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
