This coming weekend, the Irish Flying Fifteen community have their biggest regatta of the year, the National Championship of Ireland, hosted by the National Yacht Club. A seven-race programme is on the agenda over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 2nd, 3rd and 4th September.

This year’s regatta will see two new trophies donated to the regatta by the family of the late Jack Roy and by the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet in memory of the late Gerry Donleavy, respectively. Both gentlemen had strong connections with the host club and the Flying Fifteens as competitors and supporters of the class in Dun Laoghaire and further afield.

Jack will also be fondly remembered as a Race Officer for DBSC and for the Flying Fifteen fleet and, in particular, for his most recent race management of the 2019 Flying Fifteen Worlds in Dun Laoghaire.

The Roy Family’s trophy will be awarded to the first National Yacht Club boat in all Nationals going forward and the Gerry Donleavy Memorial Cup will go to the winners of Race 1 at all future Nationals.

In terms of the runners and riders, there is a wide field of potential winners and occupiers of podium places to be considered and the best place to start with the speculation on these places is with the current holders, John Lavery and Alan Green. With a wealth of experience on board, supplemented by an early summer of contesting events in the UK and closing with the Europeans in Cowes last week, where they finished 15th, they must surely be considered the boat to beat sailing in their home waters.

David Gorman's Flying Fifteen Fomo

On the domestic regatta scene, we would have to look at the events sailed this year, in Whitehead, N. Ireland and Dunmore East. The common denominator in these two events is Peter Kennedy (3920) who won the Northerns with Stephen Kane and was placed second in the Southerns with Peter Chamberlain. Others who filled podium places at these two events include 2021 Northern Champions Stuart Harrison & Conor Brennan (3892), 3rd in Dunmore East, Bryan Willis & John McPeake (4074), 2nd in Whitehead, Lee Statham & Andy Paul (4070), 3rd in Whitehead. And, given their performance in Dunmore East, where they won three races, the O’Briens, Niall and Ronan, (4092) from the Connemara Flying Fifteen Fleet can no longer be considered “dark horses”.

New Flying Fifteen regional champions, Ronan (l) and Niall O’Brien (R) from Connemara Photo by Niall Meagher

If we then look at the Dun Laoghaire fleet, there are a number of boats that warrant attention in this exercise. Last Thursday, Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (4028) closed out the DBSC’s Thursday Overall Series with a comfortable margin and given that this far out the forecast is for light winds, that brings this combination into the equation of consideration. David Gorman (4099) has dominated the DBSC’s Saturday Overall Series with a number of crews and, for this weekend, teams up with Chris Doorly, a positive development, so they too warrant consideration. And an exercise such as this would not be complete without mentioning the potent combination of Ian Mathews & Keith Poole (4094). While Ian has been abroad for the majority of the season, he has come home in good time for a crack at this title.

Ian Mathews & Keith Poole

And of course, there is a host of DBSC regulars who will be “itching” to knock some of those mentioned above off their pedestals.

Andy McCleery & Colin Dougan (4037)

Reports of low club numbers in the northern fleets should not dissuade consideration of the likes of Andy McCleery & Colin Dougan (4037) or Bryan Willis & John McPeake.

The regatta, sponsored by CMI and Thomson Process Equipment & Engineering will be under the race management of Eddie Totterdell, with the first race warning signal on Friday 2nd September due at 13:55.

With Ireland's diverse selection of women sailors achieving an extensive range of success locally, nationally and internationally during 2022, interest in getting involved is running at a high level across the population generally, and this Friday evening (August 26th), the busy National YC in Dun Laoghaire is the focal point for an introductory weekend for the continuing Women on Water initiative, with the inaugural theme being on Choosing Your Own Route Into Sailing.

There are so many ways and experiences that can contribute to the process, yet there's no linear approach. To hear more, the initial invitation for Friday from the Women at the Helm Weekend at the NYC is for an evening in the company of five exceptional Irish female sailors to share some of the highlights of their sailing journeys so far - the hurdles they faced, the support they welcomed, and the goals they have set.

The opening symposium will welcome Joan Mulloy representing Offshore Sailing and her Vendée Globe goal, Laura Dillon sharing an insight to her Inshore Sailing experience, Diana Kissane with Team Racing, Christine Heath on Cruising Adventures, and rising star Clara Fagan sharing her experience on the Women in Sailing Menteeship with Pamela Lee. A complete programme of events afloat will then follow through the weekend.

