Pinoys rule Mirror Dinghies in Ireland

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines Sailing Association team dominated the Irish Nationals to win the Mirror Dinghies Championship slated July 22-25 at Lough Derg, Ireland.

Among a fleet of 68 boats from Australia, Britain, Canada, Ireland, the Philippines and South Africa, the  winning Philippine boat, sailed by Ridgely Balladres and Rommel Chavez, from the Philippine Sailing Association,  won five of six  races and  a fourth place. They did not participate on the final day as only six of the eight races count.

The younger team, sailed by Gabriel Fetizanan and Richly Magsanay from Puerto Galera Yacht Club, came 18th overall.

The Irish National Championships was followed by the Mirror Worlds Championship held July 27-Aug. 2  at Lough Derg, which drew 91 entries from Denmark and Sweden and participants in the National Championships.

The Philippine team secured an impressive second place and the younger team from Puerto Galera Yacht Club finished seventh.

The championships serve as tune-up for this December’s Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.