Howth Yacht Club names Team for 2025 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup

2023 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup © Rolex / Daniel Forster

Howth Yacht Club is proud to confirm its final team selection for one of the most prestigious events in world amateur sailing: the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, taking place in Newport, Rhode Island from 6-13 September 2025.

This elite Corinthian regatta is hosted biennially by the New York Yacht Club and welcomes leading international yacht clubs to compete in identically matched IC37s, designed by Ireland's own Mark Mills. The Invitational Cup is raced under strict one-design rules, with no professional sailors permitted and a maximum of one non-club member per crew.

The Howth Yacht Club team has been training intensively since late 2023 aboard Cape 31 Adreneline, a high-performance one-design keelboat also by Mark Mills. The team has been competing on the Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit, where Adreneline currently lies a highly commendable 3rd overall in the 22-boat fleet. This campaign has provided the perfect platform to choose the key team members, refine skills, communication and boat-handling required for success in Newport.

Meet the HYC Team:

Darren Wright - Skipper & Helmsman
Co-owner of Adreneline, Darren has spearheaded the Cape 31 campaign with this event firmlyin his sights. His leadership has guided the team to podium finishes across the Mediterranean series.

Ewan McMahon - Tactician
One of Ireland's top Olympic hopefuls for Los Angeles 2028 in the ILCA class, Ewan combines elite-level strategic thinking with one-design experience from the Cape 31 circuit.

Nigel Biggs - Mainsail / Strategy
A long-standing HYC member and newly appointed International Race Officer with Irish Sailing, Nigel brings decades of race-winning experience. Last week he took his First 50 Checkmate XX (he co-owns with HYC's Dave Cullen) to dominate the Coastal Class at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, finishing with a perfect scoreline and 3 wins.

Jonny Sargent - Mast
Fresh from completing his degree, Jonny has thrown himself into high-level sailing. His strength and agility in the mast role have earned him spots on top international teams.

Sienna Wright - Trim
Silver medallist at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships in 2024, Sienna may be the youngest sailor on the team, but she brings big-race experience and composure far beyond her years.

Faye Chatterton - Bow
A standout product of the British Olympic pathway, Faye campaigned for Paris 2024 in the 470 class. She joins the crew as the only non-HYC member, permitted under NYYC rules, and will be racing in Newport for the first time.

Brian Turvey - Trim / Pit
Former HYC Commodore and two-time Howth 17-footer national champion, Brian sailed on the 2021 HYC team and brings valuable event experience and composure to the middle of the boat.

Rocco Wright - Forward Trim
Rocco was one the youngest ever to compete at the Invitational Cup when he raced for HYC in 2021. Since then, he's won the ILCA 6 Men's European Championship and gold at the World Youth Championships, making him one of Ireland's brightest young sailing stars. He is the son of Darren and older brother to Sienna, completing a rare family trio in the HYC crew.

Coaching Support: Jesse Fielding
To sharpen their IC37 performance, the team has enlisted Jesse Fielding, Head Offshore Sailing Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. Jesse is an experienced IC37 sailor and has competed in premier international events such as the Rolex Fastnet, Transatlantic Race, and Sydney-Hobart. His tactical expertise and knowledge of the local racing scene in Newport will be a key advantage

As part of their final preparations, the team will race in the Safe Harbor Regatta (5-11 August) in Newport, going head-to-head with several other Invitational Cup teams under regatta conditions. This will serve as a crucial warm-up and boat-handling test ahead of the main event in September.

This year marks the first time three Irish yacht clubs have been invited to compete in the Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup. Alongside Howth Yacht Club's third appearance, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club will also be proudly flying the Irish flag. Notably, RCYC has competed in every edition of the event since its inception in 2009.