Foil safe? Joan Mulloy of Mayo will be one of the star speakers at Friday night's introductory symposium in the National YC

The National Yacht Club's own Sunfast 3600 Searcher skippered by Pete Smyth was the winner in the IRC Zero division of the club's Davy-sponsored biennial regatta on Dublin Bay on Saturday.

Smyth earned two wins from two races in medium north westerlies to beat the Royal Irish First 40  Prima Forte skippered by Sean Lemass.  Third in the four-boat fleet was Kyran McStay in the X35 D-Tox. 

IRC One victory went to Richard Goodbody's RIYC J109 White Mischief in an eight boat turnout. The NYC J109 Something Else (Brian & John Hall) finished second with clubmate Barry O'Sullivan in Jalapeño third. 

As Afloat reported earlier, the Dun Laoghaire waterfront regatta season is a highlight of the Dublin sailing season and Saturday saw a great programme of entertainment ashore and racing on the water across 20 different divisions.  

One Design keelboats 

David Gorman's brand new Flying fifteen Fomo scored a 4 and a 1 in a turnout of 13 boats to win his class. Second was Ben Mulligan's Enfant De Marie with Tom Murphy's Fflagella third. 

David Gorman's Flying fifteen Fomo

Coming immediately after last weekend's All Ireland Ruffian 23 Team Racing Championships, Brendan Duffy in Carmen was the regatta winner counting a 1,2 to be a point clear of Frank Bradley's Ripples. National Champion Ann Kirwan in Bandit was third overall on five points in the six-boat turnout.

James Gorman of the host club sailing Black was the double race winner in the three-boat SB20 sportsboat class. Patrick McGrath's Smoke On The Water was second with Sneaky B, Nicole Hemeryck in third place. 

Royal St. George's Ian Simington was the J80 winner with two wins from Cooney/Kneafsey in Joyride. Marie Barry and Fiona Curran were third in Jamiroquoi.

Two wins for Billy Whizz (James Conboy-Fischer) in the Beneteau 211 gave him the scratch division title from Andrew Bradley's Chinook. Third was Rowan Fogarty's Ventuno in a five boat turnout

Dinghies

In a 14-boat entry, Marco Sorgassi took wins in all three races in the ILCA 6/Laser Radial class. Brendan Hughes was second with Judy O'Beirne third in a clean sweep at the top for the Royal St. George Laser fleet. 

Three wins from three starts gave the National Yacht Club's Stephen Oram a clear win in a four-boat RS Aero class. In second place was Sarah Dwyer and Damien Dion was third. 

Sarah Dwyer was second in the RS Aero class Photo: Afloat

As previously reported by Afloat, the Water Wag class raced for NYC Regatta honours as part of its Wednesday night racing, results are here.

See full 2022 Davy NYC Regatta individual and overall results in all classes here

Three live Dublin Bay webcams featuring some NYC race course areas are here

The well supported 2022 ILCA/Laser Master Championship 2022 at the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour saw a combined fleet of 56 boats - including UK visitors - for the weekend championship in the south of Dublin Bay.

Six races were sailed in light to medium winds in both the ILCA 6 (Radial) and ILCA 7 (Standard rig) rigs over trapezoid courses.

There was a combined fleet of 56 boats for the ILCA Masters Championships made up of 32 ILCA 6 rigs and 24 ILCA 7s Photo: Afloat

Prizes were awarded for age categories in each rig type; 30 years to 44 – Apprentice, 45 to 54 – Master, 55 to 64 – Grand Master and 65 to 74 – Great Grand Master.

Wicklow helmsman Michael Norman is the 2022 Great Grandmaster ILCA 6 champion

Wicklow helmsman Michael Norman is the 2022 Great Grandmaster champion in the 32-boat ILCA 6 class. The Grandmaster titleholder is Sean Craig of the Royal St. George Yacht Club and his Dun Laoghaire clubmate Brendan Hughes is the Master champion.

Brendan Hughes is the ILCA 6 Master champion Photo: Afloat

The ILCA 6 Apprentice title was won by Malahide's Darren Griffin. 

