Source: ILCA Ireland.
50th Anniversary Irish ILCA National Championships – Ballyholme Yacht Club, August 15-17 2025.
As many of you know, this year’s Irish ILCA Nationals Championships mark the 50th anniversary of the event. The first was held in 1975 in Kinsale, and was won by David Gay. Elaine Taylor (née Firth, a.k.a. MissElaineous!) was one of the pioneering stalwarts of those early years, and she has kindly shared a fantastic collection of photos—especially from the 1980s.
Below, you’ll find her personal reflection on those formative days, along with a small selection from her archive. Expect colourful sails, vintage sailing gear, and some great old cars!
We’d love to expand this collection over the coming months. If you have any good photos of Lasers from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, or even the noughties, please send them to chair@ilcaireland.com
When Lasers cost £466! By Elaine Taylor
In 1975 Trevor Millar brought the first Laser into Ballyholme, and started a tremendous aspect of one design dinghy racing in Ireland. The boats were supplied by Performance Sailcraft in Waterford, so there was an ample supply of boats for the enthusiastic Irish sailors.
Trevor first introduced me to Lasers in 1977 and thus began the of fun travelling round Ireland to all the Irish events. I used my babysitting money and bought my first boat from McCready Sailboats for £466! She was red and I called her “Miss Elaineous”. Trevor took us all in his builder’s van to the events where we arrived on Friday night, pitched tents, had a few jars, raced hard, lots of craic and then home and ready to go back to work on Monday for a rest!
There was a small gang of girls sailing. Everyone sailed full rigs – there was no 4.7 or Radial rigs back then!
There was a small gang of girls sailing back then – Gillian Guinness, Sharon Osborough (who was too young to drive and was ferried round Ireland by her parents), Cathy MacAleavey, Maeve McNally. Everyone sailed full rigs – there was no 4.7 or Radial rigs back then!
It was the days of cameras and films, so I have old photo albums in the attic with all the gang from the 70s and 80s – many of them still sailing Lasers in the BYC Icebreaker 50 years on! So get those albums out and share some of your memories to celebrate the Irish Laser Association turning 50!
Join the Celebration on the Water
Whether you’re a seasoned campaigner or returning to the fleet after a few years away, the 50th Anniversary Irish ILCA National Championships promises to be a memorable celebration of racing, reunions, and rich history. Let’s come together to honour five incredible decades of ILCA sailing in Ireland—and make a few new memories while we’re at it! Register now and join us at Ballyholme Yacht Club, August 15–17. We can’t wait to see you on the water!
Dive Into Laser History and Share Your Photos
For those who love a good trip down memory lane, be sure to explore our gallery of vintage Laser photos on SmugMug, where you’ll find many treasured moments from past decades. And if you have any old photos of Laser sailing—from the ’70s, ’80s, or beyond—we’d love for you to share them with us to help preserve and celebrate our rich history. Please send your images to social@eurilca.org and keep the memories sailing strong!
Keep smiling, keep sailing!
The EurILCA Team
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Elaine Taylor | Source: ILCA Ireland.
