Fermoy’s Adam D’Arcy claimed silver at the International Topper Sailing World Championships in Wales last weekend, seeing off 132 competitors to claim the podium finish.

The local 16 year old from Glencullen, Fermoy, amassed 27 points to draw with the ultimate winner Calum Rose from the UK, agonisingly missing out on gold after a count-back. He has steadily progressed through the Irish Sailing Association’s (ISA) performance pathway programme since taking up sailing at the age of 10.

Adam, a student of St Colman's College in the town, had been in Wales for the British Nationals the week before and his father John D’Arcy said his form peaked going into the World Championship.

“He came fifth in the British Nationals, and he just steadily improved and he got the result in the World Championships.

“He finished up on the same points as the guy who won it, but they have count-back, where say if another competitor has more ones or twos then he gets the title, it was very close,” he told The Avondhu.

In a mixture of weather conditions, the competitors – from France, Great Britain, India, Japan, Malta, South Africa and Ireland – sailed in a total of 11 races during the regatta. Podium positions alternated after each race, which made for a nail-biting finish that saw Adam finish in second place, one point better than the third placed competitor.

STEADY PROGRESSION

John explains his son’s quick rise in the sailing world.

“He’s on the Irish Sailing Association squad for the past number of years, but he first started sailing when he was 10. He started out in a boat called the Optimist, which would be a starter sailing boat in the Royal Cork down in Crosshaven, and then he progressed on to the Topper.

“It comes from my wife’s family, her dad has a boat and members of her family would have sailed,” he said.

This was Adam’s last year sailing in the junior topper class, he’ll now move up to Laser 4.7 under the ISA performance pathway, and begin sailing competitively in that boat from next season.

“He would look to do some training in the 4.7 as he’s in transition into that boat, and he’d sail that competitively next season because this season is coming to an end now,” he added.

OLYMPIC AMBITION

Looking ahead, Adam, as part of the ISA performance pathway team, has his eyes set on competing in future Olympic Games, described by his father as one of his main 'ambitions' in his promising sailing career.

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