135 young sailors aged 7 to 15 gathered in Lough Derg YC, Dromineer, for the Annual IODAI Optimist national Training week, three days of coaching and fun followed by the final event of the year, the Hallowe'en cup incorporating the Crosbie cup, a long-standing perpetual trophy dedicated to the Silver and bronze fleet sailors.

23 National Yacht Club young sailors made the journey and enjoyed the training in various groups under the guidance of a mix of International coaches and Irish-based coaches. NYC Optimist coach Conor Gorman was part of the Gold fleet team. NYC coaches also had fair representation in the Regatta fleet support, with Cillian Madigan leading a team of younger instructors, including 29er aces Lauren O'Callaghan and Ethan Spain, freshly returned from the Italian Eurocup, but also some future talent in the club coaching panel Ella Dempsey and Ellen Madigan.

The clinic was led by Thomas Chaix, the club's head coach.

The first day saw stormy conditions, and the gold fleet ventured out. Capsizes and surfing led to big smiles and heroes' stories back ashore. The remaining sailors worked on various shore-based drills.

Feast or Famine! The fan was switched off for the rest of the week, leading to some calmer conditions, even too calm at times. It certainly allowed everyone a comfortable time afloat training and preparing for the Halloween cup.

Regatta day delivered an awesome forecast with sunshine and a gentle 6-10kts Southerly breeze.

The 95-boat main fleet headed outside Dromineer bay and raced four full-size excellent races whilst The 47-boat regatta fleet battled just a few 100 metres from the marina giving the parents a great spectacle ashore.

NYC sailors were on fire, winning six out of the eight categories, including the coveted Halloween cup.

Regatta Fleet
1st: Josephine Dion.

Regatta Racing Fleet
1st: Louis Tryckett
2nd: Michael Hanley

Junior Bronze
1st Aurèle Dion
2nd Alex Butcher
3rd Jacob Browne

Junior Silver
1st Basile Dion

Junior Gold
3rd James Gorman

Senior Bronze
1st Max Neary

Senior Gold
1st Gemma Brady

Special mention must to NYC Crosbie cup racers in the top positions - it was a near miss on count back For 9-year-old Aurèle in the 65-boat fleet

• 2nd Aurèle Dion
• 3rd Basile Dion
• 4th Alex Butcher
• 6th Jacob Browne
• 7th Max Neary
• 18th Jonathan Dempsey

The sailors will now return to the regular club programme and try to apply and practice the lessons of the week.

ILCA Training

Meanwhile, in Dun Laoghaire, NYC's ILCA group had a great session on Saturday under the leadership of Coach James Delaney. The Argentinian drill was the highlight of a great day afloat for the group.

Viking Marine DMYC Frostbites

The DMYC Frostbites series started on Sunday with many dinghy sailors from NYC attending. The Aeros started well in the PY fleet, with NYC Noel Butler scoring a solid 2-1 and taking the lead. Stephen Oram 6-3 was good enough to place him in 3rd.

The final 29er skiff dinghy Eurocup of the year always attracts the cream of the fleet. Once more, with 153 entries from 20 countries, the event proved to be very competitive and can easily be considered the 'Autumn Europeans'.

Three National Yacht Club partnerships made the journey to Italy and competed over the four days. After a strong qualifying series of six races securing many top results, all three teams qualified in the Gold fleet.

The best was, however, yet to come.

The Van Steenberge siblings, Clementine and Nathan, regularly finished inside the top 10 (12 out of 13 races), including a race win in the final race climbed them into second overall and top mixed team.

The National Yacht Club's Van Steenberge siblings competing in the 29er Eurocup final on Lake Garda

This outstanding performance wraps up a superb international season rewarded by a second place overall (and top mixed) in the Eurocup yearly rankings.

Nathan had a particularly successful month with three medals at the three events attended (Hungarian 29er Eurocup 3rd, 49er U23 Europeans 3rd and now the Euro Cup finals 2nd).

Ben O'Shaugnessy and crew Ethan Spain had an impressive catch-up, securing eighth overall. Lauren O'Callaghan and Crew James Dwyer had just an hour together the day prior to the event. They certainly sailed like a seasoned partnership to take 12th overall, including a race win in the Gold fleet and snatching second Mixed from the German opposition in the final race.

