National Yacht Club

NYC Juniors reaped the rewards of their hard work this winter registering significant results in Howth last weekend scoring 9 race wins and 4 podium positions, an achievement matched only by RCYC. Each of the 3 days was very different. Day 1 was characterised by light, shifty winds and calm seas which saw NYC sailors Nicole Hemeryck, Hugh Perrette and Heather Spain score 5 wins between them. Day 2 arrived with gale force winds and sailing abandoned. Under these circumstances it can be difficult to keep focused but the NYC sailors dug deep and when day 3 arrived were ready for the wind and lumpy seas with Leah Rickard, Nicole Hemeryck and Hugh Perrette registering a further 4 race wins. When the trophies were handed out Nicole Hemeryck was placed first overall and first girl in the Laser 4.7 class. NYC sailors Evie Byrne, Daniel Raymond, Rory Caslin, Conor Kneafsey and Niamh Doran along with Nicole took a remarkable 6 of the top 10 places in this 4.7 event. In the equally competitive Topper fleet Hugh Perette and Heather Spain were placed first and third respectively with Heather also placed first girl. Leah Rickard took first place in the first race for the Optimist Championship fleet on her way to third prize in the first Optimist event of the season. The ISA Youth Nationals includes the first half of the selection for the Optimist squad and teams and NYC’s Charlie Cullen burst onto the Opi circuit with 2 race wins on the first day. He and 5 other NYC Optimist sailors are well positioned to win some of the 14 European Team and 10 French International team places available to this hardworking bunch of junior sailors. We wish them every success in the second half of the trials at RStGYC this weekend.