A collaboration between Pure Magic Watersports, INSS.ie and Irish Sailing is underway to support the growing numbers of wing foilers in Ireland.

You might have noticed a fleet of colourful wings soaring over the water if you were near Salthill Beach in Dun Laoghaire this weekend. Wing foiling, a fast-growing water sport that combines elements of surfing, kitesurfing, and sailing, is making a big splash worldwide. The sport involves a surfboard fitted with a hydrofoil, propelled by a handheld inflatable wing. It's an exciting and adrenaline-packed activity that's drawing enthusiasts from all corners—kiteboarders, windsurfers, surfers, kayakers, sailors, and even complete newcomers to water sports.

It's an exciting and adrenaline-packed activity that's drawing enthusiasts from all corners—kiteboarders, windsurfers, surfers, kayakers, sailors, and even complete newcomers to water sports

Francois Colussi of Pure Magic Watersports has been the first person in Ireland to adopt the new discipline of winging where along with his dedicated team, they have bases in Clontarf and Achill Island where they have been successfully teaching kitesurfing, paddleboarding and winging for nearly 20 years. As the sport of wingfoiling developed, Kenny Rumball of the INSS equally got hooked to the sport and explored with Francois the idea of collaborating to teach the sport in Dun Laoghaire and also the development of a Wing Foiling Club on Salthill beach. This partnership has been incredibly successful with lots of new wing foiling graduates taking courses that are run by by Pure Magic and their team of Instructors form the INSS base on the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Some of these graduates now ride together as part of a new local wing club that has supervised club session every Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Going wingfoiling at Salthill Beach in Dun Laoghaire

Recognising the growing trend, Irish Sailing’s training department, led by David Garvey, reached out to Francois to develop a Wingfoil instructor programme. The training this weekend was the development of an initial programme that was held earlier this year at Jamie Knox Watersports in Kerry. The programme is still in its infancy, this weekend there were a lot of very experienced instructors from a broad range of Watersports backgrounds including Stand Up Paddleboarding, Sailing, Kitesurfing who all come together to develop as a group a wing foil instructor program that can be rolled out more broadly across the country when the time is right.

Pure Magic and INSS are collaborating with Irish Sailing to develop a dedicated WingFoil Instructor Programme

It was inspiring to see a diverse group of instructors coming together for this training. From fresh-faced youth to seasoned veterans, from inland lakes to open seas, the range of backgrounds was remarkable. The cohort included instructors from kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking. This diversity, combined with the expertise of Training Examiner Jeff Cochrane, Dave, and Francois, made for a weekend that was not only challenging and educational but also incredibly fun.

Learning to wing foil is a bit like learning to ride a bike—it can be tricky at first, but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for life. The sport has a relatively low barrier to entry, which is drawing many newcomers. All you need is access to water and some basic gear. New equipment typically costs around €3,000, while second-hand gear can be found for about €1,000—making it more affordable than many other water sports. However, with the growing number of participants, there is an increasing need for a standardized, safe, and effective training method.

If you’re looking to learn or are just curious about wing foiling, check out Pure Magic where their team of experienced instructors can help you on your first steps in one of the best place to learn the Sport: Dun Laoghaire and the wonderful Dublin Bay.

The Irish National Sailing School (INSS) announced its Autumn recruitment campaign today. Following buoyant interest in its weekday school programmes for primary and secondary students, the INSS team needs to be increased.

Part Time Roles: Dinghy Instructors - September and October

The positions are ideal for college students studying in Dublin, as they’ll be able to fit sessions around their lecture timetables. The INSS team is focusing, in particular, on Dinghy Instructors for their weekday school programmes and powerboat instructors for weekend courses.
Speaking as the recruitment campaign got underway, Chief Instructor Kenneth Rumball described one key point for instructors thinking of coming on board: “Instructors will have the benefit of a full-time admin and operations support team, allowing instructors to focus on what they do best—the teaching,” according to Principal Kenneth Rumball.

Full information on the weekday instructor roles can be found here.

Glyn Williams is available for enquiries and submissions of CVs on [email protected].

