OLYMPIC Games silver medallist Annalise Murphy will be just one of 13 sailors from across Ireland who will be based at the first-ever base for the senior Irish Sailing Team that was launched last week on the grounds of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
The facility was constructed at a cost of €300,000 and funded entirely by the Irish Sailing Foundation.
Thirteen sailors from throughout Ireland will be based there, including 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Annalise Murphy, her new sailing partner, Katie Tingle, from Cork, and six other world championship medallists.
The Performance HQ is entirely mobile. It consists of three converted shipping units with space for briefings and athlete education, a gym, gear storage and a boat maintenance area.
The athlete briefing room can be shipped directly to international competitions, including the Tokyo Olympics, and will provide a base for Ireland’s sailing athletes overseas. There will also be a park and a pontoon for launching boats.
Speaking at the launch, Annalise Murphy said: “Having this new base is fantastic. For the first time now we have a home and somewhere we know we can train, share experiences and focus as a group on how we can make our sailing performances even better.
“It will also be a massive support to our campaigns at international events this year as we look towards qualifying for the all-important 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”