At home

National Yacht Club Optimist sailing at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Sailing activities have returned to the National Yacht Club platform after the cruiser lift out with Optimist, Feva, Topper and ILCA coaches running successful sessions afloat in great conditions.

The focus is to secure solid boat handling sessions whilst Europe is still enjoying some kind of Indian summer and before winter eventually settles.

The INSS Super Sprint Series was launched with NYC sailors taking part in the Aero and Feva fleets.

An open 29er clinic also ran from the club. The sailors enjoyed two great days under the guidance of NYC coach Tadgh Donnely and Olympic hopeful Seafra Guilfoyle.

Dun Laoghaire's National Yacht Club will host a match racing series in the club's own fleet of Elliott 6m one-design keelboats.

The series will run for a period of four weeks, beginning the weekend of 5th-6th November.

The series is open to members and non-members, with preference given to members if demand is high.

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour-based match racing series will be held in the NYC's own fleet of Elliott 6m one-design keelboats Photo: Afloat

There is an option to join as a team or as individual sailors where NYC will endeavour to match sailors to make up teams.

If you are interested in competing, please complete the Google form here

The National Yacht Club was the theatre of the ballet of 'flying boats' with the annual lift-out last Saturday. The very windy forecast did not fully materialise, allowing the operation to run smoothly as Afloat reported here.

If sailing activities from the club stopped, it certainly did not prevent many National YC sailors from going away and competing at various regattas around the country.

The annual lift out of cruisers was completed at the National Yacht Club in ideal conditions Photo: Afloat

Flying Fifteen LDYC keelboat regatta

Six partnerships from the National Yacht Club took part in the Flying 15s 19-boat fleet at the Lough Derg YC keelboat regatta, and it was very windy on Saturday (above)

The Lough Derg YC keelboat regatta was sailed in Dragons, Squibs, SB20 and Flying 15. Six partnerships from the club took part in the Flying 15s 19-boat fleet as Afloat reported here and here

Saturday was a very windy day on the lake, and only the Flying 15s launched for two insane races in big breezes. Only nine boats completed both races and despite four capsizes, no major gear failures were recorded. NYC sailors Tom Galvin and Keith Poole took the lead on the night with a 3-1 score.

Sunday was certainly a more manageable day, and four races were completed to bring the tally to 6. With three wins and a second, John Lavery and crew Alan Green dominated the day climbing right back to 4th overall despite their two DNC collected on day one.

NYC results from the Flying Fifteen LDYC keelboat regatta

• 2nd Tom Galvin & Keith Poole
• 4th John Lavery & Alan Green
• 7th David Mulvin & Ronan Byrne
• 11th Niall Meagher & Nicky Matthews
• 13th Peter Murphy & Cira Mulvey
• 17th R Hilliard & Dasha Hilliard

Malahide Dinghy Regatta 2022

The Malahide Dinghy regatta 2022 was at full capacity, and it made for a great Sunday afternoon on the water on the Broadmeadow. 3 races were completed for all series (Optimist, ILCA4, ILCA6, ILCA7, Topper and a PY class).

The National YC team was composed of nine Optimist sailors and five RS Feva partnerships.

The National YC team was composed of nine Optimist sailors and five RS Feva partnerships at the Malahide Dinghy Regatta 2022

The 28 boats Optimist fleet proved very competitive, and it is eventually local sailor and reigning National champion Conor Cronin who took the win. NYC sailors were solid all around, with six sailors in the top 12, Gemma Brady being the club's best finisher in third overall and top lady. Not far off in 5th was nine-year-old fast-progressing Aurèle Dion, who had led the initial race but was unfortunately outpaced by Cronin just before the finish.

Gemma Brady was the club's best finisher in third overall and top lady at the MYC Dinghy Regatta 2022

The PY fleet was dominated by the 420s with a course better suited to their downwind qualities. However, the club Fevas had great battles in the 15-boat fleet with siblings Hannah and William Walsh emerging as best Feva in sixth overall.

