Commodore's Update - March 2026

Spring is almost upon us and the welcome return of longer days reminds us that the sailing season is fast approaching. Throughout the winter months, club volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for the coming season. As Commodore, I have the privilege of seeing first-hand the effort and enthusiasm that so many of you bring to the club. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed their time and energy.
 
I am very pleased to report that the dredging project for Howth Harbour is continuing to make progress. A recent ministerial visit to Howth included the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Hayden TD, and Minister of State Timmy Dooley, along with their officials, local TDs and councillors. Following their official meeting, I had a cordial discussion with the ministers and other stakeholders. They confirmed that the long-awaited EPA licence is expected to be issued shortly and that funding is in place to allow the project to commence. As I have said previously, it has felt rather like waiting for Godot.
 
While no formal start date has yet been confirmed, I will keep members informed as soon as further information becomes available and will arrange information meetings when appropriate.
 
It is encouraging to see the Sailing Committee, who work tirelessly on behalf of all members, already deep in preparations, finalising the club racing schedule for the coming season. Tides will have an impact on some of our regular racing, and sailors are reminded to check Appendix A of the Club Racing Documents for relevant dates and amended start times.
 
I am delighted to report that 360 race management slots have already been filled to support club racing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This represents an extraordinary level of support and is a testament to the strength of our club community.
 
We will shortly be running a number of Committee Vessel training days for volunteers, and I would strongly encourage anyone interested in getting involved to take part. Volunteering on the water is a rewarding way to support club racing while building skills and experience, and new volunteers are always welcome.
 
Members are also encouraged to engage with the wide range of information evenings, crew talks and guest speaker events being organised. These events are a valuable opportunity to learn, share experiences and connect with fellow members. My sincere thanks go to the Sailing Development Team and the Cruising Group for their tremendous work in putting together such excellent programmes.
 
In the coming weeks, we will also welcome university teams and match racing competitors to Howth, and I look forward to seeing plenty of action on the water.
 
As growing our club community remains a key priority, we are also delighted to introduce a new member referral reward and encourage you to invite friends and family to experience all that Howth Yacht Club has to offer. If you know someone who might enjoy becoming a member, we would be delighted to welcome them — and to reward you for the introduction.
 
We're also putting together our corporate packages for the season ahead so we encourage you, our club ambassadors, to share the opportunity with friends and colleagues. 
 
This may well be our final full racing season before dredging work begins, so let us make it a memorable and successful one for all our members.
 
I look forward to seeing you all both on and off the water at Howth Yacht Club very soon.
 
Kevin Monks
Commodore