Aiofe Hopkins Gets Chance In Gold Fleet

The Hempel World Sailing Championship is considered to be of Olympic class levels and not without reason. This is a world level championship that has led to several nations book their slots for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The races have been on for a week and several victories are being celebrated every day. For instance, Aoife Hopkins was able to claim victory in a race win that was done in emphatic style. It is a performance indicator that showcases how unique wins are made possible every now and then. Aiofe Hopkins, of 19 years of age, comes from Howth and has qualified to be part of the Gold fleet in the Laser Radial.

This is definitely a great achievement for the young sailor; it also sets the scene for her to get good experience in a division of 56 boats that has several seniors who are Olympic medalists and others who have been champions in different events. It is definitely difficult to get into the Gold fleet and a 44th position is what she obtained in Tuesday, showcasing the difficulty level of the competition.

However, she was able to hit the single race on Wednesday with ease and timed her boat to perfection as a result of which she emerged as the leader who held a good position in clear winds. The conditions were tricky and she had to make judgment calls. Hopkins was able to make good decisions consistently that showcased her performance and ability to lead the fleet.

Her first place helped to improve her overall ranking and now she has a shot at gaining a world title or a place in the final medal race. Her task would be to concentrate on helping Ireland qualify for the Olympics, which is more of a requirement now.