110 people attended an excellent night at the New Year Eve Dinner. A collection was taken for the flood victims which amounted to  1,300. This will be given to the Red Cross on Tuesday.
A gale greeted the Brass Monkeys and Lasers on New Year's Day. A few Lasers braved the elements, however Laser racing was abandoned due to the weather conditions. Riain Timon managed to get in the Brass Monkeys race after shortening course. On returning to harbour the cruisers were hit with 50kts winds accompanied by a hail storm which reduced visibility to yards. The morning's excitement was completed by a demonstration of seamanship by Riain - watched by a large crowd on the balcony - as he battled with winds to bring Free Enterprise successfully into her berth. No doubt the cruisers returning to harbour took comfort in seeing the Howth Lifeboat thundering past them on their way out to sea on a heavy weather exercise. A capacity crowd rounded off the festivities in the afternoon of the New Year's Family Day. Rear-Commodore Bryan Lynch presented Lifeboat Pennants to the following Brass Monkeys competitors : Mini Mumm - Dave Cotter C'est la Vie - Flannelly, Spain & Sweeney Sea-Esta - Philip Mitchell Music was kindly presented by PAB Travel and all raffle proceeds will be given to the Red Cross to aid the flood victims. The final sums are now done and 5,000 from HYC members collected this weekend will go to help this worthy cause. Thanks to Vice-Commodore Gerry O'Neill and Eamon Markey who prepared the food and for a very pleasant afternoon. No reports as yet of food poisoning!
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