The annual Irish Sailing Awards will take place on Friday 28 February in 1 WML venue in Windmill Lane, Dublin.
The Irish Sailing Awards recognise exceptional sailing talent representing Ireland at home and on the international stage as well as showcasing the clubs, volunteers and training centres who are setting standards in leadership, training and innovation.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the prestigious Irish Sailor of the Year Award which will be chosen from a wide pool of nominees representing all aspects of sailing and presented by Afloat.
This year sees three new Awards representing the ever-evolving nature of our sports, including School or University of the Year – an expansion on last year’s schools’ category to include third level institutions, Event of the Year celebrating some of our wonderful sailing events around the country and Team of the Year.
For our 2024 awards we are delighted to welcome aboard some new naming sponsors and partners, including The Irish Sailing Foundation who will be sponsoring the Youth Sailor of the Year, a nod to the hard work the Irish Sailing Foundation do in funding and supporting our young athletes in their journeys to international competition. Dubarry Clothing will be sponsoring Team of the Year, a new category that will highlight the immense work and teamwork that goes into sailing at all levels whilst Irish Sailing’s kit bag partner McWilliam will present the Event of the Year which includes strong nominations in the form of Howth Yacht Club’s WAVE Regatta, Mayo Mayhem – an international windsurfing event and The Irish Team Racing Nationals, Team Racing has seen exponential growth in recent years, particularly amongst the younger demographic. Volunteer of the Year, a hugely popular award that commends the work and time freely given by members of our sailing community, will be presented by the RNLI.
As always, the range of talent is impressive with the annual battle for Irish Sailor of the Year including Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, Offshore giant Tom Dolan, John Murphy and Outrajeous – Howth Yacht Club’s Boat of the Year and former Minister Simon Coveney.
There are six sailors nominated in the Youth Sailor category including Gemma Brady of Lough Derg Yacht Club who is the current female Topper World Champion, under 17 World Champion Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club, Leo Doherty of Sligo Yacht Club who was Topper National Champion in 2024 and fourth in Topper Worlds, Ava Ennis of the Royal St George Yacht Club, Conor Cronin also of the Royal St George Yacht Club and Malahide Yacht Club and ILCA sailor Lucy Ives of Ballyholme Yacht Club.
The Irish Sailing Woman on the Water Award, now its second year, boasts three nominees, all of whom continue to inspire and promote Irish sailing on domestic and international platforms.
Tim Bourke, CEO of Irish Sailing said,
“2024 was another outstanding year for Irish Sailing, on the National and International stages. The wealth of experience and achievements displayed throughout these nominations illustrate the breadth of talent within our great sport and represents years of dedication, innovation and incredible levels of skill. We are particularly looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our youth sailors who continue to punch well above their weight on the international stage as well as acknowledging the hard, important work done by Clubs, Training Centres, instructors, coaches and volunteers throughout the country.”
The Awards will be hosted by regular Justin Cullen of Skerries Yacht Club and international sports announcer and presenter Joanne Murphy.
