National Yacht Club Celebrate 150th Annual Awards Held Online

31st March 2021

The National Yacht Club's O'Leary Cup presented for the best performance in one design was won by Stephen Oram and Noel Butler

The National Yacht Club's O'Leary Cup presented for the best performance in one design was won by Noel Butler (left) and Stephen Oram

Thanks to modern technology and the can-do spirit of National Yacht Club volunteers and staff, the Dun Laoghaire Harbour club held its Awards ceremony last Friday night.

Commodore Martin McCarthy told Afloat "We had a lot to reflect on and celebrate – it being our 150th year and Covid 19 year – a year where survival was winning. We thank every winner as they all joined in and shared their thoughts and insights with fellow members. It was inspiring".

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s first Citizen, Cathaoirleach Una Power joined the NYC for the online event. Among the items she addressed was the year ahead and she said: “I encourage you to keep the Junior Training going as best you can within the Regulations. Also, I know you have a strong Inclusion programme and I would urge you also to keep a focus on it this year. We hope the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and other events can proceed during the summer and that all sectors can get on the water and lay the foundation stones for a fully normal season with international events in 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners tonight – and also you, the members of the National Yacht Club, for your contribution to sailing and wellbeing of citizens and the Borough of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown”

Conor Gorman was the winner of The Winkelmann Trophy awarded to the Cadet Member who is deemed by his/ her sailing ability to be ‘Cadet of the Year’

The Awards process was run by Sailing Sec. Alan Balfe and his team and every club member were entitled to nominate fellow members, which led to the final selection of the winners:

The CONCORDE PLATE – presented for the best circumnavigation of Ireland - The 2020 Winner is PADDY BARRY.
The BOYNE REGATTA PLATE – presented for the best performance in Offshore Sailing - The 2020 Winner is: GRANT KINSMAN
The O’LEARY CUP - presented for the best performance in one design - The 2020 Winner is STEPHEN ORAM & NOEL BUTLER
The EDWARD YACHT CLUB TROPHY is awarded for the best performance in Dinghies, Mermaids or Flying Fifteens - The 2020 Winner is JOHN LAVERY & ALAN GREEN
The JOHN BYRNE MEMORIAL TROPHY - is awarded for the greatest contribution to sailing in the NYC during the year - The 2020 Winners are EDDIE TOTTERDELL, CON MURPHY & MAL NOWLAN
The WINKELMANN TROPHY – is awarded to the Cadet Member who is deemed by his/ her sailing ability to be ‘Cadet of the Year’ - The 2020 Winner is CONOR GORMAN
The GREYSTONES REGATTA CUP – is awarded to the NYC members who have, as a team, represented the Club with distinction - The 2020 winners are GRAINNE & PETER RYAN
The PAUL MURPHY CUP – is awarded to the Club’s Race Management Volunteer who contributed most to event management at the Club - The 2020 winner is FRANK BURGESS
The TOWNSHIP CUP - is awarded for the most impressive cruise - The 2020 winner is SEAN DOYLE
The MUGLINS CUP – is awarded for the most interesting family cruise - The 2020 winners are THE SHANAHAN FAMILY.
The MARTIN CROTTY CUP is awarded to the young member who shows outstanding sailing endeavour. The 2020 winner is: JEMIMA OWENS
The WILD GEESE TROPHY (2019) is awarded to the overseas member who achieves the best performance in racing and distinguishes himself/ herself in sailing - The 2020 winner is: TOM DOLAN
The SUE McDONNELL TROPHY is awarded to the person who has done most to advance the position of women in Sailing - The 2020 winner is: NICOLE HEMERYCK
The TOTTERDELL TROPHY is awarded to the person who has done the most to develop the Laser class in the Club - The 2020 winner is: ALISON PIGGOTT

Paddy Barry was presented with the NYC's Concorde Trophy for the best circumnavigation of Ireland

COMMENDATIONS

There were special Commendations this year for members who made outstanding contributions to the Club.

They are:

NICOLA FERGUSON
PATRICK HASSETT
CILLIAN MELDON
WILL BYRNE
DAN BRENNAN
FIONAN DE BARRA
DONAL O’SULLIVAN

The NYC Annual Awards went online for the 150th anniversary

COMMODORES CUP

Michelle Halpenny was awarded this trophy for her outstanding contribution to the success of the Club in the past year.

Published in National YC

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National Yacht Club

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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