In the latest Commodore’s Update from Howth Yacht Club, Paddy Judge outlines its plans for a hopeful restart to sailing if restrictions allow from April.

Among the changes being considered are the purchase of more paddle boards and kayaks for members’ use, as well as more flexible coaching sessions and extra opportunities to get afloat on the club’s fleet of dinghies and J80s.

On the marina and clubhouse side, planning permission is being sought for a retractable awning to facilitate more outdoor dining.

And comments are being sought on the move to commission a strategy group to examine what changes will be required to best position the club over the next five to 10 years in terms of attracting new and younger members and increasing the value of membership.

For more, see the Commodore’s Update for February 2021 on the HYC website HERE.

Howth Yacht Club resumed full dining service today, Friday 4 December, and looks forward to welcoming members and guests for lunch and dinner over the festive season.

Besides the usual coffee, scones and seasonal refreshments like mince pies at the bar, the HYC has also introduced a new bar menu and a special Christmas menu. The HYC website has more details on opening hours and availability.

Meanwhile, entries are sill open for the club’s ‘Decorate Your Boat’ competition, with lots of great prizes to be won including a meal with wine or beer to your boat for you and your favourite crew.

Boats must be decorated and on display in time for our judges to view your boats on Friday 18 December, with the winners to be announced on Christmas Eve.

You can also give the gift of choice this Christmas with HYC Gift Vouchers for membership, dining, marina services, official HYC merchandise, sailing lessons and much more besides. Click HERE for more details.

Howth Yacht Club has welcomed Aideen Doran to the role of club manager.

Doran moves to the HYC from a senior managerial position in top retailer Brown Thomas – and after getting her sea legs as a crew member on the Sydney-to-Perth leg of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Despite the challenges of coronavirus restrictions, the changing circumstances mean Doran’s fresh perspective is of the essence.

Meanwhile, currently on display in the clubhouse are a number of artworks entered in this year’s members’ art competition.

Members can vote online for their chosen artwork until next Friday 9 October, with the winning art receiving prizes courtesy of Blue Ribbon Art & Framing.

Saturday 4 July marks the start of the 2020 Fingal Cruiser Challenge with a mini coastal race starting from Howth pier, with the gun at 10am.

Howth Yacht Club intends to start all boats off together and the fleet will be racing under HPH handicap only.

This is the third year of the revamped Fingal Series and will feature a combination of four mini-coastal races and the Lambay Race.

The series is intended to encourage keelboat owners, both racers and non-racers, to participate in some or all of the challenges that we can fit into our shortened season.

The mini coastal races are hoped to be attractive to boats with short-handed or less experienced crews, while providing close racing for those who like to be at the front.

The Notice of Race and entry form for the series are available online.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Aqua Two-Handed Challenge returns to Howth later in July, with a wider array of classes welcome.

Meanwhile, club racing starts tomorrow (Tuesday 30 June) for the one-designs at HYC, as was confirmed last week. Entries can still be submitted HERE.

Howth Yacht Club has made clear its current provisions for members under phase two of the roadmap to recovery which began this past Monday 8 June.

Boat owners and members can now access the hard and marina to work on boats or go sailing from 8am to 9pm seven days a week.

Guests must be accompanied by a member and their email and phone contact details emailed in advance, which will avoid delays, or entered in the log at the entrance.

Some nearby harbours and marinas are accepting visitors now but members are advised to check in advance.

From 29 June, HYC will welcome visiting local boats (Irish-based boats only). Members will be able to overnight onboard as showers and hospitality facilities will be reopened and 24-hour access switched on.

However, international crews arriving by sea will not be welcome until at least later in the season as they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Find more details in Rear Commodore Neil Murphy’s Return to Sailing Plan, which includes the Aqua Double Handed Race planned for 18 July.

HYC also reminds that normal charges now apply for mooring and berth holders, dinghies on the hard and winter visitors in the marina that overstayed due to coronavirus restrictions.