The Categories and Nominations for 2024 are as follows:
The Irish Sailing Foundation Youth Competitor of the Year
- Sienna, Wright, Howth Yacht Club
- Leo O’Doherty, Sligo Yacht Club
- Gemma Brady, Lough Derg Yacht Club
- Ava Ennis, Royal Saint George Yacht Club
- Conor Cronin, RStGYC, Malahide Yacht Club
- Lucy Ives, Ballyholm Yacht Club, Royal Saint George Yacht Club
Irish Sailing Cruising Award
- Jim Corbett, Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Alain Lane, Galway Bay Sailing Club
- Sue Kavanagh, Howth Yacht Club
Irish Sailing Club of the Year
- Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dublin
- Skerries Sailing Club, Co. Dublin
- Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, Co. Cork
- Cullaun Sailing Club, Co. Clare
The Dubarry Team of the Year
- Dickson & Waddilove, Team Ireland Men’s Skiff, Howth Yacht Club & Skerries Sailing Club
- KinSailor, Kinsale Yacht Club
- Headcase, Lough Ree Yacht Club, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Baltimore Yacht Club
The McWilliam Event of the Year
- WAVE Regatta, Howth Yacht Club
- Irish Team Racing Nationals, Baltimore Sailing Club
- Mayo Mayhem, Irish Windsurfing Association, Achill
Irish Sailing Training Centre of the Year
- Blessington Sailing Centre, Co. Wicklow
- Oysterhaven, Co. Cork
- Rathmullen Sailing Club, Donegal
- Lough Ree Yacht Club, Co. Westmeath
Irish Sailing Class of the Year
- Water Wags
- Irish Laser Class Association
- 420's
Irish Sailing Volunteer of the Year presented by the RNLI
- Oisin Cullen, National Yacht Club & Irish Match Racing Association
- Nicola Harris, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club
- Brian Raftery, Sligo Yacht Club
- Robert White, Lough Derg Yacht Club
Irish Sailing University / School of the Year
- Technological University Dublin
- University College Cork
- Summerhill College, Co. Sligo
Irish Sailing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award
- Donal Hickey, Kinsailability
- Aideen Doran, Howth Yacht Club Sailability
- Damian McCoy, Galway Sea Scouts
- Duncan Lyster & Rosemary Cadogan, Dun Laoghaire
- Harry O Hanlon & Team, Kinsale OEC
Irish Sailing Senior Instructor of the Year
- Emma Lynch, Royal Saint George Yacht Club
- Mary McCormack, Foynes Yacht Club
- Francesca Lewis, Kinsale Yacht Club
Woman on the Water Award
- Nicole Hemeryck, National Yacht Club
- Clodagh O’Donovan, Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Katie McAnena, Donegal
Irish Sailor of the Year presented by Afloat
- Mark Bolger, Baltimore & Amir Anwar-Hameed, Bray, Ocean Rowing
- Finn Lynch, National Yacht Club & Irish Sailing Senior Team
- Sienna Wright, Howth Yacht Club
- Colin Leonard, Strangford Lough & Ballyholme Yacht Club
- Ed Wheeler, Co. Down
- Mark Lyttle, National Yacht Club
- Andy Thompson, East Antrim Boat Club
- Jamie McMahon & UCD Dinghy Squad
- Micheal O’Suillebhain & UCC
- Rose Michael, RNLI Fundraiser
- Annamarie Fagan & Nieulargo, Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Simon Knowles, Howth Yacht Club
- Clementine van Steenberge & Jessica Riordan, National Yacht Club & Royal St George Yacht Club
- Colm Bermingham, Howth Yacht Club
- Joan Sheffield, Katherine Sheehan & Catherine Day, Royal Irish Yacht Club
- Chris Power, Royal St George Yacht Club
- Headcase Crew
- Laura Dillon, Howth Yacht Club
- Pete Smyth, Royal Irish Yacht Club
- Tom Dolan, National Yacht Club
- Eve McMahon, Howth Yacht Club, Irish Sailing Senior Team
- Simon Coveney, Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Johnny Treanor, National Yacht Club
- Steve Morris & Seol Sionna
- Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove, Howth Yacht Club, Skerries Yacht Club & Irish Sailing Senior Team
- Sean Craig, Royal St George Yacht Club
- John Murphy & Neil Spain, Howth Yacht Club
- John Murphy & Outrajeous, Howth Yacht Club
- Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen, Howth Yacht Club
- The Shanahan Family, National Yacht Club
- Cora McNaughton & Isha Duggan, Royal Cork Yacht Club & Blessington Sailing Club
- Robert Espey & Mike Ferguson, Ballyholme Yacht Club
- Nick Kats, Clifden
- Baltimore Sailing Club
- Gordon Patterson & Ross Nolan, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
- James Dwyer, Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Fergal Noonan, Howth Yacht Club
- Will Byrne, National Yacht Club
- Michael Tyrrell, Royal Irish Yacht Club
- Eddie Totterdell, Dublin Bay Sailing Club
- Neil Murphy, Howth Yacht Club
Irish Sailing President’s Award
This is a special award in recognition of outstanding achievement Irish sailing.