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What a Week for Our Sailors!

What a Week for Our Sailors!

Brian Uniacke and Team Tongyeong have successfully arrived in Cape Town after completing Stage 3 of the 2025/2026 Clipper Round the World Race! The team currently sits in 6th place, an impressive achievement after thousands of nautical miles at sea.
Up next, on November 16th, they’ll set off on Stage 4: Marlow’s Blue Ocean Sleigh Ride — an exhilarating 4,800nm ocean crossing from Cape Town, South Africa to Fremantle, Australia.

Meanwhile, Damien Payne has returned home after his incredible adventure with Team “Power of Seattle Sport.” We’ll continue to cheer on Damien’s teammates, who are currently in 4th place after earning 3 vital points at the scoring gate in the last stage.

We’ll hear more from Damien over the coming weeks, as he shares some of his amazing stories with us, from the “choppy” waters in the Bay of Biscay, to lightning storms mid Atlantic.

Our junior sailors have also been making waves abroad!

13 Nov, 2025 | 2 min read

Congratulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

Congratulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

The following is a report of Marks thrilling finish posted by the organisers. 

It is very noteworthy that Mark sailed 3260 nm which is between 100 and 150nm more than many of his closest competitors. To do so and finish so well is testament to Marks perseverance and skill in achieving his ambitions. 

All of his efforts is only made possible by the superb support received from you all so bask in the reflected glory of this fantastic achievement 

Mark O'Connor: A Rough Start, A Sharp Final

11 Nov, 2025 | 4 min read

Reciprocal Clubs Update

Reciprocal Clubs Update

Members should note that the National Yacht Club has formalised a reciprocal rights agreement with the Yacht Club of Greece https://ycg.gr/en/home-en/. This new arrangement follows a recent meeting and burgee exchange with Stratis Andreadis of YCG Committee and deepens the strong ties between our clubs, allowing members to enjoy access to each club’s facilities, participate in sporting and social events, and purchase distinctive club insignia

10 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

Wine Dinner – November 12th @ 20.00

Wine Dinner – November 12th @ 20.00

Join Us for This Week’s Wine Dinner! 

Enjoy an evening of exceptional wines and exceptional food, as we welcome a special guest from our main wine supplier, Eno Wines.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, taste, and connect with fellow wine lovers!

For bookings. . . Email: catering@nyc.ie   or  Phone: (01) 2805725

10 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

 

760 milles left to Guadeloupe
Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.

 

He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.

 

At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
 

Life on board
Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.

 

Speaking of strain
 let’s talk about sleep.

At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile. 

 

So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.

 

Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.

 

Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure.
 

Current Standings and Strategic Moves 
Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.

 

He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!

 

According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.

 

We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense!
 

Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.

 

As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.

 

Focus will be essential all the way to the finish
 
Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK
 
 
  ­
 

 

07 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Quiz update

Quiz update

A quiz surprise occurred on Wednesday, with Chancellors taking home the spoils, beating T.B.M. in a tiebreak (no surprise!) to win the second of our series of table quizzes. The Dirty Ruckers, Grasshopper, and Wizard all tied for a close third. We welcomed The Quizard of Oz as a new team, and family pride was at stake with the Madigan’s being represented on three different teams. To avoid controversy, the father moved from his own team to join his son’s, and the scores of both teams went up!

Our next quiz takes place on the 19th November, at 8pm sharp. All are welcome to join – come along singly or as a team, and enjoy the fun and prizes.

The current series leaderboard can be found on the noticeboard or on social media

The Quizmaster

07 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

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