National Yacht Club Salutes Top 2022 Sailing Achievements at Awards Night

27th February 2023

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

Round the World yachtsmen and women, international skiff performers, Olympians, youth sailors, photographers and outstanding acts of bravery were all applauded on Saturday night at the National Yacht Club Awards at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

In one of the highlights of the club year, National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O'Regan presented thirteen annual prizes for outstanding sailing achievements in 2022.

The National Yacht Club's Boyne Regatta Cup - for best performance in offshore racing of the year went to Gavin Doyle for his first place in the RORC Channel Race, third RORC Cherbourg Race and fifth in RORC Season Points Championship racing both double-handed and with a crew of three. Doyle's mother, Pamela, received the trophy on his behalf from National Yacht Club Commodore Conor O'Regan Photo: Michael Chester

The winner of the National Yacht Club's Concorde Plate was Andrew Irvin for his participation in the SSE Airtricity Round Ireland Race 2022 onboard the Under-25 Figaro 3, 'Luzern eComm U25' Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's O'Leary Cup - for the best performance of the year in one design sailing went to Rio 2016 Olympian Finn Lynch For a great year filled with success campaigning in the ILCA 7 Class, which saw him ranked second in the World during 2022. Commodore Conor O'Regan presented the trophy. Pictured also is Eline Flotoft Elnan Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's John Byrne Memorial Trophy - for the most significant contribution to sailing in NYC during the year - was won by Michael Chester for giving his photographic skills for many years to the club. Photo: Frank Burgess

The National Yacht Club's Edward Yacht Club Trophy – for best performance of the year in dinghies, Mermaids or Flying Fifteens, was won by Clementine (pictured) and Nathan Van Steenberge for their performance as the most successful NYC skiff crew in years on the International circuit (29er season with sister Clementine): Results include Bronze at 49er U23 Europeans, Silver at 29er EUrocup ranking (crowns a season achievements) - 1st mixed team, Silver at 29er Eurocup finals in Italy (Gold Mixed), Bronze at 29er Hungarian Eurocup (Gold Mixed) 9th at 29er French Eurocup (Gold mixed), 17th at 29er Europeans (Silver in mixed), 22nd at 29er Worlds (Bronze in mixed)" Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's Winkelmann Trophy – for Cadet of the year was presented by Adam Winkelmann to Ethan Spain for the most successful skiff crew at home. Results include: 29er national champion (with helm Ben O'Shaughnessy), 29er silver at Irish youth nationals (helm Johnny Flynn), winner of the skiff west event, winner of Double Ree (helm Lauren O'Callaghan) and internationally; 8th at the 29er Eurocup finals, 37th at the 29er worlds and 15th at 29er Kiel week Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's Greystones 1892 Regatta Cup - for the team who represented the club with distinction went to the teams at the Women at the Helm Regatta 2022, Team Mabajo - Ann Kirwan & Crew (Bandit), Helen Cooney & Crew (Joy Ride) and Cathy MacAleavy & Crew (Mariposa) Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's Paul Murphy Cup - for the sailing management volunteer of the year was awarded to Richard Staveley for providing Luna Lady, his Bavaria 43 cruising yacht, for countless events as a Committee boat as well as his time and good company Photo: Michael Chester

For the best cruise of the year, the National Yacht Club's Township Cup went to Liam and Ruth Shanahan for their adventure across the Atlantic in the ARC 2021 and continued to the Oyster Round the World Rally. Pictured are Richard Cullen, Liam and Ruth Shanahan, and Guy Kilroy with Commodore Conor O'Regan Photo: Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's Martin Crotty Trophy Award - for a younger Member who shows sailing endeavour - went to Tadgh Donnelly for helming his SB20 'Leviathan' to 11th overall and third-best Irish boat in the SB20 Worlds 2022, including scoring 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 12 races constituting the Championships held on Dublin Bay Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club Muglins Cup - for the most interesting family cruise was won by Simon and Carolyn Thornton and their son Mathew for their Greek family cruise during the Summer of 2022 around the Halkidiki Region in Northeastern Greece on their Hanse 34. Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club Wild Geese Trophy - for the Overseas member who performs best in racing or distinguishes himself/herself in sailing. This year the prize went to Mark O'Connor for his highly successful first season in a Mini 6.50 on the notoriously competitive French circuit. Pictured is his Mum, Clodagh O'Connor, with Commodore Conor O'Regan and Adam Winkelmann Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club Sue McDonnell Trophy - for the female club member who has contributed most to the advancement of women in sailing was won by Ann Kirwan. For many years Ann has furthered diversity and inclusion in the club and the wider sailing community for women in sailing as Commodore of DBSC and in her support of the Women at the Helm Regatta. Pictured with Commodore Conor O'Regan with Ann Kirwan is Sue Mc Donnell's daughter Fiona Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club Totterdell Trophy - for the member who has contributed most to promoting and developing the Laser class in the club. Rodney Regan Rodney has always turned up in great humour for Laser sailing, training and racing, no matter what. Though he has been hugely committed to sailing, he is always ready to help and support other sailors whenever possible. Over the last many weeks, Rodney has written a detailed and humorous post-training blog / debrief. All the Laser and Aero sailors enjoy that! Pictured are Ed Totterdell, Rodney Regan and Commodore Conor O'Regan Photo: Michael Chester

Tim Bourke for running the Adult Sail Training programme 2022. This proved highly successful with existing members and added massive value to their membership. It has also attracted significant interest from prospective new members. (Pictured is Flor with Commodore) Photo: Michael Chester

The National Yacht Club's Commodore's Cup was won by the Dublin Bay 21 Class table. Fionán DeBarra and Hal Sisk Fionán kept a dream alive to restore the Dublin Bay 21 Fleet despite the many setbacks and hurdles over 37 years. While others, particularly Hal Sisk, are key to the fleet revival, Fionán's passion, perseverance, loyalty and ultimate custodianship of this unique class finally paid off with the relaunching of Naneen, Garavogue and Estelle and the great 1st season of racing in 2022. Work continues on the remaining four boats in the fleet, with Geraldine nearing completion and the frames of two more boats ready for assembly. Photo: Michael Chester

Jack Hall, Hal Fitzgerald, John Duffy and Nicola Ferguson for their outstanding display of courage and selfless act of bravery in reacting to an incident over the summer. Pictured are John Duffy and Jack Hall with Commodore Conor O'Regan Photo: Michael Chester

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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