Saturday's National Yacht Club Regatta hosted 55 one design boats across nine classes on a separate course to the cruiser-racers for a day of competitive racing under Race Officer Con Murphy.

As Afloat reported earlier, the day started with a 6-10kt westerly breeze, setting the stage for a challenging day on Dublin Bay.

Stephan Hyde, helming SB20 Bad Kilcullen (3741) has the best start in Race 2 of the National Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Con Murphy

In the first race, the wind dropped suddenly, prompting a decision to shorten the race. As the boats were nearing the finish line, the wind unexpectedly shifted, turning the leg into a beat. However, the organisers swiftly adapted to the changing conditions, setting a new windward-leeward course in an 8-10kt southeasterly for the second race.

Dublin Bay 21 and Glen Class start in Race 1 of the National Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Con Murphy

The day saw the arrival of seven Howth 17s, which were given priority in the multi-fleet starting sequence.

Howth 17s start in the National Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Con Murphy

Despite the challenges, the wind held up nicely for the second race, providing intense and competitive racing with several very close finishes.

Howth 17 no 6 Anita - Frank Cassidy crossing the finish line in the National Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Con Murphy

The combination of modern and classic racing yachts on the same regatta course proved to be a great success according to Murphy, showcasing the diversity of the sport. 

SB20s had a close downwind finish in Race 2 of the National Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Con Murphy

Two wins from two races gave the host club's J109 'Something Else (John and Brian Hall) the overall win in Cruisers Onne IRC division at the National Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday.

Over 170 competing yachts in 32 classes competed in light and shifty north westerlies on Dublin Bay over a two-race programme.

Finishing second in the nine-boat IRC One fleet was Royal Irish rivals Richard & Timothy Goodbody sailing the J109 White Mischief. Third, in another J109, the National Yacht Club's Ruth was sailed by the Shanahan Family in their final preparation before the Round Ireland Race next Saturday.

Howth Yacht Club X-322 visitors Dux (Nico & Caroline Gore Grimes) won from Lindsay j Casey's J97 Windjammer from the Royal St. George Yacht Club in a three-boat IRC Two fleet. Eddie Bourke's  Xebec from Howth Yacht Club was third. 

Howth Yacht Club was also to the fore in Cruisers Three IRC, where Stephen Mullaney's Sigma 33 Insider topped the eight-boat fleet with two wins. Richard and Philip Lovegrove of the Royal St George Yacht Club were second in Sigma sistership, Rupert. In a one, two, three for the vintage Sigma design, Moonshine (Ronnie/David/Fergus Moloney/O'Flynn/O'Sullivan) of the Royal St George Yacht Club was third. 

In the one design divisions, Davie Nixon in Erica won the visiting seven-boat Howth 17 class.  

Austin Kenny's Royal Irish Yacht Club J80 won the seven-boat sportsboat class exclusively featuring J80s. 

There was another host club win in the nine-boat SB20s, with James Gorman's two second places in Black beating the Royal Irish's Jerry Dowling in Bad/Kilcullen by a point. Philip Doran's LoFly was third. 

Denis Bergin's Sir Ossis of the river from the Royal Irish Yacht Club won in a three-boat Dragon turnout.

Bucking the sub-ten keelboatclass turnout trend, the National Yacht Club's David Gorman won a 16-boat Flying Fifteen race in Fomo with a 1,2. Ken Dumpleton's Rodriguez was second with a 5,1, and Keith Poole's Mike Wasozki was third with a 4,4. 

As Afloat reported, the Water Wags NYC Regatta Race was held last Wednesday.

Results in all classes are below

Following the success of the first of the four Dun Laoghaire Harbour waterfront yacht club regattas last Saturday (June 8th), where over 100 yachts competed in the DMYC's opening regatta of the 2024 summer season, next weekend (June 15th) is the National Yacht Club's turn to stage its biennial regatta.

As Afloat reported previously, The East Pier club promises an exciting day’s racing followed by 'amazing entertainment' onshore for the club highlight of the year.

National Yacht Club's 2024 regatta programme

As NYC's Susan Spain told Afloat, “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.

When success is achieved in a team event, it can be difficult to highlight the individual who most contributed to the win. And with nine teams providing a total of 27 female-helmed boats to contest the Roy Family Trophy under the Women At The Helm initiative staged by the National YC in May, it was potentially a complex decision.

