For decades, the Dillons of Howth have well expressed the best of Irish sailing. Frank Dillon Senr was in a highly productive offshore campaigning triumvirate in several boats with longterm friends Frank Hughes and Peter O'Reilly, with campaigns that took in the ISORA, Round Ireland and Fastnet Race challenges in addition to being solidly successful club racers.
Meanwhile Breda Dillon was long active in every aspect of sailing administration, eventually rising to become Howth Yacht Club's first woman Commodore. And their family were much involved right through junior sailing into busy youth participation and adult success on all sides, with Laura Dillon becoming the first (and still only) female winner of the All-Ireland title in 1996. She then found a fresh outlet for her talents as helm on Royal Ocean Racing Club raceboats both inshore and offshore, while at the same time becoming an RORC International Rear Commodore.
This remarkable family has suffered grievous loss in the early months of 2025, and at the Youth Nationals the cherished memory of the late Frank Dillon Senr and his late son – also Frank – was honoured with the high regard immediately accorded to the new Dillon Trophy, a perpetual award donated by the family to the Youth Nationals.
The trophy was presented to the sailors who best represent the spirit of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships – that of sportsmanship, camaraderie and the joy of participation. It was presented by Laura Dillon, no stranger to the podium herself, to Niamh Lynch and Grace Kelliher of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, who competed in the 420 Class.