In the ILCA 6 Female fleet, a closely fought battle for national champion saw Judy O'Beirne of the Royal St George Yacht Club win over her clubmate Shirley Gilmore. Alison Pigot of the National Yacht Club was third female. 

Royal Cork's Nick Walsh is the Grandmaster champion (above) Photo: Afloat

Royal Cork's Nick Walsh wins the pin end in a start at the ILCA Masters on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

In the ILCA 7, Charlie Taylor from Balyholme Yacht Club takes the Great Grandmaster title while Cork sailors took the rest of the silverware. Royal Cork's Nick Walsh is the Grandmaster champion. Dan O'Connell is the Master Champion and Apprentice champion is Kieran Dorgan of Cove Sailing Club. 

Results are here

Saturday’s (April 9th) Lift-in of yachts and boats at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in perfect calm and sunny conditions marked the opening of the 2022 summer sailing season on Dublin Bay. 

In the harbour, the National Yacht Club and neighbouring Royal St. George YC lifted in approximately 30 sailing cruisers apiece using mobile cranes in the day-long operation. 

The boats had wintered ashore on hardstanding at the club premises.

After the weekend lift-in, the summer sailing season will commence on Dublin Bay with a 35-mile ISORA coastal race and the Dublin Bay Sailing Club summer season, starting on April 23rd.

The annual lift in of boats at the Royal St. George Yacht Club

At Ireland's biggest boating centre, the fine Spring weather and good sailing breezes have seen several yachts based at the town marina already back on the Dublin Bay race track.

Putting its fleet of Elliott 6m keelboats to good use, the National Yacht Club held an introduction to match racing clinic for members in Dun Laoghaire Harbour last weekend.

The Day Match Racing Clinics under Coach Will Byrne was open to all members over 16 years of age interested in discovering the boats and the modern format of Match Racing competitions.

Sailors registered either as individual or pre-constituted teams of three (or four women or smaller individuals).

Further clinics are planned with an NYC match racing series to follow, according to Byrne.

National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O'Regan led the junior summer sailing achievement celebrations at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Friday night.

The junior and youth sailors produced results at home and abroad in a variety of classes including Optimist, Laser and 29er skiff.

NYC Summer Course 2021 Achievement Awards were also presented.

Photo Gallery by Michael Chester 

In one of the highlights of the club year, the National Yacht Club awarded thirteen annual awards for outstanding sailing achievements on Saturday night.

The awards, as well as the Commodore’s Cup, were presented at the NYC annual Sailing Awards Dinner at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O’Regan and the array of NYC silverware Photo: Michael Chester

The Boyne Regatta Cup – for best performance in offshore racing of the year

Gavin Doyle - 1st in IRC 2 handed, 1st in IRC 4 and 3rd overall in the RORC Castle Rock Race 2021 and 3rd Overall, 3rd in IRC 4 and 3rd in the IRC 2 handed division in the RORC Channel Race 2021, JOG NJO Sails Weymouth 2021 – IRC 4 – 2nd, RORC/SORC Solent Shakedown 2021 1st, sailing his Corby 25 Duff Lite with Co-Skipper Alex Piatti Photo: Michael Chester

The O’Leary Cup – for best performance of the year in one designs

John Lavery & Alan Green (pictured left) - Winners of the Flying Fifteen Championship of Ireland for a second consecutive year are presented with the O'Leary Cup by Conor O'Regan Photo: Michael Chester

The Edward Yacht Club Trophy – for best performance of the year in dinghies, Mermaids or Flying Fifteens

David Cahill  - 1st overall on Tuesday nights and 2nd overall on Saturdays in the huge Laser Radial Class (44 competitors) in DBSC. Winner of the Dr. Alf Delany Cup for most successful dinghy for the season Photo: Michael Chester

John Byrne Memorial Trophy – for the greatest contribution to sailing in the NYC during the year

Alan Balfe - For his dedication and commitment in organising events in his role as Sailing Secretary last year and for the last two years in very difficult Covid times Photo: Michael Chester

The Winkelmann Trophy – for Cadet of the year

Nathan van Steenberge - For his campaign in the 29er class, finishing 11th overall in 29er Europeans in Lake Garda in October in a 200 boat fleet Photo: Michael Chester

