#SAILORSOFTHEMONTH – Smallest boat, biggest prize. Team Toy Yot of Malahide are the Afloat.ie/Irish Independent "Sailors of the Month" for May after sweeping Class 4 IRC in the record-breaking BMW ICRA Nationals at Howth.
This really is a team effort. Team Toy Yot (you'll note they win coming and going) were so determined to submerge their individual talents in the group effort, that the race reports couldn't come up with a specific person to identify with this remarkably successful little racer.
The boat is an Evolution 22, a vintage Julian Everitt design which they restored from dereliction in their spare time. But spare time is a scarce commodity for Team Toy Yot in the early part of the season, as three of the four involved work in the marine industry.
Not in the glamorous end of the business, such as sales and design and concept development. On the contrary, they work in the nitty gritty deep down and dirty business of getting everyday boats ready for the water and keeping them going through an active season, balancing expectations and queries from dozens of owners.
For anyone making a living in this demanding way, it would be excusable if they relaxed at something as remote as possible from boats and water. But around Malahide Marina the trio of Stephen Mullany, Gavin Lavery the rigger, and Dave Carroll the mechanic, got to talking of the possibility of giving it a push. So eighteen months ago, they got the boat, signed on student Gavin Pitcher as the fourth syndicate member, and fitted in some racing whenever they could.
The 2012 ICRA National Championship at Howth at the end of May offered the perfect opportunity. A compact format, and all within manageable distance. When they could grab a moment from the real jobs, they worked on preparing their own boat, out in the open in April's dreadful weather, while local sailmaker Philip Watson ran them up a fine new suit. When the championship started, they were in the groove, and had notched a straight run of success before anyone had copped on to who they were. Neat indeed – and perfectly fitted to the times we live in.
