Entries are still open for the National Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday 15 June.

The NYC promises and exciting day’s racing followed by amazing entertainment onshore with its biennial regatta next weekend.

So as the club says, “get your boat ready, line up your A team, encourage your fellow competitors in your class to enter, and may the best boats win!”

The Notice of Race, sailing instructions, online entry details and more can be found on the NYC website HERE.

The National Yacht Club has announced its success in securing a significant grant under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).

Minister Catherine Martin revealed on 9 May that over €26 million has been allocated to over 900 sports groups across Ireland, with the National Yacht Club receiving one of the largest individual grants.

Out of 3,210 applications submitted, the NYC’s proposal for two five-metre rescue RIBs and an Echo 90 keelboat to promote inclusivity in sailing stood out, resulting in a generous grant of €120,526.

This grant will significantly enhance the club’s capacity to support diverse participation in sailing activities, it says.

The successful application was the product of a dedicated team effort. Junior committee members led by Rebecca Johnston and the disability team led by Ruth Shanahan, collaborated closely with sailing manager Olivier Prouveur, who skilfully coordinated and submitted the comprehensive application.

From here, the club must secure the remaining 20% of the funds required to purchase and equip the new rescue RIBs and Echo 90 sailboat which is specifically designed and built to accommodate sailors of all abilities.

The Echo 90 — which will come equipped with both asymmetric and symmetric spinnakers, reduced mobility bucket seats with anchor points for wheelchairs, fully batten mainsail and mizzen, lazy jacks, boom sail bags and furling jib — will be at the centre of all NYC training programmes will also join the revived cruising section for day trips to the neighbouring marinas.

In effect, the Echo 90 will become the flagship of the National Yacht Club and its ethos of providing quality sailing programmes to people of all abilities.

The club is therefore inviting potential sponsors to seize this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to corporate and social responsibility.

Sponsorship would not only support the club's inclusivity initiatives but also provide visibility for sponsors, with logos prominently displayed on the new grant-aided craft in the harbour. For further details, get in touch with sailing manager Olivier Prouveur at [email protected].

The National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire is offering a pre-race coaching series to help Water Wags sailors preparing for evening racing on Dublin Bay.

This series will be led by the club head coach and may receive the input of other coaches with the aim of improving starting techniques, tactical and strategical positioning in displacement boats and have the participants fully warmed up before the evening race.

The plan is to gather afloat from 6pm for practice (coach will be on hand from 5.30pm on the NYC platform and will communicate the daily plan via the class WhatsApp).

The series will be divided into two parts. The first, ‘Nailing the Starts’, will run on Wednesdays: 24 April, 15 May, 22 May and 29 May. The price is €50 per boat for all four sessions or €15 per boat for just one session.

Part two, ‘Clean Air Management and Practicing the Busy Corners’, will also run on Wednesdays: 5 June, 19 June, 26 June and 3 July. Like part one, the price is €50 per boat for all four sessions or €15 per boat for just one session.

For booking information, see the NYC website HERE.

Kick off your St Patrick’s Weekend at the National Yacht Club’s Cruising Club Boat Show on Saturday 16 March from 11am.

See a live demonstration on life-raft deployment and entering presented by Solas Marine Services.

The RNLI’s sea safety team will be on hand with advice and instructions.

And local chandlery Viking Marine will be showing a number of key safety products and their advantages.

The club looks forward to seeing you on Dun Laoghaire’s waterfront in the morning!

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the National Yacht Club will host the second Student Match Racing Invitational in Dun Laoghaire on the weekend of 23–24 March.

The meet — comprising round robins, a knockout series and finals racings — will bring together the top student sailors in the country in an exciting weekend of match racing, adding the discipline to the already packed university sailing calendar.

See the Notice of Race on the NYC website ahead of the issue of invitations by Friday 15 March.

Every Sunday morning until 24 March, the National Yacht Club is running a coached racing series for dinghy sailors.

The series comprises short sprint-style races set up as a pursuit, with the slower boats starting first and the faster boats chasing.

There will be a full debrief post-racing and pointers given while racing or between races.

The series is weather-depending and will also take into account other club activities so the running of each Sunday morning will be confirmed (or not) the Thursday prior, with the name of the coach in charge on the various class WhatsApp groups.

Sailors intending to race can register on the NYC website prior to each race. Entry per session is €15.

Wether you want to take part once in a while, use it as a full regular training session or take part as a warm up to the DBSC Frosbites, the club encourages everyone to join the racing and progress your skills.

Racing is open to all club dinghies (Optimist, Topper, Feva, ILCA, Aero, etc). First gun is set for 10am and racing will conclude around 12.30pm. There is no set number of daily races.

Prizes may also be awarded at the end of the winter, so happy racing!

The Notice of Race is now available for the Viking Marine DMYC Frostbite Series, which starts on Sunday 5 November — the same day as the DBSC Turkey Shoot winter series in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Registration for this year’s Frostbites can be done online at the DMYC website HERE.

The National Yacht Club is seeking expressions of interest from members as it plans another winter match racing series for 2023.

Starting the weekend of 21 October, the series will run for six to eight weeks — doubling the scope of last year’s series raced in the club’s own fleet of Elliott 6m one-design keelboats.

The National Yacht Club has its own fleet of Elliott 6m one-design keelboats for match racing Photo: Afloat

As interest is growing in match racing, the NYC says it can facilitate two sessions across the weekend based on demand.

Preference will go to NYC members and those who are entering as a team. In the past, Sunday mornings have been popular, but if demand is there, a second session can be scheduled later on Sundays or on Saturdays.

Prospective match racers are encouraged to fill out this online survey to express your interest. Any questions should be directed to [email protected].

The annual lift-out on the National Yacht Club platform is scheduled for next Saturday 14 October, weather permitting.

Dinghy owners are reminded that to facilitate the lift-out, all dinghies must be removed from the platform at the latest on Sunday 7 October and will be allowed to return from Saturday 21 October.

Applications for winter platform parking will go live from Monday 16 October.

Places are on a first come, first served basis. As space is at an absolute premium, priority will be given to dinghies actively taking part in either the Turkey Shoot, the DMYC Frostbite racing series or the club’s junior training programmes.

After Clementine and Nathan van Steenberge’s victory in the 29er Worlds in August, their home base the National Yacht Club has big ambitions as it continues its high-end coaching for 29er racers with Olympic 49er trialist Séafra Guilfolye.

As lead coach in the NYC’s autumn programme, which runs until 3 December, Guilfoyle is being assisted by experienced skiff sailors/instructors in encouraging the growth of technical and racing skills among the club’s 29er sailors.

Regular club training takes place on Sundays, with two special clinics scheduled for the Hallowe’en break (3-5 November) and end-of-season (2-3 December). More details can be found on the NYC website HERE.

29er skiff sailing in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Afloat