The season is now well underway and the National Yacht Club’s staff and volunteers are now within the final straight before the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta this week, writes head coach Thomas Chaix.
But June was a month rich of sailing fun in courses 1 and 2, certainly helped by the warm spell of weather we enjoyed, plus serious events with two nationals organised by the club and participation at regional and national events around the country.
The NYC volunteers have been on deck ensuring the success of three main events. And our club sailors did not disapoint delivering excellent results.
The Aero Nationals experimented with the concept of pre-event coaching and post-racing debriefs. The local and visiting fleet feedback was excellent and the weekend was enjoyed by all, at their own level.
NYC veteran ace Noel Butler sailed his Aero6 to fourth overall and collected the first Irish Sailing medal of the summer for the club with a silver (two of the boats ahead were UK visitors who were very pleased with their Dublin visit).
While the Aeros were racing, the Optimist club team travelled to East Antrim to compete at the Ulsters. If the team was missing our two strongest sailors (on duty with Team Ireland at the Worlds in Spain), the remaining sailors sailed a very good event, collecting honours in the various categories.
Our junior and regatta fleet sailors were all smiles at the prizes with excellent results and progress. Louis Trickett’s second event win in regatta racing earned him a progression into the junior fleet, Both Alex Butcher and Jacob Browne will progress into Junior Silver and Basile Dion’s second overall podium in a row will catapult him into Junior Gold.
The Toppers were on tour in Wexford with Ethan Spain growing his coaching skills with team NYC. Grace Keating (3rd Junior girl) and Ella Fitzgerald (3rd Youth girl) were in the prizes but it was also the first event for James Gorman, who managed an encouraging mid-fleet finish.
The following weekend, Blessington hosted the RS Fest which included the RS Feva Nationals. It was challenging and only three races could be completed.
At the NYC, we prioritise overall skills development with crewing experience, double-handed skills and partnerships management growing options for our junior sailors. Many of the Feva sailors who took part part are also active Optimist, ILCA4 or Topper sailors. The club team was the largest contingent of young sailors taking part. They did not disappoint under the guidance of our club coach Sophie Gorman and the ever hard-working enthusiastic class captain David Wheelan. Two more Irish Sailing medals made it to the club, with Grace Keating and Hannah Walsh securing silver and Felix Dion and Lucas Browne taking bronze.
Last weekend was a busy one. The club platform was buzzing with the 29er sailors competing at the largest nationals ever hosted with an incredible 17 boats in the line-up. At the same time the 2.4 competed at the 2.4mR Championships with overseas visitors challenging home sailor Patrick Hassett.
The 29ers delivered a fast and furious event in Scotsman’s Bay with Academy aces and defending champion Ben O’Shaugnessy and Ethan Spain (RCYC/NYC) fending off the downwind masters Clementine and Nathan van Steenberge (NYC). Leaving Cert students Lauren O’Callaghan and James Dwyer (NYC/RCYC) completed the podium. The 29er class is a growing force in the club with no less than seven partnerships from the club competing.
The 16-boat Optimist team travelled to Dunmore East and battled in a wild Celtic Sea. Freshly returned from the Worlds, it was a battle between Harry Dunne and Gemma Brady at the top of the senior fleet with two more NYC sailors securing top 10 (Felix Dion in sixth and Louise Hanley in eighth).
The juniors were solid with both Alex Butcher and Aurele Dion top 10. A special mention goes to Louis Trickett for his first event in the junior main fleet: a baptism of fire! Our regatta racing sailors fought well and showing great progress after a few weeks sailing in our summer courses.
The dinghies are now making space for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta which kicks off this Thursday 6 June.