June 2019's edition of the Volvo D2D was a step-up for the event in so many ways and had a number of significant firsts writes Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann.
Windfall - the biggest yacht to ever compete set a new record time. It was also the biggest fleet ever at 43. The race also had the largest number of finishers ever at 41 and the lowest number of retired yachts (2).
The youngest skipper Tom Shanahan at 19 years of age brought J109 Ruth home in fourth place overall with the first all amateur crew thereby winning the Dingle Peninsula Produce Hamper.
And in further youth sailing participation in the race, 17-year-old Diarmuid Desmond from Dingle Sailing Club sailed on Windfall and the County Kerry sailor was rewarded with a record time into his home port.
It was also the first time that the race was sailed on the RORC offshore calendar.
When Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) crossed the finish line it was the first time a yacht has retained the overall win in the Volvo D2D race.
Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann addresses competitors at a packed prizegiving
The sponsors did their part too. The most beer drunk in an 11 hour period at the event race office in Dingle - 6 barrels of Dick Macs Pale Ale. Every participating boat received a bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin at the prizegiving. The biggest prize giving function ever with 220 people attending in the Dingle Skellig Hotel. A Bretzel Bakery chocolate brownie on every table at the prize giving party.
A packed prizegiving of more than 220 at the Dingle Skellig Hotel
My sincere thanks to all the volunteers from the National Yacht Club who made the event a massive success in 2019 - most notably Con Murphy (PRO), Cathy MacAleavy, Suzie Barry and Grainne Ryan. We also had wonderful media support from the Afloat team of David O’ Brien and Winkie Nixon aided by Miriam Ferriter of The Dingle Skellig Hotel and Photographer Dominick Walsh in Dingle.
The 2021 Race will start from the National Yacht Club on Wednesday 9th June 2021. This will be a limited entry event. Previous entrants will be offered early entry options and then the entry will be opened to others to allow up to a maximum of 50 yachts.
Special Recognition Awards in the Volvo D2D Race
1 Diarmuid Desmond – Dingle Sailing Club - Crewed on Windfall
2 Dave Morley – NYC – Start Mark Layer
3 Grainne Ryan – NYC – Trackers and Results
4 Suzie Barry - NYC – Start and Finish Race Office
5 Cathy Mac Aleavy – NYC – Superwoman!
6 Peter O’ Regan – Dingle Marina Superintendant
7 Niamh Kennedy – Dingle Sailing Club Sailing Manager
8 Olivier Prouveur – NYC Sailing Manager
9 Ian Meldon – NYC – Mac Lir Skipper for committee boat
10 Oonagh Deegan – NYC Assistant Manager
11 Tim Greenwood – NYC Start Committee Boar
12 Sandra Moore – NYC – Race Office
Photos by Dominick Walsh
Michael Cotter receives the Seamus Gallagher Memorial Trophy - presented by Conor O Regan - Vice Commodore of the National Yacht Club
Con Murphy and Adam Winkelmann with Sheila O’Connor and Miriam Ferriter from the Dingle Skellig Hotel
Aurelia - Chris and Patanne Power Smith RStGYC receive the 2nd Place Overall from Bill Naughton of Volvo Tralee
Tom Shanahan NYC receives the Dingle Peninsula Producers Hamper for 4th Place Overall and First All Amateur Crew - presented by Conor O Regan - Vice Commodore of the NYC
Suzie Barry - daughter of race co-founder Brien Barry, receives her volunteer award from Adam Winkelmann
Cathy Mac Aleavy receives her volunteer award from Adam Winkelmann
Niamh Kennedy of Dingle Sailing Club receives her award from Adam Winkelmann
Cathy MacAleavy - Irelands first female sailing Olympian - presents the Mixed Crew 2nd Place Trophy to Windfall (RIYC / RStGYC) crew members Emma James and Laurie Read
Jackknife - Andrew Hall of Pwhlleli Sailing Club - receive the Alice Celebration Trophy for 1st Place in the mixed crew
Paul Moxon of Amokura from Falmouth receives the 2nd place prize in the Cruising Class from Cathy MacAleavy
David Bolger of Lady Rowena RStGYC receives the Sam and Emma Trophy for 1st Place in Cruising Class - presented by Cathy MacAleavy
Joe Conway of Sigma 33 Elandra RIYC wins the Halidon Trophy for 1st place in boats under 33 feet
Joe Conway of Sigma 33 Elandra RIYC receives his prize for 5th Place in IRC 2 from Sheila O Connor of the Dingle Skellig Hotel
Blackjack skipper Peter Coad of Howth Yacht Club receives 3rd place in IRC2 from Sheila O Connor of Dingle Skellig Hotel
2nd Place in IRC 2 is presented by Sheila O Connor of Dingle Skellig Hotel to Finbarr O Regan of Artful Dodger Kinsale Yacht Club
Winner of the Dingle Skellig Trophy for 1st place in IRC2 to Rupert Barry of Red Alert, Greystones Sailing Club - presented by Sheila O’Connor
Jackknife of Pwhlleli SC receive 5th place overall - presented by Billy Naughton of Volvo Tralee
Tom Shanahan skipper of Ruth - National Yacht Club - receives 4th place overall - presented by Billy Naughton of Volvo Tralee
John O’Gorman skipper of Hot Cookie - National Yacht Club - receives 3rd place overall - presented by Billy Naughton of Volvo Tralee
Hammer - aka - John Veale receives the record-setting champagne for Windfall from Conor O’ Regan - vice commodore of NYC
The crew of Samatom of Howth Yacht Club - comfortable in pink - provided crowd control support to Adam Winkelmann during the prizegiving 
The wonderful Dolphin trophies donated by former winner Liam Shanahan Snr to the event. The Shanahan family have had 3 generations of skipper in the D2D Race
Yannik Lemonnier receives the Mini 6.50 trophy from Cath MacAleavy
Download a full list of 2019 D2D prizewinners below plus a full set of results below
Read WM Nixon's race review here and all the D2D race news in one handy link here
