Malahide Yacht Club invites entries for the St. Patrick's Regatta on Saturday, March 25th, 2023. This open event will feature ILCA/Laser, Optimist, and PY class races on the beautiful Broadmeadows Estuary.

"Sailors of all ages are welcome to participate in this event, regardless of their experience level. Whether you're a seasoned Laser sailor looking for a challenge or a young sailor ready to kick off their 2023 season, this regatta has something for everyone", says Noel Davidson, Dinghy Sailing Secretary at Malahide Yacht Club.

The ILCA/Laser class is one of the most popular sailing classes in the world, and the St. Patrick's Regatta offers an opportunity for Laser sailors to test their skills against others in their class.

The Optimist class is perfect for young sailors just getting started with their sailing journey, and the PY class provides an option for sailors who prefer to sail in boats with handicap ratings.

"We're thrilled to host the St. Patrick's Regatta at Malahide Yacht Club this year," Davidson told Afloat, "We're looking forward again to welcoming sailors for a fun-filled day of racing and celebration on the water after a hugely successful inaugural event last year".

"We have pushed the Regatta back from the traditional weekend to not clash with Rugby, Mother's Day and other events,” he said.

The St. Patrick's Regatta promises to be an exciting day of sailing, with plenty of thrilling action on the water. Davidson said that participants can register now to secure their spot in the race and prepare for a day of sailing, fun, and camaraderie.

Entry and full details here

Malahide Yacht Club in North County Dublin kicked off its 2022 dinghy racing season in style with over 70 entries for its inaugural St. Patrick’s Open Regatta which took place on Friday, 18th March 2022 on the new bank holiday for this year.

Sailors from visiting clubs included Rush Sailing Club, Howth Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club and the furthest sailor travelling from Cork leaving in the early hours to join the event.

Malahide Yacht Club Rear Commodore; Niall Gallagher was principal race officer for the day and ran three races using Olympic style courses that tested all the sailor's abilities in what became a blustery but sunny day on Broadmeadows Estuary.

Many sailors took their turns capsizing in the strong gusts and those that managed to stay upright found themselves at the top of their respective fleets.

The event was single-handed organised by MYC Dinghy Sailing Secretary; Paddy Ryan.

Paddy thanked all the volunteers and sailors who made the event possible and commented “If the over 70 entries are anything to go by, sailing in Broadmeadows over the March St. Patricks weekend could be one to watch on the sailing calendar for years to come” and he wished everyone many more happy sailing events for 2022 and beyond.

The Ryan Family celebrate Juliet Ryan’s 12th Birthday

The event prize giving was concluded with a birthday cake for Paddy’s daughter; Juliet Ryan who celebrated her 12th birthday.

ILCA 4 winner - Krzysztof Ciboroski - RStGYC

ILCA 7 winner - Andrejs Samoilovs - Malahide Yacht Club

Single Handed Winner - Mark Gavin - RStGYC 

Double Handed Winners - Jack McDowell & Harry Thompson (420) - MYC / Wexford Harbour Boat Club

Optimist Winner - Kate Flood RSTGYC

Regatta Fleet Winner - Rachel Murdock - RStGYC

Results as follows :

ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7 

Krzysztof Ciboroski - RStGYC
Maedbh Butterly - Rush Sailing Club
Seth Walker - RStGYC

ILCA 6 / Laser Radial
Charlie Savage - Rush Sailing Club
Riaghan Boardman - Rush Sailing Club
Laura O’Brien - Rush Sailing Club

ILCA 7 / Laser Std
Andrejs Samoilovs - Malahide Yacht Club
William Chouquet - Malahide Yacht Club
Joe Turner - Malahide Yacht Club
Single Handed
Mark Gavin - RStGYC
Ciara O’Brien - MYC
Victor Samoilovs - MYC

Double Handed
Jack McDowell & Harry Thompson (420) - MYC / Wexford Harbour Boat Club
Immie Hauer & Hugo Mika (420) - MYC
Paul Quinn & Stephanie Hogan (Laser 2000) - MYC

Optimist
Kate Flood - RSTGYC
Sarah Scott - HYC / RStGYC
Grace Gavin - RSTGYC

Regatta Fleet
Rachel Murdock - RStGYC
Nicole Quinn - MYC
Oliver Ryan - MYC

Malahide Yacht Club are kicking off their sailing season in style with the launch of an inaugural open Dinghy Regatta on the waters of Broadmeadows Estuary on Friday 18th March 2022.

