Irish Sailor Finn Lynch has won the U19 Laser Standard World Championships in France

 

Aspiring Olympian Finn Lynch is the new U19 Laser Standard World Sailing Champion. The Carlow native and member of the ISA’s Development Squad made a comeback this afternoon (23 August) at the U21 Laser Standard & Radial World Championship in Douarnenez, France to win Gold in the U19 category.

 

The regatta began on Monday (18 August) and after 10 races in varying, shifty conditions Lynch lay 8^th overall in the 101 boat fleet and 3^rd U19. The final race began this afternoon and Lynch, with his eyes on the prize, got off to a great start and battled it out at the top of the fleet throughout the 40 minute race. He crossed the line to finish 3^rd, comfortably ahead of overnight U19 leaders Joel Rodriguez from Spain and Maxim Nikolaev from Russia, to claim the U19 World title and Gold medal. He narrowly missed out on the U21 Bronze, finishing 4^th overall.

 

This is a significant achievement for Lynch, having only graduated to the senior Laser Standard class earlier this year. In less than three weeks’ time he will compete alongside fellow Laser Standard sailor James Espey from the Irish Olympic Sailing Team - Providence Team IRL in Santander, Spain at the first 2016 Olympic qualifier event. During this championship, Lynch will be aspiring to finish within the top 23 nations in order to qualify Ireland for the Rio Games.  

 

ISA Performance Director James O’Callaghan comments "Another podium finish at the Worlds makes it one of sailing's most successful seasons. For Finn the achievement is even more remarkable given that it's his second World title in as many years”.

 

His fellow teammate Fionn Lyden from Cork finished an impressive 11^th overall. Meanwhile in the female Laser Radial class, Tipperary local Aisling Keller also narrowly missed out on a medal finishing 4^th in the U19 category and 22^nd overall.

 

Photos credit Trevor Millar / Sail Coach

 

About ISA Performance & Team

The ISA Performance Department guides sailing programmes from junior through to Olympic and Paralympic. There are currently 102 sailors training as part of the ISA Performance Pathway. All of these sailors are closely monitored and follow a tailored strength and conditioning programme managed by Sports Med Ireland in addition to receiving regular coaching on the water.

 

 

Key Dates for 2014

Event	Start Date	Finish Date	Venue
IFDS World Championships	19/08/2014	24/08/2014	Nova Scotia, Canada
All World Championships & Olympic Qualifiers	08/09/2014	21/09/2014	Santander, Spain

 

Irish Sailing Association (ISA)
The ISA is national governing body for sailing and motorboating in Ireland.

Website: www.sailing.ie

  

About Providence

Providence Resources Plc is an Irish based oil and gas exploration company whose shares are traded on the London AIM market and on Dublin’s ESM market. Providence, along with its partners, is currently leading a circa $500 million multi-year drilling programme on a number of exploration and development wells over six basins offshore Ireland. This programme represents the largest drilling campaign ever carried out offshore Ireland.

Website: www.providenceresources.com

 

About Gul Performance Apparel

Gul is an internationally renowned manufacturer of high quality watersports equipment and apparel.

Website: www.gul.com  

 

About VeloRevolution

VeloRevolution Custom Cycling and Triathlon Clothing is an Irish company that had been searching for unique sports stars outside of the cycling and triathlon community to showcase its innovative products to. Through Sports Med Ireland, VeloRevolution was introduced to the ISA Performance Department and their Squads. Together VeloRevolution and the ISA believed that a partnership would be of great benefit to both organisations, offering a key insight in to how Ireland's top sailors can prepare, train and excel while using cycling as a tool for fitness training. VeloRevolution supply ISA Performance with the best quality clothing items which use the most innovative fabrics as worn by the Tour de France riders so the team can feel great and train hard when out on their bikes.

Website: www.velorevolution.eu

 

About High5 Sports Nutrition

High5 is a leader in performance sports nutrition. Their bars, gels and drinks fuel many of the world's best athletes. They combine the latest developments in sports science with years of racing experience to create products that will help you perform at your very best, no matter what your ability.

High5 is pleased to be teaming up with the ISA for 2014. The ISA has proved they are a great Academy for sourcing and training young athletes through their programmes and coaches to be Irish and European Champions and hopefully World and Olympic Champions. High5 believes it can provide the necessary fuel and support needed to help this happen and hope them all the best for 2014.

Website: www.highfive.co.uk

 

About Harken

Harken is an international performance sailing hardware manufacturer.

Website: www.harken.com

 

About Parasol Sun Care

Unlike other sun lotions, Parasol's innovative broad spectrum and photostable filtering system protects you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Irish Body Care is proud to sponsor the ISA Performance Department providing the sailors with Parasol Sun Care protecting them when they're training or on the water.

Website: www.irishbodycare.com