Howth Yacht Club Commodore Paddy Judge has thanked members for their patience and support ahead of the return to racing and outdoor dining — as well as welcoming visiting Irish-based boats from elsewhere in Ireland — next Monday 7 June.
“It is a great relief to finally see the gradual return to a semblance of normality,” he said, adding that tables can now be reserved online.
The 20% bar discount for full members is being retained and all members have received a 10% subscription rebate on their cards for bar purchases.
Meanwhile, the marina team and volunteers have been busy getting the club ready for a wider reopening.
Committee boats are now refitted, marks are laid, the starter’s hut is on the East Pier and 25 new marina berths have been allocated this year “as evidence of a significant response to our new membership drive”.
The relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions last month allowed limited crews to sail and some have already started race training.
Howth’s Cruising Group have had their first armada to Lambay ahead of the scheduled race next Saturday 12 June, with one crew reportedly encountering so much weed “they could not maintain sufficient speed and had to abandon the cruise!”
Lambay bound
The Lambay Races mark the first major event of this year’s HYC calendar, and provision is being made for 100 socially distanced outdoor table spaces set out in three areas around the club after racing, allocated on a first come, first seated basis.
The new HYC food truck will be serving food on the main deck (adjacent to the marina walkway) during the day and those who wish to dine (or drink) at the club on the night of the races can book an outdoor table for after 7pm.
Crew registration is limited to HYC members and is online only. The club’s J80s will be available for charter by members for the Lambay Races.
Meanwhile, a number of HYC boats sailed their first ISORA and summer junior courses are fully booked in further signs that things are getting back to normal.
Club racing returns
Club keelboat racing recommences next Tuesday 8 June for one-designs and on Wednesday 9 June for the cruiser classes. Apart from the Howth 17s, who will use the East Pier hut line, racing will be from Starpoint and crews are advised to allow enough time for the extra distance to the start area north of Ireland’s Eye.
Dinghy racing will commence on Thursday 10 June in Howth Sound with See Wych being used as Committee Vessel. Entry forms, sailing instructions and course information can all be downloaded from the HYC website, and crew registration is online.
The club also has a new motor-boating group starting up, with plans for destination shore breaks to Skerries, Dun Laoghaire, Greystones and the Liffey — contact Alan Kinsella for more information — as well as three dinghy sailing groups running on Saturdays for all ages and all levels.
Marina notes
HYC members are advised that the club has encountered a fault with the large crane which the service company cannot determine. It will remain in use until the end of June with added safety measure, after which it will be taken out of service for approximately three weeks for a comprehensive overhaul.
In addition, supply chain and production issues have delayed delivery of the balcony pergola, which is now scheduled for late September. The repair to the balcony roof, which is leaking into the marina office, has it turn been delayed to September also.
Other changes afoot are in the administration of the club’s operations, and a Strategy Group is set to produce a report for the General Committee and members shortly.
And Commodore Judge commanded new club manager Aideen Doran who has “had a baptism of fire” in the role but has made progress in team building despite the prevailing restrictions and in reducing overheads, among other tasks.
“We want to increase the value of our club to members and hope all members will benefit from the current initiatives under way,” he said, adding: “I would encourage you to come to the club and enjoy some well-deserved fun.”
