Athlone native captains sailing crew to world championship success

An Irish sailing team captained by Coosan native Cillian Dickson has become world champions in Australia.

At the Epigen J/24 World Championships in Melbourne, Cillian's team – which contained cousins Louis Molloy and Marcus Ryan (Mayo), Ryan Glynn (Bangor), Sam O'Byrne (Howth) – overcame a final-day deficit to take the overall and Corinthian titles.

It is the second year running for the Irish 'Headcase' team to win the world title with Lough Ree Yacht Club member Dickson heavily involved in both triumphs.

The defending champions overturned a two-point overnight deficit to beat Australia's 'Checkmate' by 12 points after ten races at the event hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club on Port Phillip.

The Irish crew got off to a flying start, winning the first two races and the fourth, but Checkmate fought back with consecutive victories to take the championship lead.

A win in the eighth race, followed by third in Race 9 and second in the tenth and final race, was more than enough to see the Irish team to overall victory.

Headcase previously won at the 2025 J/24 World Championship in Plymouth, where the crew became the first Irish team to win the title. The Irish crew also topped the championship's Corinthian classification.

Final J/24 World Championship standings

Headcase (Ireland) — 21 points; Checkmate (Australia) — 33; Haywire (Australia) — 45; Amuse Bouche (USA) — 49; Bangor Packet (USA) — 56.