NYC Sailing Awards 2025…”and the winners are!”
The National Yacht Club has awarded Fourteen Annual Awards for outstanding sailing achievements by members of the Club as well as the Commodore’s Cup, left at the discretion of the Commodore.
These awards are presented to the winners at our annual Sailing Awards Dinner on Saturday 28th February 2026 (this function is Booked Out!)
This promises to be one of the highlights of the year.
Congratulations to all the winners. Please see all the winners below:
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NYC Sailing Awards 2025 |
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1 |
The Boyne Regatta Cup – for best performance in offshore racing of the year |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Damian Payne |
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For racing the first leg of the Clipper Round the World Race on Power of Seattle. Having battled force 8 winds, 6 metre waves and some of the worst conditions for race 1 in Clipper history, Damien’s team claimed 3rd place. |
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2 |
The O’Leary Cup – for best performance of the year in one designs |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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Ethan Spain & Ben O’Shaughnessy |
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For winning Gold at the 49er U23 European Championships. A result all the more impressive given the manner of the win and that 2025 was their senior debut. |
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3 |
The Edward Yacht Club Trophy – for best performance of the year in dinghies, Mermaids or Flying Fifteens |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Jonathan O’Rourke |
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For winning the 2025 Mermaid National Championship in Wexford, helming the boat Tiller Girl. The most senior helm to win this event with competing helms in an age category from early twenty year olds to eighty year olds. |
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4 |
John Byrne Memorial Trophy – for the greatest contribution to sailing in the NYC during the year |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Peter Ryan |
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For his unstinting ISORA management & leadership. |
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5 |
The Winkelmann Trophy – for Cadet(s) of the year |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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William Walsh & Eoin Byrne |
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For being 29er National champions, runners up at 29er youth nationals, runners up at the Junior All Ireland, runners up at the Elmo cup (Fireflies) and for graduating to the 49er FX in the summer. |
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6 |
The Greystones 1892 Regatta Cup – for the team who represented the Club with distinction |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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Brian Hall, Zoe Hall, James Hal, Sheena Bowers, Alan Daly, David Hofler and Fletcher Thompson |
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For winning the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Championship’s coveted Wolf’s Head trophy (overall winnner of the Offshrore Series) and the NYC / RCYC Kingstown to Queenstown Race on “Ruth”. |
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7 |
The Paul Murphy Cup – for the sailing management volunteer of the year |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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The NYC ILCA U21 World Championship Team |
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Susan Spain, Con Murphy, Ed Totterdell, Cathy MacAleavy, Rosemary Roy, Dara Totterdell, Rodney Regan, Rosemary Cadogan, Nicola Ferguson, Robin Hilliard, Sandra Moore, Derval Tubridy, Peter Ryan, Sean Doyle, Declan Traynor, Thomas Chaix, Olivier Prouveur…for their leadership and management in delivering a flawless World Championship on and off the water for the 212 competitors. |
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8 |
The Township Cup – for best Cruise of the year |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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Sinead and Brian Bourke |
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For their passage from Ireland to the Azores, on to the Canaries and finally for a successful completion of the ARC, sailing across the Atlantic to St Lucia in the Caribbean. |
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9 |
The Muglins Cup – for the most interesting family cruise |
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Winners |
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Achievement |
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Arthur and Geraldine Cagney |
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For a six week cruise from Dun Laoghaire to southern Brittany via the Isles of Scilly and back. The crew included Sean and Orfhlaith Doyle and Cass and Michelle Kiersey. |
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10 |
Martin Crotty Trophy Award – for a younger Member who shows sailing endeavour |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Oisin Cullen |
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For his leadership as Chairman of the Dublin Match Cup, marking the first time the World Match Racing Tour has been raced in Dublin, successfully delivering a thrilling week of elite international sailing as twelve world-class skippers descended on the National Yacht Club for a stage of the World Match Racing Tour. |
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11 |
The Wild Geese Trophy – for The Overseas member who achieves the best performance in racing or distinguishes himself / herself in sailing |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Brian Uniacke |
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For taking on the challenge of First Mate with Tongyeong, competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Brain is part of the leadership of team Tongyeong in this the world’s greatest ocean adventure, helping individuals with no previous sailing experience to pit their wits, skills and courage against the world’s toughest oceans. |
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12 |
The Sue McDonnell Trophy – for the female club member who has contributed most to the advancement of women in sailing |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Cariosa Power and Marie Barry |
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For their dedication and inspiration as role models to all dinghy sailing women, both individually on their respective ILCAs and together for over three decades as helm & crew partners in Fireballs, 420s, and Laser II. |
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13 |
The Totterdell Trophy – for the member who has contributed most to promoting and developing the Laser class in the club |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Finn Lynch |
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For a very accomplished season in the ILCA7 (laser) on the international circuit with many podium finishes on the grand slam circuit including a gold medal at the Grand slam finals. Finn was ranked number 3 in the world (Dec 9th rankings update). |
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14 |
The Cormac McHenry Trophy – For the member who has single-handedly completed a cruising passage of more than 300 nautical miles | ||
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Frank Cassidy |
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For his remarkable, challenging and exciting 600 NM solo round trip from Lanzarote to Madeira. |
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The Commodore’s Cup |
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Winner |
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Achievement |
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Mark O’Connor |
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For competing in the Mini Transat singlehanded race across the Atlantic finishing in match racing mode, taking 20th place by just 27 seconds. After 17 days at sea in ‘Mini Skippy’, Mark became the youngest Irishman to race solo across the Atlantic Ocean. To complete this race and finish so well is testament to Mark’s perseverance and skill in achieving his ambitions. |
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NYC Sailing Awards – Commodore’s Commendations 2025 |
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Recipients |
Achievement |
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1 |
Cathy McAleavey and Con Murphy | For for bringing the World Sailing Conference to Dun Laoghaire in 2025. | |
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2 |
John Corcoran |
For his fine design and generosity in lighting our beautifully clubhouse. |
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3 |
Nicola Fergusson |
For her unstinting work as a sailing coach and social media creator for NYC developing junior and adult sailors at all levels. |
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4 |
Christy McDonald |
For his voluntary work painting and maintaining the interior of our clubhouse in the best possible condition to welcome members and visitors. |
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5 |
David and Marguerite Lawlor |
Through their work with the Green Ocean Foundation, more than 18,000 oysters have been reintroduction in Dún Laoghaire harbour. |
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6 |
The Waste Water Team |
Peter Ryan, Michael Creedon, Martin McCarthy, Conor O’Regan, Andrew Collins, and Alan Daly for their work over a number of years managing a significant waste water problem for the club. |
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