The National Yacht Club Women on the Water Dinghy Race Day took place in glorious sunshine in Dun Laoghaire harbour on Sunday August 17th. After a briefing ashore, the 21 competitors set about rigging the fleet of National Yacht Club fireflies, toppers and optimists, and heading out on the water.
Race Officer Ed Totterdell, set a triangular course with the start line just west of the Carlisle pier and the weather mark towards the bandstand, and ran a series of 14 races.
Crews swapped around and the competitors got to sail in several different classes. A few people who had said they would sail in a firefly and a topper but “definitely not an optimist”, ended up giving it a go and enjoying the experience. Others said they would be comfortable crewing but not helming or racing single handed, but after a few races they gained enough confidence to try a topper or an oppie, recording their first solo helming experience.
After racing finished and the boats were derigged, the competitors and volunteers retired to the club for refreshments and the prize giving, enjoying the afternoon sunshine at the picnic tables under the NYC flagpole.
Event organiser Ann Kirwan thanked Ed and Brendan Briscoe for running the races, rib crews Rodney Regan, William Despard, Robin and Dasha Hilliard and Ivanna Pokytko, as well as Sandra Moore who assisted ashore. Ann presented the winners with their prizes; first place went to Cariosa Power and crew Tracy Rennie; second place to Neasa Hainbach; and third place to Emer Devlin. Ed followed by awarding a series of fun prizes to Fiona, Aisling, Marie, Dara, Taragh, Minnie, and Emer O’Sullivan. National Yacht Club Vice-Commodore, Rosemary Cadogan, who raced an optimist and a firefly in the event, rounded off the afternoon with thanks to all the participants and volunteers who made it such an enjoyable day.
Other NYC women took part in the National Yacht Club Cruising group’s trip to Lambay Island on Saturday with an overnight at Howth, and a few made it back to Dun Laoghaire in time to participate in the WoW dinghy race day. Others competed in Sunday’s Water Wag race from Dun Laoghaire harbour to Dalkey Island which was started by NYC Race Officer Con Murphy and Cathy MacAleavey aboard their rib, before they and their two dogs accompanied the Wag and Dublin Bay Twenty-One-Footer fleets to Dalkey Island where they enjoyed a picnic on the island.
All in all, a great weekend was had by many of the very active NYC Women on the Water group.
