Ireland’s Eve McMahon delivered a standout performance to claim gold at the prestigious Princess Sofia Olympic Classes Regatta in Mallorca, marking a major early-season statement on the Olympic pathway.
Competing on the Bay of Palma, the Howth Yacht Club sailor emerged from an 11-race qualification series in second place overall, with a race win and three second-place finishes underlining her consistency. With scores reset for the Final Series, the margins were tight and the podium positions wide open.
A fifth-place finish in the opening final race secured at least a silver medal, before a composed and tactically sharp display in the second race saw her take control. Opting for the right-hand side of the course, she capitalised on a favourable wind shift to move into contention before powering downwind to win the race — and the regatta.
Britain’s Daisy Collingridge took silver, while Belgium’s double world champion Emma Plasschaert completed the podium in third.
“It’s an incredible result,” said McMahon. “It all came down to two final races, each decided by a single point. The British sailor tried to match race me in the first, but I managed to break free, and then had the race of my life in the last.
“My coach, three-time Olympic medallist Vasilij Žbogar, and I have put in a huge amount of work towards this. It’s fantastic to see that effort reflected in the result and it’s an important step on the road to LA.”
A Decade On, Ireland Back on Top
McMahon’s victory marks Ireland’s first win at the regatta in ten years, since Ryan Seaton and Matthew McGovern topped the podium in the men’s skiff.
Her performance reinforces Ireland’s growing competitiveness in Olympic sailing, with depth across both senior and development ranks evident throughout the event.
“This is a hugely significant achievement for Eve and a clear demonstration of what Irish sailors can do,” said Irish Sailing Performance Director James O’Callaghan. “Competing against the very best in the world, she showed exceptional composure throughout a challenging week, staying calm, consistent and making smart, strategic decisions.”
Strength in Depth Across the Squad
There were encouraging performances across the wider Irish team in Mallorca.
Eighteen-year-old Sienna Wright impressed in the women’s dinghy, competing in Gold Fleet and finishing 36th overall in a highly competitive 143-boat fleet.
In the men’s dinghy, Ewan McMahon narrowly missed out on the Final Series by just seven points, while development sailor Fiachra McDonnell showed promise with top-15 race finishes.
There was frustration for Finn Lynch, who was forced to withdraw early through illness but is expected to return shortly.
In the skiff classes, Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour gained valuable senior experience in the women’s fleet, while development pairing Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain competed in the men’s Silver Fleet.
Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove exited earlier than expected after missing out on Gold Fleet qualification.
Attention now turns to the next Sailing Grand Slam event, Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères later this month, where Ireland will again field a strong and diverse squad.
The men’s skiff pairing will then target the 49er World Championships in Quiberon in May.
Image Credit: Irish Sailing
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