West Cork Teen Sailor Set to Represent Ireland at World Championships
West Cork teen Oliver Sugars, ranked 6th nationally, seeks sponsors to represent Ireland at Topper Worlds in Holland. The talented sailor balances training with rugby and GAA commitments.
A talented young sailor from West Cork is preparing to fly the Irish flag at prestigious international competitions this summer, as he continues his remarkable rise in the sport.
Fourteen-year-old Oliver Sugars will be the only County Cork sailor representing Ireland at the Topper Worlds in Holland this June and the British Nationals in Largs, Scotland in August 2025.
Oliver, who is already making waves in the sailing community, currently ranks 6th overall in the Topper Ireland National Rankings and holds 3rd place overall in the Junior Fleet of the Topper National Ranking Topper Traveller series.
His dedication to the sport was recognised last year when he was named "Most Improved Sailor of the Year 2024" by the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) and took first place in the Junior Section of Calves Week 2024.
Despite his natural talent and impressive achievements, Oliver faces a significant challenge: he currently receives no funding for his sport and is actively seeking sponsors to help finance his international competitions.
"In order to reach International standard and the funding that accompanies it, he needs to compete, and to compete he needs funding; it's a vicious cycle," his family explained.
Oliver maintains a rigorous training schedule, travelling three hours round-trip twice weekly to train with the RCYC in Cork. During summer months, he also sails with the Schull Harbour Yacht Club and is a member of the Bantry Bay Sailing Club.
As the eldest of four children living in West Cork, Oliver balances his sailing commitments with home education and active participation in community sports. He is a member of the 16th Mizen Scouts, plays for Bantry RFC's U14s Rugby Team, and is part of the Muintir na Bara U14/U16 GAA Football Club.
The young sailor comes from a notable lineage of Irish sporting and historical figures. He is the great-grandson of Harold Saunderson Sugars, an Irish international rugby union player, and the great-great-grandson of Rev Robert Trail, the Church of Ireland Rector in Schull during the famine who spent his fortune feeding local people.
Rev Trail's historical significance was recently highlighted in the TV series "Victoria" by Daisy Goodwin, where the character was portrayed by actor Martin Compston. Interestingly, Goodwin is reportedly a cousin to Oliver through the Robert Traill connection.
As Oliver prepares to represent West Cork and Ireland on the international stage, he hopes to secure the support needed to continue his promising sailing career.
Those wishing to support Oliver's journey can follow his progress on Instagram (@topperollie) or contribute via his GoFundMe page: "Help Oliver sail to the World Championships in 2025."