It’s important that all boats on the hard, apart from those for which dry-sailing arrangements are in place, are removed or launched to free up the space needed for normal summertime sailing activities to get underway.

Junior sailing adapts

While plans for the 2020 Quest Howth Training Programme were scuppered by coronavirus restrictions, Howth’s junior section is running coaching sessions in single-handed dinghies for sailors who have successfully achieved Irish Sailing’s Basic Skills standard.

To maximise opportunity to get back on the water, training will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Supervised sailing is also offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for any members who would prefer less structured sailing.

With junior sailing at Howth facing a problem of success with oversubscription, the club insists that anybody who booked a course prior to the lockdown will be given priority on rescheduled courses.

The revised schedule for bookings will be available from tomorrow, Thursday 11 June from 10am through the office. Full details of what is available can be found on the Quest website HERE.

Sadly the club is not currently permitted to run summer courses for primary school children, but its hoped the restrictions will ease to allow for sailing for younger and less experienced sailors before the planned return to school in the autumn.

In the meantime, Howth YC will run an adventure course in single-handed dinghies or double-handed dinghies with two sailors from the same household. Kites and wires will also run if there is a sufficient numbers of sailors from the same households to train in the club’s three Fevas/420s.

Dining options

The countdown to the reopening of the clubhouse restaurant and bar on 29 June has started, with plans to make the most of the spacious facilities for comfortable social distancing.

To help with your on board entertaining, ice will be available to berth holders on request.

And next Sunday 14 June there will be a takeaway barbecue and beverage service to members from 12.30pm until 6pm (depending on weather and demand). Members can pre-book for this through the club office or at the marina office.

Howth Yacht Club is seeking to recruit a new club manager, to assume overall responsibility for administration, marine and hospitality at the North Dublin club.

One of Ireland’s premier yacht clubs, Howth Yacht Club (HYC) has over 1,600 members and an annual turnover of €2.2m. It operates from its award-winning building overlooking Howth Harbour that houses office, bar, dining, and changing facilities.

Apart from the Clubhouse, HYC has a 250-berth marina, two cranes and a boat storage area. In addition, its moorings in the harbour are serviced by launch.

The club employs up to 31 staff during the summer and is the largest employer in Howth village.

HYC provides an annual programme of club racing on a year-round basis as well as hosting a full calendar of International, National and Regional competitive events.

It operates a fleet of two large committee boats, nine RIBs, five J80 Sportsboats, a J24 and a variety of sailing dinghies that are available for members and training.

The club is also growing its commercial activities afloat using its Quest sail and powerboat training operation while ashore it hosts a wide range of functions each year, including conferences, weddings, parties.

Reporting to the Commodore, the club manager will be responsible for implementing decisions as directed by the Commodore and General Committee; the overall operation of the club; ensuring compliance with all legislation; overseeing services provided; and ensuring customer service is to the standard that positively reflects on the club.

The successful candidate must be customer service-orientated; have an appropriate third-level qualification or suitable experience in finance, engineering or a marine-related activity; a proven track record in management; good interpersonal and social skills coupled with a practical and pragmatic approach to problem-solving. A genuine interest in marine activities and conservation is desirable.

If you believe that you have these attributes and would enjoy using your skills and expertise in one of the busiest sailing clubs in Ireland, please submit your application with your CV by Friday 20 March, by email to [email protected] or in writing to:

The Commodore, Howth Yacht Club, Middle Pier, Howth, Co Dublin D13E6V3, Ireland

The full job description, specification and requirements are available from the HYC website HERE.

The latest letter from Howth Yacht Club Commodore Ian Byrne reminds that tomorrow (Friday 31 January) is the last day to get on the entry list for the 125th anniversary cruise in company.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the cruise to Scotland is planned from 10 to 26 June and follows the same format as the club’s centenary cruise in 1995.