Full Time Roles: Watersports Instructors

Separately the school is now seeking interested people for new full time positions focussed on delivering water sports tuition. The roles are full-time, 5-day a week positions on a year round contract. Glyn Williams describes the variety of instructors being looked for “our objective is getting everyone afloat, be it on a paddleboard or yacht, dinghy of powerboat or anything in between. We’re looking to speak to instructors of all disciplines about several new full-time positions starting this Winter/Spring”.

Glyn Williams is available for enquires on [email protected].

Further Roles

The INSS reports a series of part-time / contract roles in powerboating, keelboat and other disciplines and urges any instructor to get in touch. Separately, the school will be announcing a series of supported training programmes for adults of all ages to convert existing sailing skills in dinghies and keelboats, or on powerboats, into instructor qualifications for an active retirement, change of career or just something extra to do at the weekend.

Two young Irish sailors are set to play leading parts in this year’s running of the biennial Newport to Bermuda Race.

Luke Galvin and Eoin McKeon - both ‘graduates’ of the Irish National Sailing School in Dun Laoghaire – will compete in the prestigious offshore from June 21st.

The duo will sail under the burgee of Oakcliff Sailing, the Long Island, NY-based sailing centre where Luke has worked for the last three years and is now shore manager.

“I learned to sail in Dun Laoghaire, initially at the INSS and later on the Royal Irish Yacht Club Mills 31, Raptor,” explained Luke (20). “When my family was moving back to the US in 2022, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to continue sailing in New York City. Luckily for me, one of the Raptor crew, Paddy Boyd, introduced me to the head of Oakcliff Sailing and that initial connection has allowed me to make a career in the sport.”

Founded in 2010 as a non-profit sail training centre, Oakcliff is now the official training hub of the US Sailing Team, 11th Hour Racing, NYYC American Magic, IYRS and the World Match Racing Tour.

“We’ll have a fleet of boats competing in the run down to Bermuda,” said Luke, “the largest of which will be the OC86 and JV66. I’ll be running bow on the maxi.” Oakcliff executive director Dawn Reilly, the first American to sail in three America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World races, will be at the helm of OC86.

Oakcliff's OC86 on which Luke Galvin is bowman in the 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race Photo: Oakcliff Sailing

Over on the JV66, Eoin will be competing in his second Bermuda race, having crewed on the 86 in the 2022 event. “I’m really looking forward to this event,” said Eoin. “Last time out, it was a baptism of fire but I’ve spent the last few weeks with the JV66 and feel much more comfortable about the challenge this time.”

Eoin will be competing in his second Bermuda race on Oakcliff's JV66 Photo: Photo: Oakcliff Sailing

The 636-mile biennial Newport Bermuda Race is the world’s oldest regularly-scheduled ocean race, and one of just two of the world’s regularly scheduled races held almost entirely out of sight of land, the second being the Transpac. Founded in 1906, this is the 53rd running of the event and has attracted 163 entries.

The Irish sailors are quick to point to their days in the Coal Harbour in Dun Laoghaire as key to their entry to the sport. “I think it’s fair to say that neither of us comes from what you might describe as a traditional sailing background,” said Luke. “Our parents weren’t sailors and nobody we knew owned a boat, but we were allowed to learn the ropes at the INSS and develop out from there. The next chapter of our sailing story might be the race to Bermuda but I think it’s fair to say that none of us would be here if it wasn’t for the start we got in the sport from the Rumball family at the INSS.”

Racing on Dublin Bay as part of the crew on the Mills 31 Raptor under skipper Fintan Cairns Photo: Afloat

“I also owe a great debt to Fintan Cairns and the entire Raptor crew,” he added. “They gave me a slot on their bow for two summers and the lessons I learned there were foundational for everything that’s followed.”

For more about Oakcliff sailing click here and more about the INSS here

Kenny Rumball of the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School is holding a Sea Survival Course on Tuesday, 11th June, from 6-9 pm and Sunday, 16th June, from 9.30 am-5 pm. Experience what it is like to board a liferaft – in full kit and lifejacket! The common refrain from students is they didn’t realise how hard it was.

