Young ones out in force again for Youth Series

Young ones out in force again for Youth Series

13 August 2025

THE fourth round of the Strangford Lough Youth series took place at Strangford Lough Yacht Club on Sunday. 

Another beautiful sunny day with an ideal breeze allowed race officer Jack Kennedy and his team to get three races on the table as 31 dinghies competed in this decisive penultimate event.

In the ILCA handicap class Strangford SC hotshot Sam McLernon took first place on the day, placing him at the top of the table with an almost unassailable six-point lead.

Despite a disappointing day for Killyleagh YC’s Jonah Kelly, he is holding on to second overall, but a third for SSC’s Ronan Hodge and a second for EDYC’s Rose Kelly means they are tied in third and fourth, just two points behind. While Sam will be hard to beat, the race is still on for second and third.

In the Topper class, yet another second for the home club’s Tilly Scott maintained her lead at the top of the table, currently six points clear of her SLYC clubmate, Charlie Haslett, in second place.

SSC’s Yvaine Parsons is clinging on to third on the overall leader board, but a fourth on the day means SLYC’s Abagail Carson is now just one point behind.

Could it be an SLYC one-two-three in the Topper class or will Parsons or KYC’s Sam Bridges, currently in fifth place, snatch back a few points for the others?

East Down YC’s Daniel Long has been unbeatable in the youth series this year and picked up another first place in the Topper 4.2 class.  Still in second place is Eliza Ashe, sailing for KYC, but hoping to take line honours in the final event, racing on her home waters at Quoile YC next month. 

With only four competitors in the RS Feva class Charlie Stocking and Emily Kelly claimed another first place for EDYC, while KYC clubmates Maya Kelly and Emily Duggan and Max Robinson-Shields and Anna Fitzpatrick yet again battled hard for second and third, tying on seven points each. 

On count-back, second place went to Robinson-Shields and Fitzpatrick, moving them into third place overall. However, Kelly and Duggan are keeping a tight grip on second, just one point ahead. While the leaders will undoubtedly take the top spot at the QYC finale, the battle lines are drawn with just three points separating the next three.

Three SLYC Optimist sailors also competed on Sunday, with Livia Westhead taking first place on the day. However, a second from Olivia Wijkstra has moved her into first place overall, ahead of an absent Ollie Cooke in second.  While Ethan Neill took third on the water, Oliver Gundersen is still holding on to third on the overall table.

With just one event to go, SLYC are looking unbeatable in the hunt for the shield this year, but the race for second and third overall is still wide open with SSC, EDYC and KYC all in with a chance.