The Awards are a celebration of the Royal St George Yacht Clubs Sailing Achievements of 2018, and of the members of the Royal St George Yacht Club. All nominations are encouraged and will assist the Sailing Committee in recognizing those RStGYC Sailors & Club members with significant achievements during 2018. This years nominations are:
Commodore’s Cup (Best Offshore Performance)
Team Joshua Trio made up of the RSGYC boats ‘Aurelia’, ‘Platinum Blonde’ and ‘Windjammer’ which won the team prize with 3 IRC boats from different IRC classes in the Round Ireland Race.
Chris Power Smith’s ‘Aurelia’ for outstanding results in ISORA and other wins. These included ISORA overall Points Championship winner. ISORA second overall 2018 and top Irish Boat in the Wolfs- Heads Trophy. ISORA Cruiser 0 Champion 2018. Round Ireland ISORA Trophy (Top Boat) and Round Ireland Class 2 winner, 3rd overall and team championship.
Vice-Commodore’s Cup (Significant Dinghy Performance)
Shirley Gilmore- Laser Class
Shirley was the first ever Lady Radial sailor to win the overall trophy for the 2017/2018 DMYC Frostbite series. She was First Lady at the Irish Laser Master Nationals in May 2018. Finally, she was the only female qualifier for the Irish team for the Laser Master Worlds in September. She is inspiring many female Laser sailors to either enter or return to the sport and was profiled in an autumn feature by IS as a “Sailing Hero”.
Jack Fahy- Laser Class
Jack began his 2018 campaign by winning the Laser Radial Munsters in Baltimore , which he then followed up, a week later, by winning the hotly contested Youth Nationals in Dun Laoghaire. This victory nominated Jack for the ISAF spot, on condition he fulfilled the required international qualifier, which he did, in Pwllheli, later that month. Jack then competed in the Youth Worlds in Texas in July where he placed 20th.
Jack was also helm of the RSGYC Team who won the Elmo Trophy in 2018. He subsequently went on to captain his school, Gonzaga College, to victory in the inaugural Shanahan Cup. Gonzaga went on to win the Leinster Schools Team Racing Championships with Jack as their captain. Gonzaga will represent Leinster at the All Ireland Team Racing Championships to be held in Cork later this year. Jack swears an important allegiance to Lough Derg YC, where he used to spend all his summers, until he had to start representing Ireland internationally. Jack bridges a vital gap in our club between fleet sailing and team racing, he is proof that you can be great at both!
For his achievements, far and wide, Jack was awarded Afloat Sailor of the month for January 2019, we are lucky to count him as a member of our club.
Tom Higgins- Laser Class
Tom represented Ireland at the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in 2018. He finished 2nd U17 and 7th overall at the Championships
Charlie Cullen
Charlie finished an exciting career in his Optimist following his participation at the World Championships in Thailand and then moved into the Laser 4.7. In 2018 he was successful at the Youth Nationals where he secured his place at the laser World Championships in Poland.
Results in 2018
Laser 4.7 Irish National Championships 1st
Laser 4.7 Youth Nationals 4th
Laser 4.7 Worlds Poland top IRL Boys
WASZP National Championships 1st
WASZP Senior Championships 2nd
Charlie was successful in winning 4 ISA Medals in 2018 (3 gold and a bronze)
Charlie has now progressed into the new 29er Class, and has been training for the forthcoming World and European championships. Along with entering Internationals events in Spain and France in the Laser 4.7 as part of the TY programme he has also sailed and experimented in racing Water Wags, Cruising in Irish Waters and Dublin Bay racing.
O’Hanlon Cup (Best Cruise of 2018)
‘Cevantes’ (Paul Conway)
Cevantes a Contessa 32 and her crew cruised from Dún Laoghaire to South Brittany over a number of weeks, changing crew and visiting many ports. Her owner kept a log and had had it published by the ICC.
‘Birmayne’ Justin McKenna, Paul Dobbyn & Crew
When it was announced that the Heineken Cup final 2018 was to be held in Bilbao… Birmane and her crew decided a cruise was in order. More details of this adventure along with photos and stories are sure to surface soon on what was a most memorable cruise.
Enriquetta Cup (Significant Keelboat Performance)
Brendan & Sarah Foley aboard ‘Running Wild’
A great season and lots of fun racing the best quarter tonners in the country in a super competitive fleet. Their boat is family owned and crewed by family and friends. A particular highlight was winning the East Coast Championships which were sailed in 28kts plus. George members sailing include Brendan Foley, Mark Hennessy, Dave Fogarty, Sarah Fogarty, Ian Bell, and John Sheehy.
