Displaying items by tag: Hot Toddy

21st October 2015

Owens & Morris Win GP14 Hot Toddy Championship 2015 at Mullingar

On a weekend full of expectation, this GP14 championship certainly didn’t disappoint writes David Johnston. Being the last event of the year, a big turnout was expected and with 28 boats competing over the weekend, a big turnout was what we had. The weather was very kind to the fleet - a steady breeze throughout and the rain holding off.

With a clean sweep of events on the cards, Shane MacCarthy & Damian Bracken started where they had left off claiming a very convincing 1st in race 1. Ger Owens & Melanie Morris claimed 2nd spot holding off local boat Alan Pinder & Kevin Hackett. It was Keith Louden & Alan Thompson who grabbed the top spot in race 2 from Sean Craig & David Johnston 2nd and Ger & Melanie 3rd in what was a very close battle with positions changing frequently throughout. However no one could deny Ger the coveted 1st place in race 3 with Shane & Damian and Keith & Alan settling for 2nd and 3rd respectively. After starting quite well, Sean & David dropped out of this race having suffered the all too well known, spinnaker halyard caught around the jib shackle. An earlier amendment to the notice of race allowed for a possible 4 races on Saturday to try and allow an early finish on Sunday to accommodate the rugby. And so to race 4, the last race of the day, the wind had held on for us and everyone was raring to go. In what was a hot contest coming down to the final beat, it was Ger & Mel who would be first to return to shore followed closely by Sean & David who were even more closely followed by John & Donal McGuinness. Rumours had surfaced that a certain Shane MacCarthy had been feeling “poorly” all day with a close source reportedly fearing for his life and nose in the 4th race after some questionable smells began to arise from the back of the boat. When all the sailors were in off the water, it was into the clubhouse to gather around the small television screen to watch the Springboks take on Wales in the first of the 2015 RWC quarter-finals. After some exciting rugby and lovely scones provided by the club, it was time for the evenings dinner in Mullingar town. Danny Byrnes pub was where the sailors regrouped. Into the backroom for some grub, and for many, the pleasant surprise of a giant projector ready to show the thrashing of France at the hands of the mighty All Blacks.

Sunday morning, early start and after many forecasts of sub 5 knots, it was a great sight to see ripples all over the lake…..racing would go ahead. With the much anticipated Ireland match on at 1pm, a tight schedule had to be kept in order to make it back in. Of course in true competitive GP14 fashion, there was a general recall for race 5. However to the joy of all, the race officer was well on top getting the race away with very little further delay. Having had to settle for 2nd in most of the events previously, there was no standing in the way of a determined Ger Owens & Melanie Morris who sailed fabulously again claiming their third 1st of the event. Saying that, they were made work very hard for it with Curly Morris & Laura McFarland in hot pursuit to claim 2nd. Having had a poor race, only managing a 12th, Shane & Damian had left the door wide open for Sean & David to possibly snatch 2nd from their grasp with only 1.25 points separating them going into the final race. After sailing at such a consistently high level all event, it was only right that Ger & Mel claimed the final race for a comprehensive event win. Shane & Damian claimed 2nd, securing 2nd place overall, and JP & Carolyn McCaldin sorting out their rig settings to finish the last race in 3rd position. Sean & David finished 7th to claim 3rd position overall. It was fair to say the real race was to get in and pack away the boats in order to claim a good seat for the match. Mullingar provided a projector to save our eyes from the small tv screen. Despite the disappointing result there was a great atmosphere nonetheless. While the exciting running rugby of the Pumas was thrilling to watch, I think the most entertaining moment, albeit slightly terrifying, was Ger Owens attacking the poor couch in which he sat in as Ireland launched a 2nd half comeback. Silve Fleet Winners Katie Michelle

Silver Fleet Winners Katie Dwyer & Michelle Rowley

Bronze Fleet Winners Adrian Lee Edward Coyne

Bronze Fleet Winners Adrian Lee & Edward Coyne

After a fantastic weekend, it is only fair to thank Mullingar Sailing Club for putting on such an enjoyable event. Under time pressure and shifty wind, the Race Officer got through all races quickly and set great courses. The shore crew who looked after the tired and cold sailors as we came ashore, providing endless scones, coffee, tea, biscuits and even some mulled wine. And of course to all the boats that turned up to make this end of season event very special. After a year of so much success .… roll on next season!

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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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