The prizegiving Gala Dinner with trophy presentations for the 2025 Mermaid National Championships was held on Saturday evening, the 2nd of August, at Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club.
As Afloat reported earlier, the national champions crowned in Wexford Harbour were Tiller Girl from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, helmed by Jonathan O'Rourke with crew Alan O'Rourke and Kate Grimes.
Speeches saw Darach Dineen step down following his 2 year term as President of the MSA, with Paul (Packer) Thorne stepping into the role. The Mermaid Sailing Association and members thank Darach for his great work and wish Packer well in his Presidency.
Huge thanks were paid to Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club for putting on such a great event. It had been 20 years since the last Mermaid Nationals had been held in Wexford.
Race Committee | Left to Right: Packer Thorne MSA President (incoming), Eoin Thompson Boating Captain WHBTC, Susanne Cruise, Scorie Walls, Mike Head, Darach Dineen (outgoing MSA President)
There were thanks also to the Race Committee, headed up by Scorie Walls and her team. Scorie had an unfortunate minor injury on the committee boat on the morning of Saturday, the 2nd, and Mike Head stepped in as Race Officer for the day. The class wishes her a speedy recovery.
The full list of overall winners from the event is as follows:
OVERALL WINNERS
OVERALL WINNERS | 1st Overall - 77 Tiller Girl from the National Yacht Club helmed by Jonathan O'Rourke with crew Alan O'Rourke and Kate Grimes
2nd Overall - 131 Wild Wind from Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club helmed by Brian Fenlon with crew Johnny Dillon and Max Sweetman
3rd Overall - 188 Innocence from Foynes Yacht Club helmed by Darragh Mc Cormack with crew Mark and Noel Mc Cormack
DAPHNE (SILVER FLEET)
DAPHNE (SILVER FLEET) 1st Overall - 134 Jill from the Royal Irish Yacht Club helmed by Paul Smith with crew Ailbhe Smith and Pat Mangan
DAPHNE (SILVER FLEET) 2nd Overall - 135 Cara II from Skerries Sailing Club helmed by Frank Browne with crew Chloe Browne and Packer Thorne
DAPHNE (SILVER FLEET) 3rd Overall - 190 Mayhem from Rush Sailing Club helmed by Enda Weldon with crew Sean Weldon and Clare Carthy
DESIGNER (BRONZE FLEET)
DESIGNER (BRONZE FLEET) 1st Overall - 13 Maid Marion from Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club helmed by Cillian Joyce with crew Peter Kenny and Peter Doyle
DESIGNER (BRONZE FLEET) 2nd Overall - 182 Dolphin from Skerries Sailing Club helmed by Shay O'Toole with crew Seamus Murray and Pierse Bennion
DESIGNER (BRONZE FLEET) 3rd Overall - 192 Ariel from Rush Sailing Club helmed by Anthony Weldon with crew Brenda McGuinness and Carol Martin
CREWS RACE
CREWS RACE 1st Overall - Noel McCormack on 188 Innocence from Foynes Yacht Club with crew Mark and Darragh McCormack
Under 25
Under 25 1st Overall - 165 Seafox from Foynes Yacht Club helmed by Oisin Finucane with crew Eoin Boylan and Dylan Reidy
The next Mermaid event is Rush Regatta on the 6th and 7th of September, this will be the last regional event for the Mermaid fleet in 2025 and a large turnout is anticipated.
