Greystones Sailing Club in County Wicklow hosted the 2025 RS Aero nationals on June 15/16. As Afloat reported earlier, the lineup was impressive, led by Howth's Paul McMahon, looking to deliver a hat trick after winning the 2023 and 2024 editions. 2022 champion and current Aero 6 Master European champion Darragh Sheridan, also from Howth, was looking at continuing on his recent form, whilst multiple race winner Noel Butler was looking into adding the Aero nationals to his impressive list of successes over the year. NYC head coach Thomas Chaix had just returned from France, where he won the French nationals and had his eyes set on a possible double win in two weeks... And we could keep going with talented young newcomers in the class, former laser champions and our class globe trotter Roy Van Maanen, freshly returned with a podium finish from Italy. The RS Aero class is growing in numbers and is attracting some of the best Irish dinghy sailors! 19 competitors lined up to chase the 2025 title. 18 competed on saturday and 16 on Sunday.
The forecast was light enough on both days, the tides were strong, and shifts were very significant, challenging our race officer and sailors alike. Two recalls only, despite a strong tide pushing the fleet over the line, was all credit to our race officer management and the quality of the fleet.
Paul McMahon launched the battle with two solid wins despite Thomas Chaix's best effort to find an opening. Third place in race one was secured by former Laser ace Conor Byrne, learning the tweaks and tricks of the Aero very fast. John Phelan sailed his 6-rig very fast on race 2, almost squeezing the race win ahead of the two front runners.
Race 3 delivered some drama with the wind dropping to a mere 2-3 knots on the first run. The fleet then had to battle a strong current in the nose to progress towards the leeward side of the course. It was slow and painful with sailors looking for elusive gusts on either side of the run. The run was fatal to Paul, who, despite rounding the windward in the lead, dropped to 6th, letting Thomas run ahead with the race win. 2nd was Cork Sophie Crosbie, just edging out Conor Byrne. Other casualties of the race amongst the favourites were Darragh Sheridan and Noel Butler who scored outside top 10.
Overnight, Thomas took the lead over Paul, With the consistent Conor Byrne in 3rd. With the discard kicking with just another race to go, all was to play for.
The wind had gone west on Sunday, making the course very shifty and gusty, displaying 30- 40 degrees variations and gusts touching 12-14 kts, followed by holes with 3-5 kts... head wrecking conditions for both the race management and the sailors alike. Arguably, these challenges make for great racing and open the game, allowing sailors who may not have the speed to outsmart the more experienced racers.
In the first race, the battle between Paul and Thomas resumed. It was probably the most exciting race of all with the two sailors exchanging the lead a couple of times. Darragh Sheridan was hanging on their tail, eventually making the most of the situation to score the race win ahead of Thomas and Paul. With the discard in, Paul took the lead overall.
The second race was a carbon copy of the first one, but this time it was Sophie Crosbie mixing with the two front runners. It was to be close between the 3 sailors, but Thomas came on top with Sophie (Sailing the 6 rig) taking 2nd just about edging Paul after times were recalculated. It meant Thomas had the event won before the final race, but neither Paul or Thomas knew Sophie had placed in between them so both got ready for a final battle in race 6.
The challenge was cut short when Thomas picked the first big shift of the race and ran well ahead of the fleet, building an impossible-to-catch lead. He was chased by Sarah Dwyer, Colm Nixon and Stephen Oram. Eventually Conor Byrne reattached with the chasing pack, overtaking them to secure 2nd in the race. Local junior Colm Nixon took 3rd in the final race.
2025 RS Aero National Champion Thomas Chaix (right) Photo: Stephen Oram
Overall, it was to be Thomas Chaix (NYC) weekend, with Paul MacMahon (HYC) taking second and Conor Byrne (RstGYC) third... A podium for memory lane when these same 3 sailors were battling in the Laser radial events 20 years ago! Sophie Crosbie (RCYC) was 4th overall taking the ladies prize and top 6 rig. Colm Nixon (GSC) finished 5th and top junior. Stephen Oram (NYC) ended up 6th overall and best 7 rig not in the top 3. Sarah Dwyer (RstGYC) was 7th and top Master.
2025 RS Aero Ladies National Champion Sophie Crosbie (right) Photo: Stephen Oram
Greystones delivered a brilliant weekend of Aero sailing. Next stop: the RS fest in Blessington 28-29 June
2025 Irish RS Aero nationals results
