Nearly 80 juniors and youths gathered at the Royal St. George Yacht Club (RStGYC) on Friday evening last (October 11th) at the Dun Laoghaire Harbour clubhouse to celebrate a season filled with achievements. Dressed in their finest attire, the night began with a prize-giving ceremony led by Commodore Mark Hennessy, Rear Commodore (Sailing) Robbie Walker, Junior Organiser MJ Geraghty, and Senior Instructor Emma Lynch.
The RStGYC boasts an exceptional team of qualified, enthusiastic, and fun instructors dedicated to mentoring the next generation of sailors.
This year, Grace Gavin was awarded the Clare McKenna Cup for "Intern of the Year" for her outstanding contribution as an intern.
Several other awards were presented to summer course participants for their impressive performances and participation throughout the season:
- Manna Cup – Best Asset to Junior Sailing: Meena McAllister
- Le Broque Cup – Start Sailing: Samuel McIntyre
- Toby Cup – Basic Skills: Theo Crinion
- McCarthy Cup – Improving Skills: Henry Cresswell
- Arthur Chadwick Cup – Advanced Boat Handling: Jamie Keegan
Each winner displayed remarkable enthusiasm, performance, and determination throughout the summer.
The RSGYC’s Youth section continues to thrive, achieving high standards at both national and international levels across various classes, including Optimist, ILCA, Topper, 29er, Waszps, and Fevas. This evening was dedicated to recognizing their incredible accomplishments.
Further awards were presented to Juniors for their outstanding international and national performances, along with several honourable mentions:
- Cox Trophy – Best International Result: Jessica Riordan (5th at 29er World Championships, alongside Clementine Van Steenberge)
- Reggie Lee Trophy – Best Laser at Europeans or Worlds: Lucy Ives (9th at ILCA Europeans)
- Millennium Trophy – Best Optimist at Europeans or Worlds: Abby Murphy (66th at Optimist Europeans)
Medals were also awarded to many Juniors for their remarkable accomplishments throughout the year.
The evening concluded with laughter, fun, and a spot of karaoke, enthusiastically led by the instructing team.
Both Sailors and parents enjoyed the celebrations, marking the end of a successful sailing season.