Home | About Us Home | Regatta Information | Logistics | News | Results | Social Program | Gallery | Weather | Accommodation | Shop Latest News HYC Etchells 2009 Season Review 03/11/2010 The 2009 season started early in March for Dan O’Grady & Dave Burrows, who teamed up for another last minute assault on the World Championships in Melbourne. A light weather regatta ended with a mid fleet result and lots of resolve to “do better next year” David & Richard Burrows took the early season Spring Warmer series in April, with 9 races completed by the 3rd Saturday in April. The Europeans were hosted by the Royal Mersey Yacht Club in Holyhead Sailing Club in late May. Twenty years since our last sail in Holyhead, not much had changed. However, HYC’s Northside Dragon, steered by Jay Bourke and crewed by David Cagney & Declan McManus, was on fire. The strong winds on the first day took their toll, with pre regatta favourite Ante Razmilovic and the O’Grady / Reilly team suffering gear failure, but Northside Dragon kept it together and then sailed consistently well in the lighter conditions on the 2nd and 3rd day to take the title from David Burrows, with Stephen Quinn and Stephen O’Flaherty making it a HYC 1,2,3.          All of the club series were taken by the O’Grady / Reilly team with various crew assisting. They also captured the Lambay Race with 9 year old Alex O’Grady crewing - surely the youngest winner on the day.          The Nationals saw a good turnout of 17 Irish boats, with 3 UK and 1 US visitor opting to check out the venue for next year’s Worlds. Ante Razmilovic took the title for the 2nd time in 4 years , with David Burrows and O’Grady / Reilly having a great tussle for second place. The last run of the last race saw the SE breeze top 30kts, and Burrows pulled off a textbook gybe to pass O’Grady on the final approach to the finish and take 2nd overall.          The final act of the season was the Autumn League which had a poor turnout of only 6 boats. However, we had some of the closest racing of the season with a much improved Simon Knowles with Jon Hartshorn and John O’Shea crewing, pushed Dan O’Grady and Paul Reilly all the way to the last race. The attention now changes to next year’s World Championships, when some of the top US, AUS and NZL sailors will join the European fleet north of Ireland’s Eye in late August. Berchmans Gannon is leading the organising team and we hope that all HYC members will take time out to witness some of the best one design racing available in the World. Dan O’Grady More News Physyo on hand for Etchells' crews Sports Minister attends launch event at Club’s annual regatta Team from New York YC win Etchells East Coast Championship Sailing legend looks forward to worlds at Howth Etchells Worlds Team from Australia presented with HYC Etchells Worlds Jackets The Gov takes charge Requirements for the event Howth to stage Etchells worlds HYC Etchells 2009 Season Review Northside Dragon wins Europeans 2010 Etchells World Championships come to Howth Yacht Club, Ireland Howth opens €2 million boatpark extension