But the adjudicators have simplified it for themselves by deciding that it should go jointly to the three helms in the RIYC's team of Joan Sheffield, Katherine Sheehan and Catherine Day, in the understanding that their crew would be sharing the honours.

The Royal Irish Yacht Club White Sails Cruiser team of Just Jasmin (Joan Sheffield), Shearwater (Catherine Day) and Great Escape (Katherine Sheehan) were the winners of the Roy Family Perpetual Trophy for the best team performance at the Women At The Helm 2024 regatta held at Dun Laoghaire on Sunday. 

Nine teams of three boats with skippers from the same club were in the mix for the coveted prize, with the RIYC ladies coming out on top.

The Roy Family Trophy for the best team performance at the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta went to (left to right) Joan Sheffield, Katherine Sheehan and Catherine Day, with DBSC Hon Sec  Rosemary Roy, wife of the late Jack Roy, the former President of Irish Sailing, who donated the Trophy in 2019 for the inaugural Women at the Helm Regatta and Vice Commodore NYC Rosemary Cadogan, Photo: Michael Chester  

A weekend of sailing activities on and off the water concluded with a gala prizegiving at the National Yacht Club for the SIA Partners-sponsored regatta hosted by NYC Commodore Peter Sherry.

Entries included sailors from Poolbeg, West Kirby, Mayo, and Dun Laoghaire.

The restored Dublin Bay 21 class raced as part of the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta Photo: Michael Chester

In the cruisers spinnaker division, Royal Irish Yacht Club's 'Tracy Carey's J109 Riders on the Storm won overall with 11 points from Jill Roy's sistership Ruth from NYC on 15.

Joan Sheffield's Bavaria 35 Just Jasmin from the Royal Irish Yacht Club won the White Sails division from clubmate Catherine Day in the Dehler 36 Shearwater. 

2024 Women at the Helm Regatta Photo Gallery by Michael Chester

The National YC's Charlotte O'Kelly won the sportsboat division on six points in an SB20, two ahead of Jill Fleming's Flying Fifteen on eight. 

West Kirby Sailing Club's Liz Potter won the Portsmouth yardstick dinghy section in a Devoti Devoti Dzero on five points. Second was Shirley Gilmore in an ILCA 6 on 7.

In addition to racing, the annual event encouraged friends, family, sailors, and non-sailors to come to NYC and get involved. 

Ciara O’Sullivan (16) was the youngest sailor at the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta and is pictured with Vice Commodore NYC, Rosemary Cadogan Photo: Michael Chester

The event began on Friday, May 24th, with a motivational speaker supper featuring Olympic sailing silver medallist Annalise Murphy, solo offshore sailor Joan Mulloy and former RTÉ broadcaster and sailing enthusiast Bryan Dobson.

There was a BBQ, live music, and a drinks reception for competitors after racing on Saturday, and food and refreshments were available after sailing on Sunday as well as the event prize-giving.

"It was a fabulous weekend both on and off the water", Ann Kirwan told Afloat.

Race Officers Mairead NiCheallachain (keelboats) and Suzanne McGarry (dinghies) held briefings for the 41 competing boats. 28 keelboats and 13 dinghies raced in the DBSC race on Saturday afternoon, over three races on each of the two race courses on Sunday. In addition, 22 Water Wag dinghies will now race next Wednesday, May 29th, due to the strong wind cancellation on May 22nd. 

Cruiser results are below, and use this link for results for other classes

Listen to Ann Kirwan in an Afloat podcast on the forthcoming Women at the Helm Regatta 2024 here 

2024 Women at the Helm Regatta Prizegiving Photo Gallery by Michael Chester

This weekend's Women at the Helm Regatta 2024, hosted by the National Yacht Club and supported by Sia Partners and Irish Sailing, begins on Friday, May 24th, with a motivational panel featuring Olympic sailing silver medallist Annalise Murphy, solo offshore sailor Joan Mulloy and former RTÉ broadcaster and sailing enthusiast Bryan Dobson.

Race Officers Mairead NiCheallachain (keelboats) and Suzanne McGarry (dinghies) will hold a briefing for competitors on Saturday, May 25th at 11.15 in the National Yacht Club. Registration will take place on Friday 16.30-18.30 and on Saturday 10.00-12.00 at the NYC Race Office.

