June 2019's edition of the Volvo D2D was a step-up for the event in so many ways and had a number of significant firsts writes Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann.
Windfall - the biggest yacht to ever compete set a new record time. It was also the biggest fleet ever at 43. The race also had the largest number of finishers ever at 41 and the lowest number of retired yachts (2).
The youngest skipper Tom Shanahan at 19 years of age brought J109 Ruth home in fourth place overall with the first all amateur crew thereby winning the Dingle Peninsula Produce Hamper.
And in further youth sailing participation in the race, 17-year-old Diarmuid Desmond from Dingle Sailing Club sailed on Windfall and the County Kerry sailor was rewarded with a record time into his home port.
It was also the first time that the race was sailed on the RORC offshore calendar.
When Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) crossed the finish line it was the first time a yacht has retained the overall win in the Volvo D2D race.
The sponsors did their part too. The most beer drunk in an 11 hour period at the event race office in Dingle - 6 barrels of Dick Macs Pale Ale. Every participating boat received a bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin at the prizegiving. The biggest prize giving function ever with 220 people attending in the Dingle Skellig Hotel. A Bretzel Bakery chocolate brownie on every table at the prize giving party.
My sincere thanks to all the volunteers from the National Yacht Club who made the event a massive success in 2019 - most notably Con Murphy (PRO), Cathy MacAleavy, Suzie Barry and Grainne Ryan. We also had wonderful media support from the Afloat team of David O’ Brien and Winkie Nixon aided by Miriam Ferriter of The Dingle Skellig Hotel and Photographer Dominick Walsh in Dingle.
The 2021 Race will start from the National Yacht Club on Wednesday 9th June 2021. This will be a limited entry event. Previous entrants will be offered early entry options and then the entry will be opened to others to allow up to a maximum of 50 yachts.
Special Recognition Awards in the Volvo D2D Race
1 Diarmuid Desmond – Dingle Sailing Club - Crewed on Windfall
2 Dave Morley – NYC – Start Mark Layer
3 Grainne Ryan – NYC – Trackers and Results
4 Suzie Barry - NYC – Start and Finish Race Office
5 Cathy Mac Aleavy – NYC – Superwoman!
6 Peter O’ Regan – Dingle Marina Superintendant
7 Niamh Kennedy – Dingle Sailing Club Sailing Manager
8 Olivier Prouveur – NYC Sailing Manager
9 Ian Meldon – NYC – Mac Lir Skipper for committee boat
10 Oonagh Deegan – NYC Assistant Manager
11 Tim Greenwood – NYC Start Committee Boar
12 Sandra Moore – NYC – Race Office
Photos by Dominick Walsh
Download a full list of 2019 D2D prizewinners below plus a full set of results below
Read WM Nixon's race review here and all the D2D race news in one handy link here