The Greystones 1892 Regatta Cup – for the team who represented the Club with distinction

(Above and below) The large team of volunteers on shore and on the water for the Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds. The trophy was collected by Con Murphy. Young and old, the volunteers worked with great dedication and commitment on the water (on the committtee boat, on mark laying and rescue RIBS) and ashore (Race Office and Results, Covid Officer, and launching and recovering 120 Lasers quickly and efficiently each morning and afternoon throughout the week-long event).  Many of the volunteers worked on all or most days of the event. Photos: Michael Chester

The Paul Murphy Cup – for the sailing management volunteer of the year

Gearoid O’Riain & Liam O’Riain - For their long standing commitment in providing their skills and RIB for mark laying at most of the events hosted by the National Yacht Club Photo: Michael Chester

The Township Cup – for best Cruise of the year

Simon Wall - For his 2-handed, 8 days cruise from Sweden to Dun Laoghaire in October 2021 in very rough seas conditions 

The Muglins Cup – for the most interesting family cruise

Barry MacNeaney - For sailing a Bavaria 40 from Preveza Greece around the South Ionian Gulf with nine onboard including his five grandchildren aged 10y to 16y – for them, a huge adventure learning boat handling skills of helming, holding a course, basic navigation, anchoring in secluded bays for swimming,  and sleeping on deck.

Martin Crotty Trophy Award – for a younger Member who shows sailing endeavour

Conor Totterdell - Co-skippered ‘Desert Star’ of Irish Offshore Sailing to second place in IRC4 category in the Fastnet Race, finishing 14th overall and top placed Irish Entry with a mostly inexperienced crew. The prize was accepted by Alan Daly and presented by Suzie Barry with Conor O’Regan Commodore of the NYC Photo: Michael Chester

The Wild Geese Trophy – for The overseas member who achieves the best performance in racing or distinguishes himself/ herself in sailing

Tom Dolan - For his amazing sailing achievements in the Figaro Class, ‘the toughest one-design racing class’ offshore and single-handed, and for sharing his experience with our younger members on his recent visit to the NYC. The prize was accepted by Gerry Jones Photo: Michael Chester

The Sue McDonnell Trophy – for the female club member who has contributed most to the advancement of women in sailing

Caitriona O’Brien - For her dedication in her role organising and enabling the NYC Women on the Water racing on the Club J80s. The award was presented by Fiona Mc Donnell with Conor O’Regan Commodore of the NYC Photo: Michael Chester

The Totterdell Trophy – for the member who has contributed most to promoting and developing the Laser class in the club

Aisling Murphy - For organising all the adult Laser sailing activities in the Club Photo: Michael Chester

The Commodore’s Cup

Finn Lynch - For his Silver Medal at the ILCA World Championships in Spain 

NYC Sailing Awards – Commodore’s Commendations 2021

Commendations were presented by Commodore of the NYC, Conor O’Regan. Photo: Michael Chester

Wednesday morning saw some early 2022 season double-handed two boat tuning for a pair of Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 keelboats on Dublin Bay.

ISORA campaigners Searcher (Pete Smyth) and John O'Gorman's Hot Cookie enjoyed 10-15 knots north-westerlies for a fast reach from Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Searcher and Hot Cookie, both from the National Yacht Club, cut quite a dash crossing a deserted bay at speed under pink and red spinnakers.

The pair returned to the harbour after a two-hour session with Searcher sporting a ripped kite in conditions that had strengthened to over 20 knots in gusts.

ISORA celebrates its Golden Jubilee with a return to traditional Irish Offshore Racing in 2022 with the first fixture on May 28th with a 60-mile race from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead. All this, of course, is preceded by DBSC's Spring Chicken Series that begins on February 6th. 

The National Yacht Club will be hosting a Match Racing Invitational in its fleet of Elliott 6m one-design keelboats on the 4th and 5th of December at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The purpose of this event is to match Ireland's best match racers against each other in anticipation of a National Championships in early 2022.

Invite forms for consideration are available here. Organisers say an impartial panel will review all applications, and ten invites will be issued.

A Notice of Race can be found below for full details of the event.

Further details are available from Mark Hassett ([email protected]) or Will Byrne ([email protected]).