National Yacht Club

This was yet another very successful event for NYC sailors who have been contending and competing to win at all levels in all major Optimist competitions this year. In tight and challenging conditions Loghlen was under pressure entering the last day but kept a cool head and sailed comfortably to a well deserved victory. He was subsequently crowned National Optimist Junior Champion for 2012. After Sean DONNELLY’S win last year this means that the NYC retains the National Optimist champion – a great result. This is a fantastic result for Loghlen and it bodes well for next year. Twenty one NYC Sailors travelled to Kinsale for the 2012 Optimist Nationals to join a total of total fleet of 181 Optimist sailors from around the world. Sailors travelled from the four corners of Ireland, in large numbers from the UK and India, and also from Bermuda, France, USA, Spain and Hong Kong. For the majority for the NYC sailors this was either their first nationals or their first experience of Nationals main fleet racing. They ranged from age 7 to 14. All sailors where made feel very welcome in Kinsale Yacht Club who did a great job in running the event while many parents enjoyed the fine dining in the locale.   Conditions Ten races where had in all for the main fleet (with two discards) in five challenging days of sailing from the 31^st to the 4^th. The young sailors had to content with it all, from brilliant sunshine to torrential downpours;  shifty winds to steady 25knots winds;  4 meter waves to flat calm and abandoned races ; to brilliant views to severely reduced visibility.   Junior Fleet Report NYC dominated the top of the fleet and the prizes. In the Junior fleet we had Loghlen RICKARD, Peter FAGAN, Clare GORMAN, Natasha HEMERYCK, Leah  RICKARD, Cliona  COYLE, Louis HEMERYCK, Cian MURPHY, Luke RICKARD, William SPAIN, Katie-Jane MARSHALL, Ella HEMERYCK and Nicola FERGUSON. The overall first Irish sailor was our own Loghlen RICKARD who was crowned National Junior Champion 2012 and overall junior Gold winner. Peter FAGAN also had a great result and held forth spot against very severe competition.  Peter also got four top ten finishes including a 2^nd in what was an extremely competitive fleet. And if that was not enough the Junior Silver trophy was won by our own Clare GORMAN. Clare also had a great event and still has another year to go in the junior fleet.  Nicola FERGUSON followed her fine win in the Crosbie cup with a third silver award. Plus to top it all and demonstrate NYC dominance, the overall Junior team was won by our own NYC sailors Loghlen, Clare and Peter. Congratulations must also go to Katie-Jane MARSHALL, Ella HEMERYCK, Cian MURPHY, William SPAIN and Louis HEMERYCK who all put in good fleet performances in what was a very tough fleet and very difficult conditions, in their first main fleet Nationals. Very special  credit goes to our young sailors Leah RICKARD (9), Luke RICKARD (10) and Natasha HEMERYCK (10) who sailed the same challenging conditions which are always so much tougher for the smaller and younger ones and they will have gained a lot out of the trip and all showed great promise for future seasons. Fair sailing awards were presented during prize-giving. These awards are particularly important as sailing is a self-regulated sport, and honesty and fair sailing are vital skills for our junior sailors to attain. Congratulations to two NYC sailors Louis and Natasha HEMERYCK who went  to the race office to query their race results, as the points they were awarded were higher than those that they actually achieved.  True sports people indeed.   Senior fleet report In the Senior fleet we had Heather SPAIN, Dara DONNELLY, Daniel RAYMOND, Hugh PERRETTE and Patrick COYLE. The overall competition was won by Douglas ELMES. Dara DONNELLY had a great event and was overall winner in the senior silver fleet. She was pushed hard by Patrick COYLE but won her title with style in the last race. Overall Senior Silver was dominated by NYC sailors taking 1^st and 3^rd with Dara DONNELLY and Patrick COYLE respectively. Heather SPAIN  and Daniel RAYMOND, just back from International duty, continued to build on their recent performances with regular top ten finishes.   Regatta fleet report In the Regatta fleet the NYC had Fiona FERGUSON, Frank FAGAN and Conor GORMAN. Tough overall conditions did not deter the Regatta fleet who sailed twelve races in all conditions. For our three NYC sailors this was their first taste of racing in the Nationals and they produced creditable performances with a 3^rd place in a race for Fiona FERGUSON, and a 4^th place in a race for Conor GORMAN.  Special mention to Frank FAGAN who at 7 was the youngest NYC sailor at his first event – undeterred he gained an 11^th place in one race – a sailor to watch for the future. All these very young sailors gained valuable experience from the tough sailing conditions and will no doubt look for prizes in the upcoming events.   In Conclusion Once again congratulations to our own Loghlen RICKARD was the winner of the Junior fleet and was crowned National Optimist Junior Champion for 2012. We are very proud of all our sailors. All travellers and parents acknowledge the contribution made by our 2-coaches, Diana Kissane and Tadhg Donnelly who stayed out on the water in all conditions with all our sailors and in no small way helped the further achievements of the club and its sailors. Thanks you to all the parents who helped out and especially the ones who tow or lent their RIBs ! We wish all well for the rest of the season -see you all in Malahide To see the full results click here: http://www.iodai.com/live/results/