It’s that time of year again 🪩 The Irish Sailing Awards will be taking place on Thursday 5th March at the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire. Check your inboxes for that very special invitation ✉️ Keep an eye over the next few days as we release all of the award nominees. We can’t wait to see you there & celebrate our extraordinary sailing community!

Ready to take it up a notch? Step into the Irish Senior Instructor community and lead from the front ⚡️ Francesca Lewis from Kinsale Yacht Club shared her experience of progressing to Senior Instructor: from leadership and communication to confidence and decision-making, it’s a chance to take on greater responsibility and make a bigger impact in your club and on the sailors you coach. 📅 SI COURSE 1: March 28- April 1 in Oysterhaven Centre Cork 📅 SI COURSE 2: June 8-12th in Malahide Yacht Club 📅 SI COURSE 3: August 24-28th in Lough Derg Yacht Club 📅 SI COURSE 4: November 7-8th and 13-15th in Colaiste UISCE, Mayo Get in touch for more information or if you’d like to speak to us about what exactly is in store!

Save the date: the Irish Sailing AGM and EGM will take place on 25 March 2026 at Lough Ree Yacht Club, Co. Westmeath. Members will have the opportunity to review the year’s activities, governance and finances, and consider key matters requiring approval. Further details, including agendas and formal notices, will be shared in advance. For now, please save the date!

RECOGNISE THIS GUY? Liam Glynn has been appointed the new role of Coaching Development Officer at Irish Sailing to lead new initiatives on race coaching across Ireland. From Ballyholme Yacht Club in Bangor, Co. Down, Liam made history when he became the first Irish sailor to become the Topper World Champion in 2013. He then went down the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway and campaigned for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and he still races competitively today. We are delighted to have Liam on board to develop Irish Coaching around the country!

The Irish Sailing Conference date has been set for the 12th March 2026 in Lough Derg Yacht Club, Co. Tipperary. The conference is an opportunity to hear about Irish Sailing’s plans for the year ahead, and giving you the opportunity to offer feedback. We’d love to see you there! The link for registration can be found here: sailing.ie/News/id/13407 🔗

Thinking about becoming a Senior Instructor this year? Ben Patterson from Malahide Yacht Club shared with us a bit about his experience, and how he has gained skills and experience far beyond sailing. As one of the smartest steps you can take in your early career, this is an opportunity to lead, communicate, and take responsibility in ways that ready you for your future. 📅 Session 1: March 28- April 1 in Oysterhaven Centre Cork 📅 Session 2: June 8-12th in Malahide Yacht Club 📅 Session 3: August 24-28th in Lough Derg Yacht Club 📅 Session 4: November 7-8th and 13-15th in Colaiste UISCE, Mayo Get in touch for more information or if you’d like to speak to us about what exactly is in store!

ROUND IRELAND 2026 entries are open! Organised by Wicklow Sailing Club with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, the event covers 704 nautical miles starting from Wicklow Harbour. The race starts on Saturday, 20 June 2026. Early-bird discounts apply until 31 March, with final entries closing on 31 May. More info at roundireland.ie

Things move pretty quickly around here, so don’t miss the boat. Keep up to date with the Irish Sailing Round Up Newsletter. Sign up here: mailchi.mp/sailing.ie/6b8tcy…

📅 The ICRA Conference & AGM is set for 7 February 2026 at 10:30am in the Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire. Keynote speakers on the morning will include Michael Boyd front the Admirals Cup Team, Cillian Dickinson & Louis Molloy from the team Headcase, who are the J24 World Champions, and Pamela Lee the Offshore Racing Specialist. Register to attend here: cruiserracing.ie/conference-…

MARK O’CONNOR IS BACK on dry land and hitting the road in a series of talks about his solo transatlantic crossing. As the youngest Irish sailor to have crossed the Atlantic alone, Mark completed the Mini Transat Race this year (absolutely nothing mini about it) and will share the realities of offshore racing in this talk series. TONIGHT Killaloe Sailing Club are live streaming the first talk of the series on their YouTube at 7:30pm. Tune in for the perfect after dinner watch this evening at the link below ⏱️ youtube.com/live/tZts5-kWBVM

SCHOOL SAILING event the Fastnet Trophy will be taking place on 17–19 April in Schull Harbour, Co.Cork. Royal Hospital School from the UK will return as defending champions and Irish schools are expected to provide strong competition, with further UK entries also expected. Schools interested in competing should request an invitation via the Notice of Race here: fastnettrophy.com/ Closing date for applications is 6 February 2026.

Seahorse Magazine has announced its partnership with Irish Sailing, giving all our members full free access to the internationally renowned publication that focuses exclusively on sailing. Get in touch for more details.

🇮🇪📣 INTRODUCING the four young Irish Sailors who will be representing us at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal next week. 1.Sienna Wright from Howth Yacht Club will be sailing in the Women’s Dinghy Class in an ILCA 6 2.Bobby Driscoll from Ballyholme Yacht Club will be sailing in the Men’s Dinghy Class in an ILCA 6 3.Cora McNaughton from Blessington Sailing Club will be helming in the Mixed 420 category 4.Matt Mapplebeck from the Royal Cork Yacht Club will be crewing in the Mixed 420 category Running from 12-20th December, the event is the pinnacle of international youth sailing, bringing together the world’s best under 19 sailors. #worldchampionships #youthsailing

ERIN McILWAINE AND ELLEN BARBOUR have been promoted by Irish Sailing to the Senior Sailing Squad. The pair have had an incredible season in the 49erFX fleet throughout 2025, leading to their graduation from the Irish Sailing Development Squad now. They are currently positioned firmly on the pathway towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Both sailors are studying Physiotherapy at Trinity College Dublin while competing at international level. They are joining athletes including Olympians Finn Lynch, Eve McMahon, Ewan McMahon, Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove as part of the Irish Sailing Senior Team. #irishsailing #olympics #greentiderising

IT’S DISABILITY WEEK IN SPORT and we are championing the participants, coaches, volunteers, and leaders who make inclusion in our sport possible. Being active on the water is good for both physical and mental strength, and in our sport it’s important that we put our best foot forward by practicing inclusion and positivity out on the water. Here’s to celebrating individuality, ability, and enjoying an active life on open water 🌊 #disabilityweek #disability #sportireland #disabilityinsport #inclusion #mentalhealthstigma

IRISH SAILOR MARK LYTTLE has been elected the next World President of ILCA at the AGM in Beijing, China. Mark Lyttle grew up sailing in Dun Laoghaire and got his first laser in 1977, competing in the 1996 Olympics for the class. “As President, I would like to lead a World Council that listens to our community, is open, honest and responsive, and works together to promote our class and the sport as a whole,” Mark Lyttle said. We are proud to be Irish today! #sailing #worldpresident #ireland

INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY is a day to highlight our wonderful team across the country who embody positivity and equality, helping our sport to thrive. We are so proud of our community of sailors, powerboaters, windsurfers, and supporters today and everyday. You can donate to Movember at this link: ie.movember.com 👨🏼‍🦰🧔🏻‍♀️👨🏼‍🦳 #Internationalmensday #movember