The Regatta is open to entries in PY Single and Doublehanded classes, ILCA/ Laser all rigs and Optimist class with an early bird entry fee available for entries received before 13th March 2022.

There will be a competitor briefing at 10.40, and the first gun at 11.20 with individual starts for Optimist, ILCA and PY Fleet.

Prize giving and complimentary food will take place later that day in the Broadmeadows Clubhouse.

Online entry is now open here, and the NOR is downloadable below.

The 2021 Kona windsurfing national championships were hosted by Malahide Yacht Club on Sunday, 5th September. Under the direction of race officer Niall Gallagher of MYC, the sailors enjoyed a windward-leeward course in a 10 to 15 knot south easterly on Malahide estuary.

In the final race, Joe Galeckas of MYC dominated to gain victory over RStGYC sailor and 2020 titleholder Robbie Walker.

Fellow RStGYC sailor, Des Gibney, earned a well-deserved 3rd place whilst Damien Dion of NYC placed 4th overall and Miha Rothl came in 5th. The youth category was won by Mika Sacolax, who placed 11th overall.

After 4 races and going into the final race of the day, Walker and Galeckas were on equal points, and the title was up for grabs. A good start and excellent windward beat put Galeckas in a commanding position, and he was able to hold his lead and claim victory.

This is the 9th Year that the National Kona Windsurfing championships have been staged, with the winners receiving the Alan Harris memorial trophy. MYC sailors have dominated the event with 6 winners in the last 9 years. More recently, RSGYC sailors have challenged the MYC stronghold, winning the trophy on 3 occasions.

The sailors extend their thanks and congratulations to MYC for hosting an excellent event and to Surfdock for their generous sponsorship.

A group of the Kona windsurfers on a windward leg in 15 to 20-knot south-easterly breeze on Malahide Estuary 

Roy Guinan is in the foreground. The Kona Fleet on a leeward leg of the national championships hosted by MYC. 

 Des Gibney of the RSGYC, with sail number 2677, finished 3rd overall in the Kona National Championships.

The fleet was challenged with shifty wind conditions at the top mark, close to Malahide village. 

David Jullo of the NYC placed 8th overall, participating in the event for the second time.

Winner Joe Galeckas of the MYC, cruising to victory in the 5th race of the day

The 420 class powered through their fourth event of 2021 when the 2021 420 Leinster Championships were sailed at Malahide Yacht Club with 15 entries enjoying the idyllic conditions of cloudless skies, warm temperatures and a good sea breeze that allowed a full quota of six races to be completed.

The high pressure stationed over Ireland made the Saturday morning mill pond condition look ominous, but by the time the first gun was signalled on schedule a 9-10 knot sea breeze allowed the principal race officer Richard Kissane from Howth Yacht Club to not only sail the three scheduled races for the Saturday but also an extra race. Day 1 wins were shared by McDowell/Tompson and Graf/Goerg who were tied on 5 points each after two wins apiece.

Gold Fleet 2nd Place - Jack McDowell MYC/Henry Thompson WHBTC

Gold Fleet 3rd Place -Alex Leech LRYC/Conor Paul LRYC

Day 2 provided a slight increase in breeze and Graf/Goerg tightened their grip on the title with another two wins. Campion/Soffe sailed a solid series to win the Silver Fleet and finish well up the Gold Fleet placings.

Silver Fleet 1st Place - Kate Campion MYC/Amelie Soffe MYC

Silver Fleet 2nd Place - Fodhla Dunne WHSC/Sinead O'Reilly WHSC

Gold Fleet 1st Place - Ben Graf LRYC/Anna Goerg LRYC
Gold Fleet 2nd Place - Jack McDowell MYC/Henry Thompson WHBTC
Gold Fleet 3rd Place -Alex Leech LRYC/Conor Paul LRYC
Silver Fleet 1st Place - Kate Campion MYC/Amelie Soffe MYC
Silver Fleet 2nd Place - Fodhla Dunne WHSC/Sinead O'Reilly WHSC
Silver Fleet 3rd Place - Sean Cronin MYC/ Sarah Whyte LRYC

The next Irish event for the 420 Class will be the 2021 National Championships to be held at Howth Yacht Club on the 27th to the 29th August.

