Howth Yacht Club Has 120 Participants For Women At The Helm

1st September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Melges 15 dinghies were among a variety of classes that went afloat at Howth Yacht Club for the Women At The Helm Regatta

On Friday evening (29th August), before the weekend storms set in, Howth Yacht Club hosted its inaugural Women at the Helm event, a celebration of women's leadership and participation in sailing. This landmark occasion welcomed sailors of all abilities - first-time helms and seasoned competitors alike - to take charge across a variety of classes, including J80s, J24s, Puppeteers, Howth 17s, Squibs, Melges 15s, and IDRA14s for 3 races back to back.

With an incredible 120 women and 38 boats registered, the excitement on and off the water was unmistakable. The event not only delivered competitive, close-fought racing but fostered a strong sense of community, culminating in HYC's signature après-sail social gathering ashore. The wind was daunting as the boats set sail from the harbour, but once the squall passed through, beautiful sunshine followed, accompanied by a steady wind of 12-15 knots.

Adding to the excitement, Sarah McInerney - renowned RTÉ broadcaster - joined us on the water and at the après-sail festivities helping to shine a spotlight on women's achievements in sailing and beyond.

BALTIC GOLD TROPHY

A newly commissioned Baltic Gold Trophy, generously donated by Rima Macken, was awarded to celebrate outstanding achievement. Ten years ago, Rima took the helm of Eileen, a 1908 Howth 17, for the first time.
She had no sailing experience but determination, curiosity, and a deep love for the sea helped her develop into a confident sailor and helm. Named the Baltic Gold Trophy by Rima, who is Lithuanian, it represents strength, heritage, and endurance.

The inaugural Women at the Helm was proudly supported by many brands, including Tots & Co Childcare, Irish Sailing, WaterWipes, Image Skincare, and Hermans Hair Salons, Daha Wellness, Mitchum, Bondi Sands, Batiste, Celtic Candles, Remarkable Cocktails and The Wright Group. Their generous support underlines the importance of inclusivity and empowerment in sport, ensuring this first edition of Women at the Helm at HYC made a strong and lasting impact.

The event became one of the largest and most anticipated club events of the year, underlining the club's commitment to inclusivity and the advancement of women in the sport. Plans are already in motion to expand the event even further in 2026.

Results

1st J24 - Ciara McMahon
1st J80 - Diana Kissane
1st Melges- Laura Fitzpatrick
1st IDRA 14 - Orla Doogue
1st Squib - Jill Sommerville
1st Howth 17 Stephanie Ennis
1st Puppeteer - Susan Knowles

Overall HYC WATH for 2025 was Jill Somerville in a Squib with 3 first places, just pipping Diana Kissane from the J80 fleet.

Overall winner Jill Sommerville with broadcaster Sarah McInerney Photo: Karolina Kernan

Published in Howth YC, Women in Sailing

Published in Howth YC

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

Howth Yacht Club information

Howth Yacht Club is the largest members sailing club in Ireland, with over 1,700 members. The club welcomes inquiries about membership - see top of this page for contact details.

Howth Yacht Club (HYC) is 125 years old. It operates from its award-winning building overlooking Howth Harbour that houses office, bar, dining, and changing facilities. Apart from the Clubhouse, HYC has a 250-berth marina, two cranes and a boat storage area. In addition. its moorings in the harbour are serviced by launch.

The Club employs up to 31 staff during the summer and is the largest employer in Howth village and has a turnover of €2.2m.

HYC normally provides an annual programme of club racing on a year-round basis as well as hosting a full calendar of International, National and Regional competitive events. It operates a fleet of two large committee boats, 9 RIBs, 5 J80 Sportboats, a J24 and a variety of sailing dinghies that are available for members and training. The Club is also growing its commercial activities afloat using its QUEST sail and power boat training operation while ashore it hosts a wide range of functions each year, including conferences, weddings, parties and the like.

Howth Yacht Club originated as Howth Sailing Club in 1895. In 1968 Howth Sailing Club combined with Howth Motor Yacht Club, which had operated from the West Pier since 1935, to form Howth Yacht Club. The new clubhouse was opened in 1987 with further extensions carried out and more planned for the future including dredging and expanded marina facilities.

