It's no surprise that as hosts of this Wednesday's  2021 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, the National Yacht Club is also fielding the biggest number of boats from the participating 19 yacht clubs but what's perhaps less well known is the extent of involvement of the NYC's Under 30 section who occupy key roles on other boats in the fleet too and also in its biennial race management team.

Will Byrne (27): XP50 ‘Freya’ - Bow

As a previous IRC and Line Honours winner of the D2D with Rockabill in 2017, Will (pictured top) has a lot to prove after an unsuccessful 2019 campaign onboard XP44 WOW.

Will resumes bowman duties offshore on the Kinsale Yacht Club entry by taking a break from his usual role as boat captain and helm onboard Gringo in Dublin Bay.

Will's experience includes class wins in the Caribbean600, Fast40+ Class, IRC events across Europe as well as experience working with professional race teams around the world.

Gráinne Ryan

Gráinne Ryan (24): Race Committee

As a keen sailor who is a member of both the National Yacht Club and the Royal Dee Yacht Club Grainne is actively involved in the race management of ISORA. She also sat on the executive committee of the VDLR in the role of sustainability manager in 2019. In Dingle this year, Grainne is responsible for tracker management and compiling the results.

Saoirse Reynolds

Saoirse Reynolds (23) Benetau Figaro3 ‘Raw’

Following an injury forcing her to stop other sports back in 2015, Saoirse began keelboat racing and has since clocked up a few thousand miles offshore in ISORA, deliveries, sail training and races such as the Rolex Fastnet Race. Racing a broad variety of boats including the J97 “Windjammer” and 3600 “YOYO”, she is able to race any position in any conditions.

Saoirse regularly sails on Chris Power Smiths successful J122 “Aurelia” but will be getting her first taste of foiling on Conor Fogerty’s Beneteau Figaro 3 “Raw” for this year's edition of the race. Saoirse is a mentee of the Magenta Project, being mentored by short-handed sailor Deb Fish.

Nicole Hemeryck is sailing on the Grand Soleil 31, JustTina Photo: Afloat

Nicole Hemeryck (22) Grand Soleil 34 ‘JustTina’

Originally a dinghy sailor, Nicole has transitioned to large boats over the past few years, having accumulated hundreds of miles in racing and deliveries.

Following her first attempt at the D2D in 2019, Nicole is hoping to help the JustTina team to a successful D2D result this time around.

Mark O'Connor

Mark O’Connor (22) J122 ‘Aurelia’ - Bow

Mark will be working the Bow on Chris Power Smiths’ J122, Aurelia. This is Mark’s First D2D race, having sailed offshore for the previous 2 seasons including the Fastnet 450 race.

Mark's love of sailing began age 12 doing “Start sailing” in the National Yacht club, since then he has been sailing Toppers, Lasers, Fireflies and keelboats both home and abroad.

Oisin Cullen

Oisin Cullen (20) SunFast3600 ‘Hot Cookie’ - Bow/Trim

Oisin started sailing dinghies in Dun Laoghaire at 10 years old and at 14 had the opportunity to sail on the J109 Wakey Wakey which started Oisin’s long-standing competition in ISORA.

Oisin has accumulated thousands of miles offshore competing in some of the worlds premier races such as the Rolex Fastnet, D2D and Round Ireland Race along with a tall ships race from London to Sines, Portugal.

Oisin is also a keen inshore sailor having competed in regattas such as the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Sovereigns week and Cowes Week. He also sails on J109 Jalapeño in DBSC.

Tom Shanahan, Gleb Romantchik and Kieran Hall

Tom Shanahan 22 - XP44 ‘WOW’ - Foredeck Team 

Tom will be racing aboard George Sisk’s XP44 WOW for the first time. Tom has been a member of the National since he could walk and grew up sailing in the junior section. He started racing offshore at a young age and has previously competed in two D2Ds aboard the J109 “Ruth”.

Tom enjoys racing around the cans in Dublin Bay as well as sailing with his university team during the academic year.

He is looking forward to a competitive fleet with close racing all around the Irish coast, as well as getting back to Dingle!

Gleb Romantchik - XP44 ‘WOW’ - Foredeck Team

Gleb will be racing aboard George Sisk’s XP44 WOW this year. Gleb grew up sailing in Schull, West Cark under the watchful eye of David Harte.

This will be Gleb's first D2D of what will hopefully be many.

Kieran Hall - XP44 ‘WOW’ - Foredeck Team

Kieran is racing aboard his usual boat, WOW. A Dublin Bay sailor at heart with plenty of offshore miles under his belt, but this will be his first Dingle.

He is looking forward to the starting gun!