Youth National Topper Champion.
Leo O’Doherty (West, Sligo Sailing Club, Topper):
Finished 4th at the Topper World Championships, a National Champion, and a rising leader. Beyond his own success, Leo is also dedicated to coaching the next generation of Topper sailors in Malahide, where he excels at identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
Ava Ennis (East, RSTGYC, ILCA 4):
Represented Ireland on the world stage, finishing 21st at the ILCA Worlds, showing great promise in international competition.
Conor Cronin (East, RSTGYC, MYC, OPTIMIST & ILCA 4):
Achieved a 6th-place finish at the Portuguese EuropaCup and competed in the ILCA Worlds, demonstrating strong performances across events.
Lucy Ives (North, Carlingford SC, ILCA 6):
Placed 9th at the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans and 11th at the ILCA 6 World Sailing Youth Worlds, proving her strength in a highly competitive class.
These young sailors have demonstrated skill and dedication, doing something different to their peers, competing against the best sailors of their age across the world, making their mark on the sailing industry. So we wish them good luck in the rest of their careers and fairs winds for awards night.
The winner of the Youth Sailor of the Year award will be announced at the Irish Sailing Awards on February 28th, 2025.