Kenny combines a wealth of offshore racing knowledge into the course, and successful participants receive the World Sailing Offshore Safety Sea Survival Certificate. This covers the requirements of World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations 6.01 for categories 0, 1 and some category two offshore races.

 Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School Sea Survival Course - you’ll be instructed in personal survival techniques, group techniques and spend plenty of time boarding and righting liferafts!

A key part of the syllabus deals with what to do in an emergency, but there’s also a great emphasis on preventing the emergency first! Should the worst occur you’ll be instructed in personal survival techniques, group techniques and spend plenty of time boarding and righting liferafts!

Finally, the course syllabus is updated with modern advancements and technology, such as AIS MOB beacons. Kenny has first-hand experience in this, having received the RORC Seamanship Trophy for the recovery of a fellow crew mate on the 2018 Round Ireland Race.

The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s team are available on 01 2844195 or [email protected] for any enquiries. Full information about this course can be found here.

Yacht Week is looking for talented skippers and hosts to work in the Mediterranean this summer.

Dun Laoghaire Sailing School, the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School, has teamed up with the Yacht Week to get Irish sailors working in the Med this Summer.

Yacht Week – Training Academy

Quarterdeck provides a tailored week-long Academy that polishes current sailing or cooking skills in order the Yacht Week, along with several other private charter partners, in destinations such as Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, and many more. For Skippers, this week is essentially an intensive week focused on yacht handling under power, specifically perfecting rafting & med-mooring.

Yacht Week and INSS Team Up for Summer -  Line Raft 

This is the perfect opportunity if you're looking for something to do during the Summer or looking to get into the yacht charter business. There's an alumni network of over 1000 previous Yacht Skippers that help to open doors to sailing opportunities all over the world.

How It Works

What does a Yacht Week host do?

Working as a host for Yacht Week means cooking delicious meals, showing guests the incredible local delights, and dancing the night away with them under the stars in our world-class locations. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks of how to cook onboard a sailing yacht and how to give your crew an amazing week of holiday. This is the perfect opportunity if you are passionate about hosting and cooking and up for your next adventure!

What does a Yacht Week skipper do?

We are looking for talented skippers to work for us next summer! Guide your guests through their adventure. Sail from island to island, discover hidden bays for majestic swim stops, and share your expert local knowledge.

To apply you will need to hold or be working towards holding the following documents: Recognised Skippers License, Basic First Aid Certificate, VHF Certificate.

Experienced Sailor but don't have a Licence?

Are you a salty sea dog? Is an official qualification the only thing stopping you from having the best job in the world? Usually, the transition from keelboats to yachts is easy for experienced keelboat sailors. If you have any experience sailing keelboats, it isn’t a big leap to yachting. If you have been sailing for a few years you may only need a week or two of practice to fine-tune your yacht handling and obtain the necessary licence.

The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School in Dublin works with Yacht Week to assist sailors in getting familiar with handling yachts under power and obtaining the required recognised licences. Email [email protected] with your sailing experience to see if you’d be eligible for this option.

For more information on Yacht Week email: [email protected]

For more information on Skipper Training by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School email: [email protected]

Dublin City Centre looks magical at night!

The INSS.ie RIB Rides and Winter Lights has had a cracking first weekend exploring the river Liffey and Christmas lights.

Over 40 participants of all ages joined the crew on passage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Dublin Port and past O’Connell Bridge before returning to the harbour.

The programme is running as part of the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School's contribution to the Failte Ireland Winter In Dublin campaign.

INSS RIB Trip passing Sir John Rogerson's Quay on Dublin's River Liffey

Crews witnessed the operations of the busy Dublin Port in the twilight, including car transporters, ferries and bulk transporters all at work.

After heading under the East Link Bridge, the vista of Silicon Docks comes into view – this part of the city has really transformed over the last ten years, and the view is unforgettable.

