Dear Members,
What a week it has been at the National Yacht Club!
The ILCA World Championships are now at Day Four of racing, and, after a rather damp start to today’s racing, the sun has finally decided to join the party! The atmosphere around the club has been fantastic, with an enormous buzz both on and off the water. It has been wonderful to see the club so busy and to feel the excitement of hosting such a prestigious Olympic-class event.
We had a superb opening and welcoming ceremony here at the National Yacht Club, with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Cathaoirleach Barry Saul, and ILCA President Mark Lyttle, Con Murphy Chair of organising committee joining us for the occasion. It was a particular honour for me to welcome everyone on behalf of the club. The ceremony was made even more special with the Army Band playing as we hoisted the event flag â a memorable moment and one that really marked the start of a very special week.
A huge amount of work goes into an event of this scale, and I would like to recognise everyone who is making it happen.
Onshore, Robin Hilliard, our Shoremaster, and his team are doing a fantastic job, keeping everything moving with great efficiency and good humour.
On the water, PRO Con Murphy and the Race Committee, together with all the many teams and volunteers, are doing an outstanding job in delivering racing of the highest standard.
And, of course, none of this would be possible without the enthusiasm and support of our members.
If you haven’t been down to the club yet, come down and feel the buzz! It really is something special to see hundreds of the world’s best ILCA sailors racing right on our doorstep, with the National Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club working together to host this extraordinary championship.
The final exciting chapter comes on Sunday with the Medal Race, which will be shown on the big screen at the Royal St George Yacht Club, followed by the prize-giving. I would love to see as many National Yacht Club members as possible there to enjoy the final races and cheer on what promises to be a thrilling finish.
It is a huge honour and privilege for the National Yacht Club to be hosting this World and Olympic-class event, and I hope you will come down over the weekend and enjoy it with us.
See you at the club!
Rosemary
Commodore