Entries closed at midnight on Tuesday, May 21st, and one of the event organisers, Ann Kirwan, told Afloat, "We are delighted with our final tally of 63 boats, all with female helms. The entries include 22 Water Wags who will now race next Wednesday, May 29th, due to this evening's cancellation". 

41 boats will compete over the coming weekend, with 28 keelboats and 13 dinghies racing in the DBSC race on Saturday afternoon, with 3 races scheduled on each of the 2 race courses on Sunday.

Entries include sailors from Poolbeg, West Kirby, and Mayo, as well as Dun Laoghaire, Kirwan said.

In addition to Friday's speaker supper there will be a BBQ, live music, and a drinks reception for competitors after racing on Saturday, and food and refreshments will be available after sailing on Sunday as well as the event prize-giving. The coveted prize of the Roy Family Perpetual Trophy will be awarded for the best team performance as well as many other prizes.

Listen to Ann Kirwan in an Afloat podcast on the forthcoming Women at the Helm Regatta 2024 here 

After a frustrating May Bank Holiday weekend and the absence of wind that led to the cancellation of the Feva East Coast championships, the various host yacht clubs around the country were rewarded with great conditions last weekend.

The Optimist Ulster Championships hosted a large fleet in Larne, possibly one of the largest for an Optimist Ulsters, showing the healthy status of the fleet nationally. Six National Yacht Club young sailors travelled up. The club had representation in all four fleets.

Regatta Coaching is an entry-level fleet with an emphasis on fun, friends, and short races. Our youngest sailor, 8-year-old Cormac Whelan, enjoyed the conditions, finishing 8th in the fleet, and was all smiles when he received his prize (for best U9). His sister Alanah put her club Easter camp learnings to contribution, completing all 8 races and finishing 13th in the regatta Racing fleet. This fleet is also an entry-level fleet with a stronger focus on developing racing skills with a series of short races.

In the main fleet, the NYC juniors delivered a strong performance led by Alex Butcher. Alex has recently been selected in the Irish team going to the Europeans and every opportunity to perfect his skills is good to take. He started with a very strong Saturday, including a race win, taking a championship early lead. But he was never safe and settled with 3rd overall after 6 races of close and intense battles on the race course. his teammate 11 years old Louis Tricket, took a few races to get to business but had a stellar Sunday, including a race win and a 2nd to climb right back to 7th overall. Eabha Brennan Hobbs completed the team's excellent show, securing 8th overall and 3rd girl with a series including 3 top 10 (all secured the Sunday).

Jacob Browne was the sole NYC sailor competing in the senior fleet. His best finish was 10th, and he settled for 22nd overall, falling foul of the black flag rule in the final race.

NYC coach Sam Ledoux (formerly a team Ireland Optimist sailor) was happy with the overall performance and is looking forward to continuing the good work at training and events.

Toppers

The Topper Traveler series is now well underway and the fleet completed 4 good races in Dunmore East. 8 NYC sailors were competing and once again showed the club is at the forefront of Topper sailing in Ireland. Gemma Brady secured her first win of the season with a scoreline almost flawless (3 wins and a 2nd). Kate Kenny's 4th and Grace Keating's 5th rounded up a good weekend for the girls. John Kenny had a great event, taking 6th overall and top junior sailor and a few ahead of Rory Brennan Hobbs 9th. James Gorman had strong upwind legs, but he is looking forward to figuring out how to best progress his downwind back in training. Max Swan and Ruth Thomson also competed gaining valuable experience and looking to progress before the next events and the worlds in Spain.

ILCA Masters

The ILCA Masters were completed in Howth... Certainly a junior at heart, Alison Pigot secured 2nd Grand Master in the ILCA6 category.

The Friday night series was launched with two great races. Banter and friendly racing were on the menu, with a large Feva contingent leading the way.

The club dinghies are up and running, the summer courses are filling up, and the club instructors are looking forward to a summer filled with fun, friends, surprises, events of sorts, and some racing. Don't miss out! Nothing beats a few weeks to build invaluable memories on the water.

The 2024 Women At The Helm Regatta (WATH) will be hosted by the National Yacht Club over the weekend of May 24-26.

The event encourages female sailors who may not normally lead, to step up and make the move from crew to helm. The event is open to all female helms from teenagers to seniors, with multiple prizes on offer, and participation is mixed.