NYC results from Optimist at the Malahide Dinghy Regatta 2022

• 3rd Gemma Brady
• 5th Aurèle Dion
• 8th Felix Dion
• 10th Louise Hanley
• 11th Basile Dion
• 12th Grace Keating
• 17th Alex Butcher
• 21st Jacob Browne
• 23rd Lucas Browne

NYC PY class results

• 6th Hannah & William Walsh
• 8th Theo Madigan & Cathal O Regan
• 9th Zara Whelan & Caitlin Bennett
• 13th Charlie O’Neill & Alex Byrne
• 15th Sam Bennett & Cillian Hainbach

Nathan Van Steenberge competes at 49er U23 Europeans in Hungary

Nathan Van Steenberge competed at the 49er U23 Europeans in Hungary

Further afield, NYC skiff ace Nathan Van Steenberge competed at the 49er U23 Europeans in Hungary. He was crewing in a multi-country partnership under the Belgium flag, taking a superb Bronze medal just missing silver on countback. He now has just a few days to catch up on college work before heading to Garda for the 29er Eurocup finals with his sister Clementine. They will be joined by two other NYC partnerships Ben O'Shaugnessy / Ethan Spain and Lauren O’Callaghan / James Dwyer. The event will prove very competitive, with 160 boats confirmed and the nearest thing to a 29er world ranking (overalls in the Eurocup 9 events circuit 2022) at stake.

The National Yacht Club is getting geared up for the annual winter lift-out of cruisers at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Dinghies are clearing the platform to allow the precise jigsaw business of winter storing of club members' bigger units.

It landed the perfect excuse for the club Optimist Performance team for a trip to Crosshaven and Cork Harbour for the weekend. 14 young sailors took part in the club's first "NYC on tour" of the Autumn.

As NYC Head coach, I was assisted by 29er sailor and ex-opti ace William Walsh, linking with the RCYC team to deliver a great day of sailing for a total of 29 kids.

14 young sailors took part in the club's first "NYC on tour" of the Autumn

The day started with training in small groups before the coaches worked out a fun regatta with a "double startline" in order to level the field between experienced main fleet sailors and beginners.

The sailors then enjoyed a great evening of fun thanks to the warm welcome of the locals.

After Saturday's sunny sailing, it was a wet and blustery morning welcoming the sailors on Sunday.

High speed fun in an Optimist dinghy just East of Currabinny in Cork Harbour as part of the first NYC-RCYC Golden Cup

The Cobblers league races were quickly cancelled, as many events all around the country. The coaches decided to launch sailors keen to try to get the coolest photo on the kitchen wall. It was fast, it fast fun... It was what we call a blast and gave kids and parents alike big smiles and tales to tell when back ashore after two hours of high speed just East of Currabinny.

The boats are back, and the team is already looking at its next outing.

Download the results from the NYC-RCYC combined training weekend Golden cup event below

Head Coach Thomas Chaix updates on a happening weekend for National Yacht Club sailors both at home and abroad

At home, the final two races of the junior September series were completed. Close to 50 NYC juniors had entered the series in the Optimist (the largest fleet with 48 entries), ILCA 4, ILCA6, Feva and Toppers.

The sailors secured a very good 1-2-3 in the Optimist fleet, with Aurele Dion edging out his brother Basile for the top prize. Max Neary completed the podium.

NYC was also on top in the Topper class, with Ben Doherty taking the top prize. Third place went to Leonardo Errico.

The National also had sailors racing in the other classes falling short of podium finishes. Well done to all participants and organiser Henrietta Senkowski.

The National Yacht Club on Dun Laoghaire's East Pier

NYC also had a few sailors taking part in events around the country.

As afloat reported earlier, Rio Olympian Finn Lynch enjoyed some home sailing at the ILCA7 end-of-the-season regatta, winning all six races in the Royal St. George hosted ILCA event. 

Sam Ledoux and Conor Staunton competed in the ILCA6 category. The 37-boat fleet was very competitive, and Sam secured second place overall after a solid series. In Schull, Ben O Shaugnessy and Ethan Spain were competing at the Junior invitational All Ireland championships ending their challenge as runners-up. William Walsh was also competing.

The final Topper traveller saw 60 boats competing. Ella Fitzgerald took the top Lady prize in 4th overall.

