As soon as the new venue for the Olympic Qualifier was announced the 49er team mobilised and relocated from Villamoura to Lanzarote. Robert Dickson joined the truckers on the 29 hour ferry ride from Cadiz to Lanzarote and got all the team kit on site. His teammates had a quick visit home and returned on February 22nd and will be on the island until March 27th. It is a really long stint abroad but this is what’s necessary to reduce COVID risk and ensure we are the best prepared team possible. The Olympic slots are elusive but we’ve given ourselves a big advantage by being one of the first teams to the new venue.
Laser Men – a bump in the road
The Laser Men were all geared up for their Olympic Qualifier in France (Hyeres) which was unfortunately cancelled. While this is not ideal it is no more than a bump in the road, and we do expect a new venue to be announced shortly for roughly the same date period. The Irish Team have been in Croatia training and will remained in situ until the latest date was announced:
The Olympic Qualifying event for the Lasers has been confirmed. It will take place at the 2021 ILCA Vilamoura International Championship, taking place on 17-24 April in Vilamoura, Portugal. This is the last chance for the Irish Laser Men to qualify with two nation places up for grabs against Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Representing Ireland will be Finn Lynch OLY, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon.
Laser Radial
The Laser Radial Team have been training on Lanzarote since January. That gives the 49er teams the bonus of learning from their experience on what the conditions are like for sailing, so they can get up to speed as soon as they hit the ground.
