The National Yacht Club and the Irish dinghy and one design scene are mourning the loss of sailing stalwart Gerry Donleavy of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, who died at the weekend.

Donleavy, a long-standing member of the NYC, won the 1988 British Flying Fifteen title and was a multi-class champion.

He was at home in dinghy and keelboat classes and travelled extensively across Ireland and Europe in a sailing career spanning almost 50 years. 

He claimed national titles in 420s, Fireballs and 505s, to name a few, before moving into the Irish keelboat scene in the mid-1980s, competing successfully in the J/24 before finally settling on the Flying Fifteen as his boat of choice.

He competed at international level in a series of World Championship campaigns in Australia and New Zealand.

Although he didn't compete when the 2019 Subaru Flying Fifteen Worlds were held in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, he was nevertheless central to the event's successful staging, an occasion he truly enjoyed as it gave him the chance to renew friendships with many of his antipodean rivals. 

Donleavy's lifelong love for the sport of sailing saw him in many roles, including that of instructor and coach and mentor right up to Irish Olympic team level. 

Donleavy, who ran specialist marine firm International Boats, was instrumental both afloat and ashore in promoting the Flying Fifteen as Ireland's most significant one-design keelboat class. Its most extensive base was, quite fittingly, at his home club.

Leading the tributes, in a message to members issued on Monday October 4, the NYC's Alan Daly said: "He was a great friend to all in the fleet, and he will be sorely missed".

Funeral arrangements are here