The Cove Sailing Club ‘Club Person of the Year Award' was presented to the youngest recipient of the award ever at the Club’s annual Laying Up Supper in Cobh in Cork Harbour at the weekend.
21-year-old Harry McDwyer collected the award together with fellow Cove Sailing Club member sailor Gary Mills.
Cove Sailing Club Commodore Niall Hawes said Harry was an exemplary member of the Club, and his commitment to carrying out safety cover on the water for all classes, including the Rankins, Mixed Dinghies and Optimists, enabled all to be on the water, whether it was competing, training or just on a jolly.
21-year-old Harry McDwyer (right) collected the award together with fellow Cove Sailing Club member sailor Gary Mills (left) from Commodore Niall Hawes
“Harry is first down to carry out safety cover duties and has not missed a Wednesday race night all season. He also does weekend cover on a regular basis.” However, it was not only for his safety boat cover that Harry won the award, but also his knowledge and expertise, at such a young age, in servicing and fixing the safety boat engines which require regular maintenance. Harry shares a power boat with his father and has gained enormous experience in looking after and repairing his own boat engine over the years.
Cove Sailing Club's Sunday Optimist dinghy League has had up to 19 boats racing under CSC person of the year, Gary Mills Photo: Bob Bateman
Gary Mills
In presenting the award to both Harry and Gary, Commodore Hawes said, “the pair put in a long shift this year, bursting with enthusiasm and willingness to help. The rescue boats were looked after all year round by these two, from launching, recovering, storing, cleaning, and carrying out repairs, it was no trouble to them, whatever the conditions.”
Gary Mills’ involvement with every facet of the Club was also acknowledged – as Optimist Class Captain, his involvement with the Rankins and cruiser racing on his Shipman 28 Tonga, with which he won the season’s Friday Night’s League.
CSC's Foley Rose Bowl
Maurice Kidney at the helm of his Rankin Photo: Bob Bateman
The prestigious Foley Rose Bowl was presented to Damian and Anne Ahern, long-standing members of the Club, for their commitment to the Club and their role in the development of Cove SC marina to date. Rankin chief Maurice Kidney won the Boat of the Year award for his performance in winning the Season’s Wednesday Night’s League and his great performance in the annual Rankin Brother’s Cup.
Guests of Honour at the Laying Up Supper included Kieran O’Connell, Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and his wife, Joanne.