The regatta will kick off with a Speaker Supper the evening of Friday, May 24th, with Olympic silver medalist sailor Annalise Murphy (and national road champion cyclist) and Joan Mulloy and moderator, former RTE news anchor, Bryan Dobson.

The regatta is for keelboats and dinghies, with all entrants aged 16+. The event is run  in association with SIA Partners.

The National Yacht Club hosts the 2024 Women At The Helm Regatta on May 24-26

The criteria is for a female to helm all boats, but unlike the previous WATH regattas, the NYC organisers have dropped the requirement for at least 50% of the crew to be female.

There will be one race on Saturday afternoon, which will be the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) race, and WATH entrants who are not members of DBSC will race in it. Boats entered in DBSC and WATH will be scored in both.

For classes that may have more than one DBSC race (dinghies and Green fleet), only the first race will count towards the WATH regatta.

Former Figaro sailor Joan Mulloy will speak at the 2024 Women At The Helm Regatta

Three races are scheduled for Sunday, followed by prize giving in NYC, including the coveted prize of the Roy Family Perpetual Trophy for best team performance. 

If all four races are sailed there will be one discard. The reality is that not all DBSC boat owners will pass the helm to a non-regular female helm, so if a male helms on Saturday, that race can be discarded, and all three Sunday races counted for WATH.

The Water Wags' second race on Wednesday, May 22nd, will be their single WATH race.

The event will include a female-helmed cruise in company on Sunday, the 26th.

In addition to the Speaker Supper the social activities will include a post-sailing BBQ with live music on Saturday evening, and a BBQ with music and the prize giving on Sunday afternoon.

The Notice of Race and Entry Form is here

The National Yacht Club's first 'Cruise in Company' sail of the season saw an impressive turnout of 20 boats.

The boats gathered at Scotsman's Bay on Sunday, May 5, at 12:30 p.m. before embarking on a leisurely 12-mile journey south to the Greystones Harbour Marina in County Wicklow.

A varied assortment of NYC boats gathered in Scotsman's Bay on Sunday, May 5 Photo: Michael Chester

The participants planned to arrive at Greystones before or around 4 p.m. They were greeted with a reception on Greystones Marina's dock with Club Commodore Peter Sherry and Vice Commodore Rosemary Cadogan, followed by an evening meal in nearby Greystones town restaurants.

Brian and Rebecca Hall on the J109 “Something Else,” was one of the National Yacht Club Cruising Group's 20 boats that travelled on their first ‘Cruise in Company’ sail of the season. Photo: Michael Chester

This was the first of the 'Sail in Company' cruises in 2024, which are part of the NYC Cruising Group. 

Andrew Collins “Christo” was one of the National Yacht Club Cruising Group's 20 boats that travelled on their first ‘Cruise in Company’ sail of the season. Photo: Michael Chester

Each boat was assigned a berth on Saturday, May 4, with a marina map communicated to each skipper before departure from Dun Laoghaire.

The event was a huge success, with participants enjoying the beautiful weather and favourable winds. The next 'Sail in Company' cruise is eagerly awaited, and many have already registered their interest.

National Yacht Club's 'Sail in Company' to Greystones Harbour Marina Photo Gallery by Michael Chester

Royal St. George's top Irish match racer, Tom Higgins, will confront March's Student Match Racing National Championships winner, Jamie McMahon of Howth Yacht Club, among others, when the National Yacht Club (NYC) hosts the Irish Match Racing National Championships (IMRA) at Dun Laoghaire on May 11th and 12th.

A lineup of skilled helms from across the country are already signed up for the event, which is billed as an important step towards growing match racing in Ireland.

Kinsale's Sam Hunt from Gladiators returns to Dun Laoghaire following his win in the inaugural Irish Sailing League a fortnight ago. 

As well as the locally based Higgins Racing team, there will be Dan Little of No Clew, Diana Kissane representing WMR, Oisin Cullen from Red Flag Racing, and Ruairi Finnegan of Craic'n Racing who competed in China in December at the World Match racing finals.

As regular Afloat readers will know, UCD ace Higgins has been on the match racing global circuit competing in the USA at the Governor's Cup last July and more recently in Australia at the International Youth Match Racing Championship.

Oisin Cullen, the recently elected IMRA Chairperson, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event, which will be sailed in NYC's Elliott 6m one-design keelboats: "This championship is not just a race; it's a significant step towards growing match racing in Ireland".