Irish Youth Sailing National Championships at Lough Derg Yacht Club Day 2

Optimist ready for launch at the Irish Youth Sailing National Championships © Rachel Solon

Almost 200 young sailors braved the uncharacteristically cold April waters of Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary today for the second day of the ISA Youth National Championships. The competitors who are split across five different classes; Laser Radial, 420, Laser 4.7, Topper and Optimist are all vying for the coveted places on teams for international events and summer squads. As the most prestigious annual youth sailing event on the domestic calendar the excitement rippled through the water with every boat launch.

For the second day in a row Robbie Gilmore ended the day leading the 44 boat Laser Radial fleet. The Strangford Lough sailor clinched his third win of the regatta so far as well as a second and a fifth which allowed him to storm in to the lead on a total of 8 points overall. Also taking a bullet today was medal contender Finn Lynch. Lynch held on to his overall spot in second place, but a 14th and 12th place finish in the following two races sees him trail Gilmore on a total of 20 points. Hot on Lynch's heels in third place is Seafra Guilfoyle on 22 points. A total of five more races are scheduled for the weekend so it's all still to play for.

In the competitive 420 fleet yesterday's three leading teams remain the same although the top two pairings have swapped places. Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, who started today in the lead, have now slipped to second overall on 10 points. Peter McCann and Arran Walsh had an impressive day winning two of the three races and consequently stole the top spot from Dickson / Waddilove by one single point. Holding on to their potential bronze medal position with 14 points are Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts.

Meanwhile it was the first day of racing for the Topper, Laser 4.7 and Optimist fleets and it's the girls that are dominating across all three classes. In the 35 boat Topper fleet Nicole Hemeryck from Dublin tops the leader board on a six points after three races. Her closest rivals, Liam Glynn from Baltimore and Daniel Raymond from Dun Laoghaire, each had a race win but that wasn't enough to keep up with their female competitor. Glynn ends Day 1 on 13 points and Raymond is third on 15 points.

In the Laser 4.7 class it's a Cork lass that is leading the pack. Cliodhna O'Regan had a first, a third and tied 10th in her last race of the day. This was enough to see her take pole position ahead of fellow Kinsale Yacht Club member Sean Gambier-Ross who follows closely behind on 17.5 points. With only 0.5 of a point keeping him from Gambier-Ross, Conor O'Beirne from Dublin settles for third place overall today.

In the Optimist Championship and proving she's a force to be reckoned with is Emily Whitaker, another Corkonian, who won all three of her races today. She sits comfortably ahead of Dubliners Leah Rickard and Tom Higgins who both leave today on 11 points.

Racing will continue tomorrow and Sunday (7th of April).

All results are provisional