Michael O’ Connor & Crew– SB20 ‘Sin Bin’
Michael O’Connor and the Sin Bin crew of Ed Cook and Davy Taylor took third overall and the top Irish result at the SB20 European Championships. Sin Bin also took home silverware from Cork Week when they won the SB20 Southern’s and from up north when they won the Northern Championships on Strangford Lough.
Richard & Philip Lovegrove & Crew – Sigma 33 ‘Rupert’
Rupert had a very successful season in 2018 and took home a lot of silverware from DBSC. Trophies included The Fireseal Sigma 33 Trophy, The Silver Salver, The Royal Alfred Cup, The Rupert Bowl, The Bective Lights Crystal Trophy and the J.B. Stephens Trophy to mention a few. Most notably The Waterhouse Shield for the best cruiser of 2018 on handicap. Rupert also had a strong showing in the uber competitive Sigma National Irish & British Championships hosted by the RSGYC in June.
Stephen Gill & Crew – Ruffian ‘Shannagh’
The crew of Shannagh were extremely unlucky to lose out on first place in the Ruffian Nationals 2nd after a count back on the final day. Stephen and the crew were very successful and consistent in the class in 2018 and won the Huet Trophy in DBSC.
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Causeway Trophy (For Sportsmanship)
Harriet Walker
Harriet is nominated for this award because of her unfailing determination and allegiance to all things junior sailing! Harriet took on our Transition Year (TY) programme this year, with no committee to fall back on and made it a huge success. She organised all facets of the TY programme and as a result brought back into the RSGYC fold, very many sailors who would otherwise be lost to the sport. She ran the famous Heir Island trip and her no nonsense, “can do” attitude ensured everyone had a ball of a time. The 1720 and Laser sailing in conjunction with NYC was another resounding success. In true Harriet fashion and as the award suggests, she insists we thank her instructors, Kieran Hall and Elizabeth Fogarty, without whom she says she couldn’t do it! Thank you Harriet!
Shirley Gilmore
Shirley has been inspiring in the Laser Class, both afloat and ashore. Shirley was the first ever Lady Radial sailor to win the overall trophy for the 2017/2018 DMYC Frostbite series. She was First Lady at the Irish Laser Master Nationals in May 2018. Finally, she was the only female qualifier for the Irish team for the Laser Master Worlds in September. She is inspiring many female Laser sailors to either enter or return to the sport and was profiled in an autumn feature by IS as a “Sailing Hero”.
Ross O Leary
For his excellent work as laser class captain. He has encouraged many new members to the laser classes and this in turn has resulted in new club members due to the training he has organised. Every sailor feels supported and encouraged with the training sessions. Most of all he ensured that everyone has fun both on and off the water. Also he is a talented dancer/ flosser on bars!! And runs a very entertaining WhatsApp group too!!
Emily Riordan
Emily has had a very active and strong year in 2018 notably she was Top ranked girl in 2018 in Optimist Class, Top girl at trials in 2018 for the second year in a row – qualifying to represent Ireland at the Europeans. Top Girl at National Championships. Top 20 in gold fleet in European Championships at Scheveningen, Holland
Emily is a great ambassador for women in Irish sailing and has taken place in an interview and video with Annalise Murphy for the Sports Council of Ireland which has lead to some follow up activity with Sport Ireland.
FunSail Friday’s Volunteers
The huge numbers of members, their families and their crew who have volunteered to help the Membership and Marketing Committee to run FunSail. Since 2017 there have been 12 Friday evening events enjoyed by hundreds of members, families, friends and visitors. The atmosphere has been friendly and fun, and many people have been introduced to the club. Volunteers have run the registration desk, distributed wetsuits and safety gear, helmed RIBs, 1720s and members’ boats, carried kayaks and paddleboards, rescued the stranded, supervised the slip and the pontoon, and showed new visitors all around our club. It would not be possible to run these events without them!
Youth Award (Significant Contribution by a Youth to the sport of Sailing)
Alana Coakley 4.7 Lasers – Waszp – Junior Helmsman’s
Alana had a great first year in the Laser 4.7’s, finishing with a national ranking of 2nd Overall and top girl for 2018. She won the Leinster’s, and achieved podium results in 3 events and top girl in all the regionals and 1st youth lady at the Laser nationals. In the 4.7 Youth Trials she achieved a 2nd overall and 1st girl qualifying for the ISAF 4.7 Worlds.