While there is plenty of flexibility to visit other ports or anchorages en route, the cruise is limited to 30 boats so any crews still considering taking part should act fact. Questions should be directed to Cyril Geran.

The commodore’s latest letter also includes details about the marina’s switch to road diesel, access around upcoming pier works and recruitment for a new professional club manager.

For more see the HYC website HERE.

Barry Hayes from UK Sailmakers Ireland begins a new series of talks with Top Tips For Sailors next Thursday 16 January at Howth Yacht Club from 7.30pm.

Members and guests alike are welcome to attend the two-part session which will cover both optimisation for racing or cruising vessels, and learning how to service your deck hardware — overalls recommended.

Barry will also visit the Royal St George on Thursday 30 January (time TBC) and Kinsale Yacht Club on Thursday 13 February at 7.30pm.

Howth RNLI is hosting a special Lifeboat Supporters’ Evening tonight, Tuesday 19 November, from 7.30pm at Howth Yacht Club.

Those attending will learn the latest news and updates from the Howth lifesaving volunteers, as well as see video of their vital rescue efforts.

RNLI Christmas cards and souvenirs will also be on sale to raise funs for the charity that saves lives at sea. All are welcome to attend.

This coming Thursday (21 November) there will also be a lifeboat evening at King Sitric restaurant, with a six course local seasonal menu and a lively auction in aid of Howth RNLI. Details are on Facebook HERE.

Plans are being developed for next year’s celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of organised racing in Howth and the establishment of one of Howth Yacht Club’s founding clubs, namely Howth Sailing Club, in 1895.

The club says it will be holding a number of events that should cater for different tastes, so all members should find something that will appeal to them.

Apart from the normal events that are run each year, there will be special events:

• January 1, 2020: The year’s celebrations will formally be launched at a reception on New Year’s Day
• April 16/19: Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships
• June 10/26: Cruise to Scotland (see outline programme below)
• May 29/31: Wave Regatta, building on last year’s highly successful event
• July: Dinghy Fun Weekend
• July: Sunflower raft-up
• August 9/14: Fireball World Championships. This event will attract almost 100 boats from all over the world
• August: 125th Family Weekend

Howth Yacht Club is also running a competition to pick a logo that will be used alongside its famous anchor to mark all events taking place during the year.

Entries are to be sent to Paddy Judge, Vice Commodore, in sealed envelopes. At this time four entries have been received and the competition closes on Saturday 31 August, with the winning design unveiled at the Volunteers’ Night on 19 September, which will have a reception to outline the plans for 2020.

Among these plans are the anniversary cruise to Scotland next June. The 100-year anniversary cruise to the sheltered waters in the Firth of Clyde in 1995 was a tremendous success with unforgettable memories, so Howth Yacht Club has decided to keep to the same format to mark its 125th in 2020:

• June 10: Depart Howth
• June 12: Muster Bangor
• June 13: In Bangor, with dinner in Royal Ulster Yacht Club
• June 17: Muster in Campbelltown
• June 20: Muster in East Loch Tarbert or Portavadie with Dinner
• June 22: Muster in Rothsay
• June 24: Muster in Kip, with dinner
• June 26: Muster in Troon, with final dinner

Following that, participants will make individual passage home to Howth or stay on for further cruising.

Howth Yacht Club says it has been successful in obtaining discounts in a number of marinas, which will help keep the cost as low as possible.

Applications for places on the cruise are now being accepted. As part of the application and to allow your committee to book ahead, the club requires a non-refundable deposit of €200.

The cruise is limited to 30 boats and places will be allocated in the order in which the applications (with deposit) are received. If more than 30 apply, they will be put on a waiting list.

At this time, 16 boats have already indicated an interest in taking part in the cruise, so if you would like to take part please complete an application form in the HYC administration office. You will need to provide the following:

• Name of Member
• Name of boat, plus dimensions
• Potential number of crew
• And the €200 deposit