Range of Sailing Achievements Saluted at National Yacht Club Annual Prizegiving

1st March 2022

Guests at the National Yacht Club Sailing Awards. Scroll down for individual award citations and photography Credit: Photo: Michael Chester

In one of the highlights of the club year, the National Yacht Club awarded thirteen annual awards for outstanding sailing achievements on Saturday night.

The awards, as well as the Commodore’s Cup, were presented at the NYC annual Sailing Awards Dinner at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O’Regan and the array of NYC silverware Photo: Michael Chester

The Boyne Regatta Cup – for best performance in offshore racing of the year

Gavin Doyle - 1st in IRC 2 handed, 1st in IRC 4 and 3rd overall in the RORC Castle Rock Race 2021 and 3rd Overall, 3rd in IRC 4 and 3rd in the IRC 2 handed division in the RORC Channel Race 2021, JOG NJO Sails Weymouth 2021 – IRC 4 – 2nd, RORC/SORC Solent Shakedown 2021 1st, sailing his Corby 25 Duff Lite with Co-Skipper Alex Piatti Photo: Michael Chester

The O’Leary Cup – for best performance of the year in one designs

John Lavery & Alan Green - Winners of the Flying Fifteen Championship of Ireland for a second consecutive year John Lavery & Alan Green (pictured left) - Winners of the Flying Fifteen Championship of Ireland for a second consecutive year are presented with the O'Leary Cup by Conor O'Regan Photo: Michael Chester

The Edward Yacht Club Trophy – for best performance of the year in dinghies, Mermaids or Flying Fifteens

David Cahill - 1st overall on Tuesday nights and 2nd overall on Saturdays in the huge Laser Radial Class (44 competitors) in DBSC. Winner of the Dr. Alf Delany Cup for most successful dinghy for the season Photo: Michael Chester

John Byrne Memorial Trophy – for the greatest contribution to sailing in the NYC during the year

Alan Balfe - For his dedication and commitment in organising events in his role as Sailing Secretary last year and for the last two years in very difficult Covid times Photo: Michael Chester

The Winkelmann Trophy – for Cadet of the year

Nathan van Steenberge - For his campaign in the 29er class, finishing 11th overall in 29er Europeans in Lake Garda in October in a 200 boat fleet Photo: Michael Chester

The Greystones 1892 Regatta Cup – for the team who represented the Club with distinction

(Above and below) The large team of volunteers on shore and on the water for the Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds. The trophy was collected by Con Murphy. Young and old, the volunteers worked with great dedication and commitment on the water (on the committtee boat, on mark laying and rescue RIBS) and ashore (Race Office and Results, Covid Officer, and launching and recovering 120 Lasers quickly and efficiently each morning and afternoon throughout the week-long event). Many of the volunteers worked on all or most days of the event. Photos: Michael Chester

NYC Volunteers

The Paul Murphy Cup – for the sailing management volunteer of the year

Gearoid O’Riain & Liam O’Riain - For their long standing commitment in providing their skills and RIB for mark laying at most of the events hosted by the National Yacht Club Photo: Michael Chester

The Township Cup – for best Cruise of the year

Simon Wall - For his 2-handed, 8 days cruise from Sweden to Dun Laoghaire in October 2021 in very rough seas conditions

The Muglins Cup – for the most interesting family cruise

Barry MacNeaney - For sailing a Bavaria 40 from Preveza Greece around the South Ionian Gulf with nine onboard including his five grandchildren aged 10y to 16y – for them, a huge adventure learning boat handling skills of helming, holding a course, basic navigation, anchoring in secluded bays for swimming, and sleeping on deck.

Martin Crotty Trophy Award – for a younger Member who shows sailing endeavour

Conor Totterdell - Co-skippered ‘Desert Star’ of Irish Offshore Sailing to second place in IRC4 category in the Fastnet Race, finishing 14th overall and top placed Irish Entry with a mostly inexperienced crew. The prize was accepted by Alan Daly and presented by Suzie Barry with Conor O’Regan Commodore of the NYC Photo: Michael Chester

The Wild Geese Trophy – for The overseas member who achieves the best performance in racing or distinguishes himself/ herself in sailing

Tom Dolan - For his amazing sailing achievements in the Figaro Class, ‘the toughest one-design racing class’ offshore and single-handed, and for sharing his experience with our younger members on his recent visit to the NYC. The prize was accepted by Gerry Jones Photo: Michael Chester

The Sue McDonnell Trophy – for the female club member who has contributed most to the advancement of women in sailing

Caitriona O’Brien - For her dedication in her role organising and enabling the NYC Women on the Water racing on the Club J80s. The award was presented by Fiona Mc Donnell with Conor O’Regan Commodore of the NYC Photo: Michael Chester

The Totterdell Trophy – for the member who has contributed most to promoting and developing the Laser class in the club

Aisling Murphy - For organising all the adult Laser sailing activities in the Club Photo: Michael Chester

The Commodore’s Cup

Finn Lynch - For his Silver Medal at the ILCA World Championships in Spain

NYC Sailing Awards – Commodore’s Commendations 2021

Commendations were presented by Commodore of the NYC, Conor O’Regan. Photo: Michael Chester

Commodore’s Commendations 2021

	*Recipient*	*Achievement*
	Flore Dion	For her role in the junior section in charge of the Opi class
	Dara Totterdell	For chairing the IS ‘Results working group’ and helping the NYC producing events results
	Keith Poole	RO for the F15 Frostbites Series
	Sarah Gorman	For organising the Junior September series
	Rebecca Hall & Sarah Robson	For leading the TY programme in the NYC in 2020/2021
	Sarah Spain, Verena Keane & Nikki Mathews	For leading the TY programme in the NYC in 2021/2022

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National Yacht Club

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

At A Glance - National Yacht Club 2024 Events