Abroad, the van Steenberge's siblings were racing in Hungary at a 29er Eurocup. After ten races in a very competitive fleet, they secured third overall, which constitutes their best Eurocup finish to date, contributing to tightening their grip on a top 10 and the mixed category overall prize with just one Eurocup to go (Italy in October).

NYC Training programmes

NYC instructors in training had a great weekend progressing their skills with a mix of theoretical sessions and time afloat in order to get their advanced instructor endorsement.

The Optimist Performance programme was launched with three excellent sessions afloat in top conditions. The Feva training was also in session with four boats taking the water on Sunday morning."

Coach James Delaney ran yet another successful morning of training for our ILCA Masters. Frostbites racing is in sight!

Thomas Chaix has been appointed Head Coach overseeing Sailing Development in the National Yacht Club, one of the country's most prominent clubs.  

The new role has been created due to a comprehensive workshop regarding the club's needs and direct feedback from members.

It is anticipated that Chaix will be involved with all the club's racing classes and the junior dinghy classes; Chaix will also coach, among others; the Water Wags, Flying Fifteens, SB20s, Ruffian 23s and J109s that all race from the east pier club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

He will lead a broad range of performance coaching activities and programmes in the club under the direction of the Junior Organiser, Sailing Secretary and Class Captains.

Chaix started sailing in Brittany in the late eighties and took a love for the sport at a young age competing in Optimist, then Lasers in the regional Brittany squad.

Despite focusing on his Laser career at national and international levels with many significant performances and wins, he sailed and raced many other classes and prides himself as a very versatile sailor.

Since 2005 he has been professionally coaching and advising sailors in racing skills, equipment, sport psychology, fitness and nutrition. Thomas has worked for individuals, clubs, Irish Sailing and class associations, delivering effective coaching and helping sailors to deliver their potential, whether as a club sailor or a future olympian. He has continued sailing himself - recently winning the Fireball nationals last month and competing at the worlds in Lough Derg.

Thomas Chaix on the wire for Chris Bateman at the 2022 Fireball World Championships on Lough Derg Photo: Con Murphy

"I am looking forward to being part of the National Yacht Club team as Head Coach, bringing years of expertise in the role and delivering to all members improving sailing and racing skills and knowledge, continuing the club tradition around delivering excellence at various events from grassroots to Olympics, from dinghies to cruisers, whilst keeping the family spirit leading to the enjoyment of our great sport and activity."

In one of his first moves, Chaix has called a  meeting on October 6th for all NYC Laser sailors of all fleets (including Junior fleets and adults), where he will discuss and set out his plans for developing the class.

At the weekend, a fleet of twenty-six boats and fifty-two sailors descended on the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire for the RS Feva East Coast Championships.

Race Officer Larry Power delivered six races in sunny sailing conditions over two days. The wind off Scotsman’s Bay was light on Saturday, with the first race reaching a maximum of 12 knots but dropping dramatically as the day progressed. Day 1 tested the teams to the full with light, shifty winds making it very tricky for sailors not used to racing in light winds. Sunday brought more consistent wind reaching 10+ Knots, with the Feva Spinnaker bringing many colours to Dublin Bay.

Dun Laoghaire sailors Mia – Mai Hooper and Tom Flannery from the RIYC were in top form over the two days and took 1st Place in the Gold Fleet.

National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O'Regan (left) with First in Bronze, Silver & Gold fleets were Lewis Mc Connell & Maxim Zaramenskiy, Isabella Clarke - Waterman & Aoibhe Killeen, Mia Mia Hooper & Tom Flannery  Photo: Michael Chester

Runners up were Jules Start and Grace Gavin from RStGYC, followed up by local sailors at NYC, Lucas Browne and Felix Dion, who took third place in a very completive finish. To say the racing at the top was tight would be an understatement. Indeed, the standard across the fleet improved dramatically over the two days.

RS Feva events have become more popular across Ireland, with a major emphasis on enjoying the events and having fun. We had sailors from seven clubs from across Ireland compete in three Fleet categories, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Competitors praised the well-organised event, which was sponsored by Marine Services, and the warm welcome they received from the National Yacht Club.

