The sport of Irish sailing is mourning the loss of Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) member Tom Power (1946-2019), a leading offshore sailing campaigner who died on Saturday after a long illness.

Tributes were led today by his RIYC skipper and friend George Sisk, who spoke about the 'fun times' sailing with Tom on a succession of WOW keelboat campaigns, and prior to that in the 1960s where Tom began his keelboat racing on the Dublin Bay 21, Oola.

Up until last season, when illness prevented Tom going afloat, he was an integral part of George Sisk's crew winning across Ireland at Cork Week, the ICRA National Championships in Kinsale and Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta as well as being honoured with ICRA's 2015 Boat of the Year Award.

Tom Power (facing aft) onboard WOW in which he enjoyed so much success with friend George Sisk and the Royal Irish Yacht Club crew Photo: Afloat

Fastnet 1987

Prior to that successful partnership, Tom's international sailing included skippering Ireland's 1985 Admiral's Cup team, competing in the 1986 Sardinia Cup and taking Round Ireland Race line honours victory in the Maxi yacht Maza Drum in the same season.

But undoubtedly the highlight came in 1987, when, as skipper of the Dubois 40 Irish Independent, helmed by Tim Goodbody, the Irish crew won the Fastnet Race overall and became the top scorer for Ireland in the Admiral’s Cup.

It was a significant offshore victory for Ireland that was remembered in 2016 by RORC Commodore Michael Boyd at a special lunch in Tom's honour at the RIYC. More details of that commemoration here.

Monday 10th August 1987, and the Dubois 40 Irish Independent arrives at the Fastnet Rock, on her way to winning the Fastnet Race overall, and becoming top scorer for Ireland in the Admiral’s Cup

The crew of 1987 Fastnet Race winner Irish Independent at the Royal Irish YC on 2nd December 2018 were (left to right) Billy Pope, Tom Power, Jo Richards, Stephen Fein, Sean Flood (Team Captain), Tim Goodbody, Tom Roche and Graham Deegan. Photo: W M Nixon

Such passion for Irish sailing inevitably led Tom into the promotion of the sport, and he served on the Irish Yachting Association's (now Irish Sailing) Executive Committee for many seasons.

Tom's keen ability to put winning campaigns together put him at the nexus between commerce and international sailing so that when Ireland's first ever entry into the Whitbread Round the World Race (now The Ocean Race) was launched, Tom was centrally involved.

As a successful businessman in the busy Dublin advertising and marketing scene, Tom used his many contacts and influence to great effect to help Irish sailing, but as many friends and colleagues have pointed out in tribute today, such unsung support was always given "discreetly and very much in the background".

Dun Laoghaire Marina Bid

His interest in marine leisure became a professional one when he teamed up with Dun Laoghaire sailing friends Michael O'Leary and John Bourke to bid against stiff UK competition to win the contract to build and operate the marina in his own home port in 2000. The marina, that had been talked about for 20 years, became a success almost overnight when the trio filled the new facility to a capacity of 850 boats, thereby creating Ireland's largest marina by 2007.

MCIB

In later life, his deep knowledge of marine affairs led to his appointment to the board of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) where he was a trusted advisor.

Tributes

Tom Power was a member of the RIYC for more than 41 years. In his memory, the Club Ensign is being flown at half-mast at the Dun Laoghaire clubhouse and a minute's silence will be observed at the next RIYC Committee meeting.

This Friday at the ICRA Championships, both race committee boats will signal one long hoot to begin one minute's silence onboard all 100 competing boats on Dublin Bay as a further tribute to Tom before the championships begin.

Celebration

A celebration of his life will take place at 12 noon on Wednesday in the Mariners' Church (National Maritime Museum), Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire.

Our condolences are extended to his wife Anne, sons Redmond and Robert, daughter-in-law Valerie and grandsons Redmond and Ruan; immediate family Redmond, Elizabeth, Leonine, Mary, Muriel, Dee, Tony, Jonathan, Kendra and Sian, Callum and Tomas; extended family, relatives and a large circle of his very good friends.

Afloat.ie

RIP.ie Notice is here

George Sisk's Championship winning Farr 42 WOW is for sale priced at €169,950 through Farr Yacht Sales.

The Royal Irish Yacht Club based ICRA Boat of the Year 2015 is designed for both inshore and offshore performance.

According to Farr Yacht Sales, the boat is in immaculate condition, with a great inventory of sails and equipment. Professionally maintained from new, WOW is in regatta winning condition.

George Sisk's 2015 campaign took victory in Kinsale in June at the ICRA National Championships and Sisk also emerged tops on Dublin Bay at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Week. 

Notable Race Results

2016

First overall for DBSC season all Saturday and Thursday racing.

IRC Offshore Champion Cork Week
RAYC Series IRC Champions

2015

First overall Irish IRC Championships
First overall Volvo Championship Week
IRC Boat of the Year
ICRA Boat of the Year
DBSC Boat of the Year
Royal Irish Boat of the Year
Royal Alfred Boat of the Year
First overall for season all Saturday and Thursday racing.

2014

Overall champion class 0 for all Saturday and Thursday racing.
First overall IRC Cruiser Challenge
First overall Royal Irish Regatta
First overall Royal St George Regatta
First overall Royal Alfred Regatta

More details on the boat's inventory here

George Sisk's new Wow sailed to success in the Crusiers Zero divison of the Dublin Port sponsored Dublin Bay Sailing Club race this afternoon. The new J111 that sailed its first race in July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta beat Vincent Farrell's Tsunami, a Beneteau 40.7, for the Bay's big boat IRC honours. Full results for the entire Dublin Bay Sailing Club race (for 23 JULY 2011) are below:

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Fiddly Bits (Kevin Byrne et al), 2. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al), 3. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Wow (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Gringo (Tony Fox), 2. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 3. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jura (Barry McCabe), 2. Gringo (Tony Fox), 3. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al), 2. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 3. Bendemeer (Lindsay Casey Power)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Smile (O'Connell/Healy/O'Sullivan), 3. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Taiscealai (Brian Richardson et al), 2. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill), 3. Asterix (Counihan/Meredith/Bushell)

DRAGON - 1. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 2. Susele (Michael Halpenny), 3. Sir Ossis of the River (D Bergin)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe), 3. Snow White (Frank Burgess)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. As Good As It Gets (Alan Balfe)

GLEN - 1. Glenroan (Terence Moran), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 3. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 2. Kim (D Cassidy), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID - 1. Kim (D Cassidy), 2. Jill (P.Smith/P.Mangan), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS - 1. R Tate (Laser), 2. Desmond McCarthy (Laser 1), 3. Orla Callender (Laser 1)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. R Tate (Laser), 2. Desmond McCarthy (Laser 1)

SHIPMAN - 1. Macro One (Joseph Murray), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Euphanzel lll (Louis McSherry et al)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Leeuwin (H&C Leonard & B Kerr), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 3. Pintail (M Muldoon & B Stevens)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Little Bird (N Barnwell), 2. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 3. Kookaburra (P & M Dee)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Nirvana (Bernard Neeson), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)