Women on the Water Shine at National Yacht Club Regatta

18th August 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Ready, set, sail! A National Yacht Club’s Women on the Water Dinghy Race Day gets underway in Dun Laoghaire Harbour

The National Yacht Club Women on the Water Dinghy Race Day took place in glorious sunshine in Dun Laoghaire harbour on Sunday August 17th. After a briefing ashore, the 21 competitors set about rigging the fleet of National Yacht Club Fireflies, Toppers and Optimists, and heading out on the water.

Race Officer Ed Totterdell, set a triangular course with the start line just west of the Carlisle pier and the weather mark towards the bandstand, and ran a series of 14 races.

(Above and below) Race Officer Eddie Totterdell gets an inspiring day of fun and friendly competition at the National Yacht Club’s Women on the Water event underway

Crews swapped around and the competitors got to sail in several different classes. A few people who had said they would sail in a firefly and a topper, but "definitely not an optimist", ended up giving it a go and enjoying the experience. Others said they would be comfortable crewing but not helming or racing single-handed, but after a few races, they gained enough confidence to try a topper or an oppie, recording their first solo helming experience.

After racing finished and the boats were derigged, the competitors and volunteers retired to the club for refreshments and the prize giving, enjoying the afternoon sunshine at the picnic tables under the NYC flagpole.

Celebrating skill, camaraderie, and fierce competition at the National Yacht Club’s Women on the Water Dinghy Race Day under the flagpol at the National Yacht Club

Event organiser Ann Kirwan thanked Ed and Brendan Briscoe for running the races, rib crews Rodney Regan, William Despard, Robin and Dasha Hilliard and Ivanna Pokytko, as well as Sandra Moore, who assisted ashore. Ann presented the winners with their prizes; first place went to Cariosa Power and crew, Tracy Rennie; second place to Neasa Hainbach; and third place to Emer Devlin. Ed followed by awarding a series of fun prizes to Fiona, Aisling, Marie, Dara, Taragh, Minnie, and Emer O'Sullivan.

National Yacht Club Vice-Commodore, Rosemary Cadogan, who raced an Optimist and a Firefly in the event, rounded off the afternoon with thanks to all the participants and volunteers who made it such an enjoyable day.

The National Yacht Club Cruising group's trip to Lambay Island on Saturday, with an overnight at Howth

Other NYC women took part in the National Yacht Club Cruising group's trip to Lambay Island on Saturday, with an overnight at Howth, and a few made it back to Dun Laoghaire in time to participate in the WoW dinghy race day.

Empowering women on the water - A Dublin Bay 21 on a Sunday Sail at the National Yacht Club Women on the Water Race Day

Others competed in Sunday's Water Wag race from Dun Laoghaire harbour to Dalkey Island, which was started by NYC Race Officer Con Murphy and Cathy MacAleavey aboard their rib, before they and their two dogs accompanied the Wag and Dublin Bay Twenty-One-Footer fleets to Dalkey Island, where they enjoyed a picnic on the island.

NYC Race Officer Con Murphy and Cathy MacAleavey aboard their rib, with their two dogs on their way back from Dalkey Island

All in all, a great weekend was had by many of the very active NYC Women on the Water group.

Published in National YC, Women in Sailing

Published in National YC

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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