Davy has announced its sponsorship of Team Ireland as the country’s eight-strong sailing squad begins its campaign at the Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm today.
Summer preparation on Dublin Bay
The championships run from August 12 to 16, with Team Ireland captain Jamie McMahon setting the squad a clear target of reaching the semi-finals. The team has spent the summer preparing in J/80s on Dublin Bay, with training sessions fitted around work and study commitments.
The Royal St George Yacht Club provided access to the boats, while financial backing from Davy has supported the campaign. The squad brings together sailors who have spent much of their careers competing against one another in classes including Optimist, 420 and ILCA racing.
This history creates a unique dynamic for the competition. Unlike many squads where members are strangers thrown together for a single event, these sailors already know how their teammates react under pressure, though that familiarity also means they know exactly how to exploit each other’s weaknesses.
Lineup details for the event
McMahon said the championship had given them an opportunity to “join forces” with sailors he has raced against throughout his career. He noted that Ireland has proven to be a dominant sailing nation on a worldwide stage, which is impressive considering the country’s small population.
“We want to continue to prove that point — that Ireland deserves a top place in the team racing domain of world sailing,” he said.
The Irish squad will compete across two boats. Boat One comprises Tom Higgins as helm, McMahon on jib trim, Henry Higgins on main trim and Fiona Ferguson on bow. Boat Two features Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin as helm, Fionn Lyden on jib trim, Clíodhna Ní Shúilleabháin on main trim and Sally O’Flynn on bow.
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The sailors said they were looking forward to testing themselves against the world’s leading teams after qualifying for the championship in March.
“We qualified to compete back in March, so we are definitely ready to go now,” said Ó Súilleabháin. Higgins said the team had enjoyed “a great few weeks of training” ahead of the event and was “keen to get racing against the best in the world.”
Ferguson added that she was “delighted to be representing Team Ireland in Stockholm”, while Ní Shúilleabháin said she was particularly looking forward to the prestigious event with Davy supporting the team.
Lyden said the squad was “fantastic” and that the sailors were “super excited” to be representing Ireland.
For Davy, the sponsorship provides support for an Irish team seeking to build on the country’s strong international reputation in sailing.
The team will now face four days of competition in Stockholm as it bids to reach the semi-finals and establish Ireland among the leading nations in team racing.
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