Northern Ireland's Oisin McClelland secures top 25 at Finn European Championships
by Emma Blee 10 Sep 2020 03:25 NZST
1-6 September 2020
Oisin McClelland in the Open Finn European Championships 2020 © Robert Deaves
Donaghadee sailor Oisin McClelland has clinched a personal best, claiming 23rd spot at the Finn European Championships in Poland.
The event, which ran from 1-6 September in Gdynia was the sailor's first official race since lockdown took hold.
Consistent scoring throughout the week cemented a position in the top 30 before a challenging day on Saturday, which saw him slip to 26th place with one day left.
During Sunday's final races Oisin posted his best performances to date with an 18th and 11th which allowed him climb back up the leader board into a final rank of 23rd.
Speaking about his success, Oisin commented: "It is great to be back out racing for the first time since January at the European Championships.
"I had put a lot of work into my downwind sailing during lockdown and this really paid off, it got me out of trouble in such a tricky venue. I was pleased to finish strong in the last two races after a tough race on the previous day."
RYA Northern Ireland's High Performance Manager, Andrew Baker, said: "it is fantastic to see Oisin back on the water and utilising the skills he worked so hard on during lockdown. To secure a top 25 spot at the European Championships is no mean feat and he should be proud of such a solid performance."
Oisin is now back on the road and heading for Kiel Week Regatta which runs from 10 - 13 September.