Alana demonstrated breath of skills across various sailing classes with a 2nd in the Waszp Nationals (1st girl), and finished 6th and 1st girl in the Junior Helmsman’s in Fireflies. Alana’s final event for 2018 was the 4.7 Laser Euromed regatta in Malta in December where she finished 3rd overall and 1st girl. Special recognition to Conor O’ Beirne who did a tremendous job coaching the RSGYC 4.7 group, with 4 of his sailors achieving representation on the ISA 4.7 squad at the Worlds in Poland.
Grace O’Beirne & Kathy Kelly- 420
Grace O’Beirne and Kathy Kelly graduated from the Optimist and Feva classes respectively and started campaigning a 420 in April 2016. Their first outing was in the Munster Championships in Kinsale. Dedication and constant practice saw them consistently improve and in late 2016 they were invited to join the Irish Sailing 420 Academy.
They competed in Kiel Week in 2017 and represented Ireland at the European Championships in Lake Garda in 2017 and Sesimbra in 2018. Despite injury setbacks in the 2017 season they showed consistent improvements in 2018, placing third in the Youth Nationals in April and topped off a very successful season, winning the Irish 420 Nationals in Howth and were the Irish Sailing Gold Medal winners. The championship was decided on the last run of the last race and the girls held their nerve to see off some serious competition.
Their achievement was particularly significant as they were the first all girl crew to win for many years – girl power and much needed role models for girls in doublehanders.
Elysia O Leary & Lily Dwyer- RS Feva
In 2018 Elysia and Lily made a big commitment to attend all the RS Feva regional and national events around Ireland. Out of 44 boats they achieved 2nd Place in the overall ranking for 2018.
Northerns 1st Place, Westerns 1st Place, Royal Sprints 2nd Place, Southerns 3rd Place, Easterns 4th Place, Inlands 4th Place, Nationals 6th Place, St. Gerards School Regatta 1st Place
This pair are well known for the fun and giggles they have around the race course. Best of luck to the two girls who are now helming their own 29ers where the giggles continue 
Emily Riordan- Optimist Class
Emily has had a very active and strong year in 2018 notably she was Top ranked girl in 2018 in Optimist Class, Top girl at trials in 2018 for the second year in a row – qualifying to represent Ireland at the Europeans. Top Girl at National Championships. Top 20 in gold fleet in European Championships at Scheveningen, Holland
Emily is a great ambassador for women in Irish sailing and has taken place in an interview and video with Annalise Murphy for the Sports Council of Ireland which has lead to some follow up activity with Sport Ireland.
Moss Simmington- Laser
Size finally put an end to Moss’s Oppie career in April. He has loved being a Laser sailor and getting back to hiking. He had a short stay in the 4.7 rig winning the Ulster Championships in April and coming 10th overall and 2nd U15 in the British Nationals in July. He was by then already too big for the 4.7 and entered the Irish Nationals as a Radial finishing 8th overall and 1st U15. A very enjoyable 2018.
Waterfront Award (Significant Contribution to the sport of Sailing)
Ross O Leary
For his excellent work as laser class captain. He has encouraged many new members to the laser classes and this in turn has resulted in new club members due to the training he has organised. Every sailor feels supported and encouraged with the training sessions. Most of all he ensured that everyone has fun both on and off the water. Also he is a talented dancer/ flosser on bars!! And runs a very entertaining WhatsApp group too!!
David Kelly
David chaired the Committee for the hugely successful Laser Master Worlds in 2018, attracting over 350 Lasers to Dun Laoghaire. The event ran extremely smoothly both on and off the water under his guidance. He pulled together a huge team of willing and capable volunteers, and provided the leadership to make the event the success it was.
John Sheehy
For a wonderful addition to the club on and off the water with the rowing and row fit classes. It has brought in new people and potential members who have brought life to dark winter evenings. John has been a stalwart of Team Racing in the RSGYC and has been very generous with his time in training the up and coming youth team racers. It should also be noted that John is single-handedly responsible for the design and implementation of our online reservation system for the booking of Club boats and courses.
Ian Simington
Ian was the Chairman for the very successfully Irish Sailing Pathway national Championships co- hosted between the RSGYC and NYC. This was a challenging event on many fronts. The renowned success of the 2018 Pathway National Championships is a testament to the planning and hard work of Ian and his team.
Last year’s Sailing Oscars night was a full house with an enjoyable evening had by all involved, the 6th of April promises to be another great night.
You can book online for the night by clicking here.
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