Overall RS Feva East Coast Championship Results

Gold Fleet

1 Mia Mai Hopper & Tom Flannery (RIYC)

2 Jules Start & Grace Gavin (RSGYC)

3 Lucas Browne & Felix Dion (NYC)

Silver Fleet

1 Isabella Clarke – Waterman & Aoibhe Kileen (RCYC)

2 Jacob Browne & Zara Whelan (NYC)

3 John Healy & Daniel Burns (INSS)

Bronze Fleet

1 Lewis McConnel & Maxim Zaramenskiy (GSC)

2 Eliot Wright & Hugo McConnell (GSC)

3 Kealan Reilly & Oisin O Reilly (INSS)

RS Feva East Coast NYC Prizegiving Photo Gallery by Michael Chester  

Ida Kiernan's election as Commodore of the National Yacht Club on the 25 March 2000 marked a firm shattering of the glass ceiling that limited the role of women in sailing.

Only in the late 1970s were women admitted to full membership of Yacht Clubs – despite many making considerable contributions to the Clubs and sport long before that.

Ida was the first Commodore of a 'Category One' Club – generally defined as one with large premises, full-time staff and over 1,000 members – in Ireland, the UK, and maybe the world.

But her trailblazing in sailing started long before the Millennium year.

In her twenties, she "shelved her safe and comfortable nine to five job in the civil service to make her living at the mercy of the truculent sea", as an article in the Evening Herald in July 1977 described the founding of her Dun Laoghaire Sailing School. Up to this point, Glenans provided summer sailing schools in the South and West of Ireland – but no school was open to the general public in Dublin.

Ida Kiernan was a member of the National Yacht Club for over 50 years

Her base was the Coal Harbour – where her fleet grew to twelve Mirrors and a few 420s and Herons. She had tremendous organisational and marketing flair – launching her annual programme in the Burlington Hotel one year and working closely with principals of the numerous local schools.

Ida ran the school successfully for several years until Alister Rumball took it over and grew it into today's highly successful Irish National Sailing School (INSS).

Ida was a member of the National Yacht Club for over 50 years and was an expert sailor – especially in Mermaid class, and helped train many of the Club's Junior sailors.

Author Donal O'Sullivan described her most famous pupil: "This is Cathy MacAleavey, born in Mexico, who was brought by her mother to Ireland when her father died unexpectedly."

Cathy was the first Irishwoman (with Aishling Byrne) to sail in the Olympics (Seoul, 1988), while her daughter, in turn, was the first Irish woman sailor to win an Olympic medal (Silver at Rio 2016).

In a tribute to Ida Kiernan, DBSC held a minutes silence before the start of its Wednesday Water Wag Race. The DBSC Race Committee Boat Freebird flew 'I' and 'K' flags hoisted fully before dipping to half-mast Photo: DBSC

Ida was born and educated in Dun Laoghaire and started her career in the Revenue Commissioners. When she left state service to set up the Sailing School, she also developed an expertise in Marketing and Organisation. She acted as a professional support for a number of trade organisations. Highly innovative and efficient, she worked closely with CTT, The Export Board.

Most notably, following the 1988 Lockerbie Pan Am 747 Bomb, American buyers were not coming to Europe, so she organised for the Federation of Jewellery Manufacturers of Ireland (FJMI) to Showcase their products in New York. That Group Trade Mission & Exhibition continued successfully for many years. She also acted for a number of Irish clothing and fashion houses in a similar way.

After serving as Commodore of the National Yacht Club, she volunteered incessantly and effectively in many roles. She was on the Dublin Bay Sailing Club Committee Boat Mac Lir weekly during the season. She organised, with Jackie Flynn, the Club Bridge Society, and each Christmas assembled the team which ran a significant charity fashion show in the Club.

She was out on Mac Lir three weeks ago and then went into hospital but was terminally ill at that stage.

Many tributes have poured in from the sailing and commercial worlds, where her fearless, innovative contributions will be sorely missed.

Ida is survived by her brothers Michael and Gerard, and sister-in-law Angela.

MMcC

Read the DBSC tribute to Ida here

Afloat.ie regrets to record the death yesterday of Ida Kiernan, the first woman Commodore of the National YC in Dun Laoghaire from 2000-2002, and a popular pioneer of sailing instruction in the harbour.

We will publish a full appreciation in due course, but meanwhile, our thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.