HYC caters for sailors of all ages and run sailing courses throughout the year as part of being an Irish Sailing accredited training facility with its own sailing school.

The club has a fully serviced marina with berthing for 250 yachts and HYC is delighted to be able to welcome visitors to this famous and scenic area of Dublin.

New applications for membership are always welcome

Howth Yacht Club FAQs

What is Howth Yacht Club?

Howth Yacht Club is one of the most storied in Ireland — celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020 — and has an active club sailing and racing scene to rival those of the Dun Laoghaire Waterfront Clubs on the other side of Dublin Bay.

Where is Howth Yacht Club based?

Howth Yacht Club is based at the harbour of Howth, a suburban coastal village in north Co Dublin on the northern side of the Howth Head peninsula. The village is around 13km east-north-east of Dublin city centre and has a population of some 8,200.

What is Howth Yacht Club's Eircode?

D13 E6V3

When was Howth Yacht Club founded?

Howth Yacht Club was founded as Howth Sailing Club in 1895. Howth Sailing Club later combined with Howth Motor Yacht Club, which had operated from the village’s West Pier since 1935, to form Howth Yacht Club.

What does Howth Yacht Club do?

The club organises and runs sailing events and courses for members and visitors all throughout the year and has very active keelboat and dinghy racing fleets. In addition, Howth Yacht Club prides itself as being a world-class international sailing event venue and hosts many National, European and World Championships as part of its busy annual sailing schedule.

Who are the flag officers of Howth Yacht Club?

As of November 2020, the Commodore of the Royal St George Yacht Club is Ian Byrne, with Paddy Judge as Vice-Commodore (Clubhouse and Administration). The club has two Rear-Commodores, Neil Murphy for Sailing and Sara Lacy for Junior Sailing, Training & Development.

How many members does Howth Yacht Club have?

Howth Yacht Club says it has one of the largest sailing memberships in Ireland and the UK; an exact number could not be confirmed as of November 2020.

What are Howth Yacht Club’s burgee and ensign?

Howth Yacht Club’s burgee is a vertical-banded pennant of red, white and red with a red anchor at its centre. The club’s ensign has a blue-grey field with the Irish tricolour in its top left corner and red anchor towards the bottom right corner.

Does Howth Yacht Club organise racing?

Does Howth Yacht Club cater for youth sailing?

Yes, Howth Yacht Club has an active junior section.

Does Howth Yacht Club cater for sail training?

Yes, Howth Yacht Club hosts sailing and powerboat training for adults, juniors and corporate sailing under the Quest Howth brand.

What sailing classes does Howth Yacht Club host?

Among its active keelboat and dinghy fleets, Howth Yacht Club is famous for being the home of the world’s oldest one-design racing keelboat class, the Howth Seventeen Footer. This still-thriving class of boat was designed by Walter Herbert Boyd in 1897 to be sailed in the local waters off Howth. The original five ‘gaff-rigged topsail’ boats that came to the harbour in the spring of 1898 are still raced hard from April until November every year along with the other 13 historical boats of this class.

Does Howth Yacht Club have its own fleet?

Yes, Howth Yacht Club has a fleet of five J80 keelboats for charter by members for training, racing, organised events and day sailing.

What facilities does Howth Yacht Club have?

The current modern clubhouse was the product of a design competition that was run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in 1983. The winning design by architects Vincent Fitzgerald and Reg Chandler was built and completed in March 1987. Further extensions have since been made to the building, grounds and its own secure 250-berth marina.

Does Howth Yacht Club have a bar and/or dining facilities?

Yes, the Howth Yacht Club clubhouse offers a full bar and lounge, snug bar and coffee bar as well as a 180-seat dining room. Currently, the bar is closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Catering remains available on weekends, take-home and delivery menus for Saturday night tapas and Sunday lunch.

What are the opening hours of Howth Yacht Club?

The Howth Yacht Club office is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Contact the club for current restaurant opening hours at [email protected] or phone 01 832 0606.

Does Howth Yacht Club host functions such as weddings, parties or corporate events?

Yes — when hosting sailing events, club racing, coaching and sailing courses, entertaining guests and running evening entertainment, tuition and talks, the club caters for all sorts of corporate, family and social occasions with a wide range of meeting, event and function rooms. For enquiries contact [email protected] or phone 01 832 2141.