A 16-year-old Malahide Yacht Club cadet has become one of the youngest sailors to be awarded the RYA Day Skipper (Sail & Power Craft) and ICC Certificate.

Daniel Flavin, a Transition Year student at the local Community School, was assessed on all aspects of this demanding and challenging course and successfully passed all the practical and theory modules to earn the qualification.

He is the eldest son of the MYC Commodore Daniel Flavin Snr., while his mother Therese is the Club's Junior Affairs Officer and Centre Principal of the Club's Dinghy Sailing Centre at Broadmeadows.

Having begun his sailing at the tender age of 1, and with more than 2,000 miles logged to date, Daniel hopes his achievement will inspire more MYC cadet members. In the past couple of years, the arrival of three J/24s to the MYC Cruiser fleet provides a great stepping-stone for the Club's young members to start their keelboat sailing careers.

Malahide Yacht Club’s new commodore Daniel Flavin promises continued expansion of the north Co Dublin club’s training and development programme in the year ahead.

In addition, moves to improve facilities at both clubhouses will be part of an overall work plan being prepared alongside an ambitious sailing calendar for 2020, with further announcements to come at the club’s launching supper at a future date.

Celebrating the community spirit of the club’s strong social network, Commodore Flavin called on members who have not yet had the chance to rig out their boat, go for a sail or attend its events to get involved this year.

Commodore Flavin’s full address is included in the latest MYC newsletter, which also has information on junior and adult training courses, the upcoming events schedule and details of the new online membership renewals system.

The spirit of Malahide Yacht Club (MYC) is very much alive and kicking after a big effort by a large team of volunteers help pull a club member's boat off the southern side of the Lower Estuary.

The boat had broken its moorings in the high winds and needed to be re-floated on the next high tide and then towed into the marina, especially with the prospect of Hurricane Lorenzo expected to hit us soon. The operation involved about a dozen MYC members.

A 24-hour sail raised over €2,000 for the Ocean Cleanup organised by DCU and DIT sailing teams in Malahide Yacht Club.

The event called ‘DCU x DIT 24hr Sail’ consisted of the same two Topaz boats crewed by teams of two sailed from 5pm on 25th October to 5pm the next day.

"The event has gone from strength to strength each year” said Aaron Jones, Captain of the DCU Sailing Team, “the addition of DIT this year was a huge benefit to the cause and definitely helped us smash our goal of €1,500”.

“By joining the college’s together it greatly helped advertise the event and helped spread awareness to such an important issue facing out generation” said Louis Tate member of DIT Sailing who helped organise the event.

A huge network of support and shift work meant the same two boats were on the water for 24 hours while other land and water activities took place. Talks were given to junior and senior members of MYC on our sailor’s experiences including the Round Ireland Race, Olympic Sailing and team racing.

With winds reaching close to 30 knots at times, safety was always a priority, especially during the night time sailing. Certain measures were taken to ensure this including the decision to hold the event in Malahide’s closed estuary.

“I know the estuary inside out where you can sail safe, where you can stand and the fact it’s enclosed so if an issue arises you won’t get lost and can sail towards land in any direction you go” said Colm Roche, recent DCU graduate and instructor at MYC.

The boats were also equipped with a VHF each, PDFs, hi-visibility jackets, appropriate weather gear, lights and were constantly accompanied by a team on a powerboat.

The event finished with a raffle with prizes from some of the sponsors including Camille, SuperValu, Jamie Knox and DCU Surf N’Sail.

While the success of the event comes down to those in DCU and DIT organising it and those involved on the day, Colm Roche also feels it’s important to recognise his club’s contribution “when a club gives you so much you want to give something back”.

The event raised €2,294 through online and on the day donations but you can still donate to the Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation developing technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. It is estimated they will clean up half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 5 years.

You can donate through this link here

17 RS Feva dinghies participated in the latest round of coaching for the class at Greystones Sailing Club at the weekend writes Garett Donnelly. Conditions were perfect with coaching provided for all the sailors ranging in age from 11 to 17 years of age.

Sailors from Greystones, RStGYC, RIYC, Bray SC, Malahide YC and Howth YC took part.

Next up on the Feva 2017 calendar is coaching in Malahide Yacht Club from 8th to 10th April and then Howth Yacht Club for coaching on 19,20,21.

The Eastern Championships follow on 22 and 23 April. Entry for the Easterns is here.