Three of a kind at Optimist Worlds

There is no youth boat as prevalent worldwide as the Optimist which provides racing for kids 15 years of age and younger. The Optimist World Championship attracts the best of the best, with 287 sailors representing 66 nations at the 2025 edition on June 28-July 5 in Portorož, Slovenia.

Up to five sailors are allowed from a nation, with Ireland’s team including three sisters. Maeve, Emily, and Lily Donagh are part of a five-strong Irish team – the first time three siblings have represented Ireland and possibly any nation.

Each sister earned her place on the team through strong performances at the national trials. At the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals in April, Maeve, Emily, and Lily finished first, second, and third respectively, after ten races against the country’s top 50 Optimist sailors. They repeated this result three weeks later at the Optimist Leinster Championships, once again claiming the top three spots. – Full report