‘One time a dolphin followed us around training for two hours, that was amazing’

Mark Hassett (22), from Baltimore, is competing with Oisín O’Driscoll in the 49er class at the World Sailing Championships in Arhus, Denmark (July 30-August 10). He is studying maths in UCC and his all-Cork skiff crew narrowly missed a silver fleet finish at the recent European Championships.

Interview by Cliona Foley

Ireland has 14 sailors in 10 boats competing in the 2018 World Sailing Championships, the first opportunity for Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifying. They don’t include Rio silver medallist Annalise Murphy who has now switched from single-handed racing into a 49erFX with Katie Tingle. That leaves Aoife Hopkins (Dublin) and Aisling Kelleher (Nenagh) to carry hopes in Laser Radial.