Lawrie Smith Of Glandore Harbour Yacht Club is Britain's Sailor of the Year

19th February 2024

Superstar international sailor Lawrie Smith lists Glandore Harbour YC as his home club when campaigning his own boat Credit: PPL Photo Agency

Afloat.ie may have got there first by naming Lawrie Smith, the Master of Tralong and enthusiastic member of Glandore Harbour YC, as one of our "Sailors of the Month" for September 2023 after he'd won the Dragon Gold Cup as just the latest of many prestigious international trophies going back for decades.

But now, in the Yachting Journalists Association Yachtsman of the Year 2023 category in Britain, YJA members voted at the weekend "for a household name in the world of yachting, but one that has never graced this prestigious trophy before. At 67 years old, Lawrie Smith is an accomplished Olympian, America's Cup skipper, participated in four editions of the Whitbread Race, and is a UK National Champion in multiple classes.

"In 2023, however, he had an exceptional run of success, winning the 75th Edinburgh Cup and the Yanmar Dragon Gold Cup. He is presently competing overseas, and so Andrew Moss, Chairman of the British Dragon Class Association received the famous trophy on his behalf, and said, "Lawrie's skill in being able to sail a Dragon fast, together with the technical capability of the boat, he just has this magical ability to combine these together which led to him winning both of these incredibly challenging events, so well done to him and for this fantastic recognition'.

Published in News Update

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Lawrie Smith

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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