Successful 2024 National Yacht Club Junior Regatta Battles Misty Northerlies with Thrilling Races

14th July 2024

Testing in-harbour conditions for the 2024 National Yacht Club Junior Regatta at Dun Laoghaire

The mid-week medium to strong misty northerlies presented a challenge to the organising team of the 2024 National Yacht Club Junior Regatta. Although the decision to run all the fleets inside the harbour was validated the previous evening, it presented a strong challenge with a short and difficult chop entering the harbour.

After a short postponement whilst setting up the triangle course, Race Officer Chris Moore released the six Main fleets. The two harbour fleets were kept ashore and eventually Abandoned for the day.

The first race gave an all-clear for all the starts. The largest fleet was the optimist, and George ace Max O'Hare took an early lead, and he never let go. The battle was, however, on for race honours, with NYC Alex Butcher eventually edging out Balthazar Roche from the RIYC, a talented new name on the scene. NYC James Gorman is currently on form in the lead-up to the Topper worlds (his final event in the class). He is now dual sailing his ILCA4 along with the Topper and has adapted fast to the heavier boat. He built a good lead from clubmate James Hall. Only two toppers completed the course, and RstGYC sailor Oisin Healy secured the win.

James Gorman, Laser 4.7 winner of the NYC Junior Regatta 2024 being presented with his trophy by NYC Commodore Peter Sherry

The Feva is a popular summer choice in Dun Laoghaire, with 16 boats battling for the win. It was an all-George affair with Finn Foley/Johnny Rock keeping the girls team Amy O'Halloran & Molly O'Flaherty chasing. The PY group depleted fast with sailors heading in. Despite numerous capsizes, Jules Start and Riona McMorrow Moriarty, sailing the club 29er, were rewarded with the race win ahead of Louise Hanley and Hannah Walsh, sailing a 29er.

The safety fleet was kept busy ensuring the sailors were minded and supported when in difficulties, and a few sailors elected to call it a day before race 2.

The second race was a little shorter. In the Optimist, NYC Michael Hanley had a cracking start at the pin and held his lead around the initial few marks with Max O'Hare hot on the chase. As Michael said: " it was great to take the lead, but it was funny and worrying at the same time to see Max so comfortable in the breeze whilst I was just thinking, don't capsize, don't capsize...." It was to be close, but Max managed to overtake just before the finish. Race winners in the other classes confirmed as well their overall win.

Back ashore, once all the results were computed and the BBQ burgers and ice creams enjoyed, the prizegiving was set up under the club balcony along with the awaited Covy Water Sport raffle with a new wetsuit as top prize.

The harbour fleet also enjoyed their own raffle to make up for the cancellation of their racing.

Finally, after a short break to allow the sailors to get changed, the Pirates Disco could start. DJ Dave had the sailors enjoying themselves until 9pm.

Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

Published in National YC, Youth Sailing

Published in National YC

Tagged under

National Yacht Club

About The Author

Thomas Chaix

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Thomas Chaix is Head Coach at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. He currently sails the 49er dinghy (for fun) but raced the Laser for 25 years and has been a member of French and Irish teams

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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

At A Glance - National Yacht Club 2024 Events