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Latest Press Release

Launch of the Irish Olympic Sailing Team at the Mespil Hotel in Dublin.
Thursday, June 10th

Irish Sailing Association Announces Final Line-up for Athens 2004

The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) confirmed it's line-up for the Olympic regatta today with the publication of a 28-page guide to it's second biggest ever squad.

Seven of the nine sailors, who have been nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) for Athens, were in Dublin yesterday for the team send-off at the Mespil Hotel.

Well-wishers at the lunchtime gathering included Ireland's Olympic sailing medallists David Wilkins and Jamie Wilkinson whose 1980 silver medals were on display.

The guide, Countdown to the Athens Olympics, published by the national authority profiles the full squad and sets out Ireland's chances over the two weeks of competition from August 13.

The guide will also be published as a centre supplement to the June/July issue of the national boating magazine, Afloat that hits news stands next week.

The full list of nine Olympic Nominees from the Irish Sailing Association is as follows:

  • Maria Coleman - Europe Class
  • David Burrows - Finn Class
  • Rory Fitzpatrick - Laser Class
  • Tom Fitzpatrick and Fraser Brown - 49'er Class
  • Ger Owens and Ross Killian - Men's 470 Class
  • Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins - Star Class

Contact: Garrett Connolly, Olympic Manager 087 257 2411

Latest Report - Monday 28th June 2004 - 46 days to go

Our one hundred days to go update in mid-May was issued just prior to the Finn Europeans and since then we've had the Laser Worlds and final qualifier, Spa Regatta, the 470 Europeans and Kieler Woche has just finished. We've finalised our team of nominees and we announced that team and published a 'Team Brochure' on the 10th of June in Dublin. (The brochure also appears as the centrepiece to the current Afloat Magazine). Results have been well reported and also appear in the table at the end so I don't intend to dwell on them other than to note just how difficult it is going to be to finish on the podium in Athens as evidenced by just the one single figure finish (David's 8th at Spa) among all the competition listed.

Garrett Connolly
ISA Olympic Performance Manager

Read the full report Athens 46 Days to go here.

 

Report - Wednesday 5th May 2004 - 99 days to go

Just 99 days now to the opening ceremony and there are times when I'd like some physicist to explain again to me how it is that time doesn't actually speed up as big occasions approach.

Since early March we've had our Star trials conclude at Gaeta, Italy, our 49er's qualify at Athens and Hyeres grade 1 regatta in France. The rest of the squad continue working away towards August and their 'dates with destiny'.

And on one more positive note, in the build up to September's Paralympics, Ireland narrowly missed out on qualification in the 2.4M in the World Championship last year. The IFDS have since found themselves in a position to offer Ireland a place at the Paralympic Games on the basis of Feargal Kinsella's results that left Ireland next in line for qualification. The ISA have nominated Feargal Kinsella to the PCI for selection to the Irish Paralympic Team. So Feargal, supported by his long time coach Gillian Guinness, will start along with our Sonar in September.

Garrett Connolly
ISA Olympic Performance Manager

Read the full report Athens 99 Days to go here.

 

Report - Monday 15th March 2004 - 150 days to go

Since our last update at 200 days to go in late January we've seen the Star trials begin in Miami, our Sonar trial conclude at the same Miami regatta and of course David Burrows 3rd at the Finn Gold Cup in Rio de Janeiro to list just three of the noteworthy events.

I'll bring you the next update in early May which will review the Star Worlds, Princess Sofia and Hyeres regattas and of course the 49'er Worlds from Athens which begin on the 12th of April.

The ISA piloted a results texting service during the Finn Gold Cup. It's free and will operate during most significant events up to and including the Olympic Regatta. Abbreviated results are sent by text to all subscribers. If you wish to avail contact sue@sailing.ie and we'll be pleased to add you to the growing list.

Garrett Connolly
ISA Olympic Performance Manager

Read the full report Athens 150 Days to go here.

 

Sunday 25th Jan 2004 - 200 days to go

The Olympic Year is finally upon us. On the one hand it has often seemed as if it would never arrive, on the other, it seems like only weeks since we were debriefing Sydney 2000.

Sunday the 25th of January is exactly 200 days to the opening ceremony, which will take place in Athens on Friday the 13th of August (not a ceremony for the superstitious!)

Over the next few months www.sailing.ie will bring you regular updates from the squad, the management and the supporters of our Olympic effort as the countdown to Athens continues. The next in the countdown series will be published with approx 150 days to go just before St Patricks Day. Before then the ISA website will be totally revamped with a busier and more informative High Performance section containing bios, news, links and plenty more info on our Olympic squad plus an archive of all our recent news, views and reports.
During the Olympic Regatta itself ISA will run a results texting service direct from Athens to your mobile phone. Of course there will also be daily reports from management and team as the regatta progresses available on the website.

2004 is a watershed year for the ISA and for the Irish Olympic movement in general. A lot of people have put a lot of effort into Athens preparations. Why not sign up for the ISA e-newsletter and make sure to bookmark www.sailing.ie in your browser so that you can keep up to date with developments.

Garrett Connolly
ISA Olympic Performance Manager

Read the full report Athens 200 Days to go here.

Additional Information

Olympic Campaign 2004

Olympic Campaign 2003

Athens Report 200 Days To Go

Athens Report 150 Days To Go