Cork business backs Olympic sailing triallists

Cork-based IT solutions and workplace technology solutions company, National Business Machines Group (NBM), has announced its support of a Cork duo’s Olympic sailing ambitions.

NBM has awarded sailing duo Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan, who sail together under the name Guilfoyle Durcan Sailing, a €10,000 sponsorship.

Guilfoyle and Durcan, both UCC graduates from Cork, are preparing for the upcoming Olympic trials in the 49er Class which will consist of three week-long regattas in March and April.

The Olympic trials series against Tokyo veterans Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove from Dublin will decide who sails for Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympic Regatta.

Getting to the Olympics is the ultimate challenge for the ambitious pair who have been training together for over two years and the NBM sponsorship will help to support them in achieving their goals.

NBM group wished Guilfoyle Duran Sailing the best of luck in the upcoming trials and said it looks forward to being a part of their journey going forward.

Despite limited funding from April 2023 onwards, the pair finished 30th overall at the recent European Championships and are currently doing everything they can to prepare, train, and get ready for the beginning of the trials in March. This includes sailing approximately 20-25 days per month in the Worlds venue from December through to February as well as raising funds for the purchase of a new boat, sails, mast, and equipment and to pay for coaching, entry fees, transport, and accommodation, none of which are covered by Irish Sailing. Irish Sailing provided the pair with a boat for the 2023 season and a training boat for 2024.

The trials will consist of three week-long regattas, the World Championships in Lanzarote in March; French Olympic Week in Hyeres, France in April.and the European Championships in May, again in France, all of which will be attended by up to 90 of the world’s best 49er crews and run for six days each. Getting to the Olympics is the ultimate challenge and this Cork pair are now incredibly close and seek to grab the opportunity with both hands.

In addition to their Olympic sailing, the pair both coach locally in the RCYC and in local clubs in Dublin where they are based for their time training at home.

To help secure the funding they need to qualify for the Olympics they have set up a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cork-sailors-seafra-and-johnny-get-to-the-games