Racing adventures on the high seas

FENIT was the centre of excellence for sailing stars recently as it held the qualifying competition for Team Ireland trials in 2019.

The International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland (IODAI) held this year’s Munster Championship at Tralee Bay Sailing Club in Fenit on September 8 and 9 and over 100 highly competitive sailors from around the country and across the Atlantic competed in the national event.

The optimist dinghy is sailed by competitors from the age of 7 to 15 years and those competing along with family and friends drew a great crowd into the area for the event. Competitors came from near – Tralee Bay Sailing Club, and afar - Royal Canadian Yacht Club, to name but a few of the clubs that took part in a weekend of tough conditions in the water.

Event Coordinator with Tralee Bay Sailing Club Cara McMorrow Moriarty said the weekend was one of great prestige for the club, its members and the wider community.

“It is already being said that it is the best event of the year by the competitors and parents!” Cara said.

“We have ensured that as many local business’ in Fenit, Tralee and the surrounding areas have benefited from this event as much as possible.”

IODAI have taken the Clean Seas “Turn the Tide on Plastic” pledge, which means they commit to reducing the amount of plastics used in all the events they host. Attendees to the championship in Fenit were encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles and use biodegradable and recyclable materials for lunches.

“We banned single use plastic at this event to “Turn the Tide on Plastic” and lead by example to the competitors as they are the future generation,” Cara continued.

The Team Ireland Worlds Team only flew back into the country on Thursday from competing at the Worlds in Cyprus to compete in Fenit.

Members of Tralee Bay Sailing Club excelled in the championship. Some of the top winners were Billy Doyle who came fourth in the Junior Fleet Gold and was awarded Top Local Sailor in the Junior Fleet.

In the Senior Fleet Girls, Eimer McMorrow Moriarty came first and won Top Local Sailor in the Senior Fleet.

With over 100 volunteers in place over the weekend, there was no doubt Fenit was the ideal location for a smooth sailing and very enjoyable event.

Photos by Domnick Walsh ABOVE: Oisín Pierse tacking hard as he contests the and IODAI Munster Sailing Championships in Fenit recently. LEFT: Luke Bentley Curran of the Tralee Bay Sailing Club keeping his ‘optimist’ boat on track in the competition.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Organisers supervising the action in the recent IODAI Munster Sailing Championships in Fenit. Sailors between the ages of 7 and 15 travelled from all over the country to take part in the prestigious contest in their optimist boats.