Dublin City Council have gone to great lengths to have an excellent lights display on the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

The Samuel Beckett Bridge as seen from an INSS RIB

One participant remarked that the Christmas lights seem to have been set up with the best view from the river itself – and it certainly looks so, the highlight being the fantastic lights display on the Customs house.

CUSTOM HOUSE VIDEO

Keen to make the trip all that more memorable, the crews stopped each day upriver of O’Connell Bridge for a hot chocolate pit stop.

The trips are running over the next two weekends – Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 3-6 pm and there are still a few places remaining onboard.

All are very welcome.

Full details and booking is available here

The Shanahan team racing Cup returns for the 2023/24 season in a new format at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Hosted by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School in conjunction with Gonzaga College SJ, the event will be run over three Wednesdays, November 29th 2023, January 17th and February 7th 2024.

The winner will be the school with the best results over the three events, however, schools do not need to enter all three events in order to participate.

The organisers hope that the format change will give schools more race time before regional and national championships. It will also give less experienced sailors a greater opportunity to represent their school, and if the weather doesn’t co-operate, the format avoids the need to try and find suitable dates to reschedule.

RS Feva sailing

Fiachra Etchingham of Gonzaga College has been the driver of this competition since its inception. “The competition, supported by the Shanahan family, aims to promote friendly competition between schools and be as inclusive as possible, catering for sailors of all abilities”.

A team can enter by contacting the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s office on 01 2844195 or by email to [email protected].

Schools will initially be limited in sending up to two teams per school to facilitate as many schools as possible in entering teams up to capacity constraints. Should additional spaces for schools be available as the entry closing date approaches, more than two teams per school will be accepted.

The 2022/2023 academic year Shanahan Cup eventually took place last February, after poor weather delayed earlier attempts. The Cup was won by St Michael’s College holding off tough competition from 9 other teams.

A short video from the last event gives an idea of some of the fun for school students:

Explore the Winter Lights on the River Liffey Like Never Before with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School this Christmas!

There's no better way to embrace the festive spirit than embarking on a Christmas Rib Trip along the River Liffey! As the sun sets and the city starts to twinkle, step aboard with the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School and set off on a one-of-a-kind adventure that promises to make your Christmas unforgettable.

The journey departs from the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s clubhouse on the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire

Dates & Times: 3-6 pm

• Saturday 2nd December
• Sunday 3rd December
• Friday 15th December
• Saturday 16th December
• Sunday 17th December

Prices are €40 per adult and €20 per child. The adventure is suitable for children aged 7 years and up.

What's on the Itinerary?

The journey departs from the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s clubhouse on the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire. The crew will kit all participants in insulated waterproof gear and lifejackets, after which a safety briefing will be delivered on board the school’s licenced Passenger RIBs by your qualified commercial skipper. Then it’s off towards the Port!

The crew will kit all participants in insulated waterproof gear and lifejackets

You'll spot the Energy Plant at Poolbeg as skylines come alive. Gliding up the Liffey, you'll enjoy the Dublin Winter Lights festival from the river. Pass by famous landmarks, including the Samuel Beckett Bridge, the Customs House and the Convention Centre. You may even spot the Spire! To make your trip even more enjoyable, you'll be treated to festive treats and hot chocolate s on board.

Pass by famous landmarks, including the Samuel Beckett Bridge, the Customs House and the Convention Centre in a city centre RIB run

A Memorable Journey for All

The Christmas Rib Trip is perfect for families, couples, friends, or solo adventurers looking for a unique experience. Places can be booked online on the INSS.ie website – Booking Link here.

Is your class or event looking to stand out from the crowd next year?

If so, please get in touch with Kenny Rumball ([email protected]) and the team from MarineServices.ie to book Sailmon tracking and video analytics for your event in 2024.

The 1720 class adopted the live tracking system for their National Championships this year in Waterford Harbour Sailing Club. Sailmon and Marine Services provided the entire system, including the all-important MAX min trackers, drone for video analytics and online and on-site support from the Netherlands and here to be able to produce in the club after sailing each day video highlights integrated with the data from the trackers.

The Sailmon Max

Dave Love, president of the 1720 class, commented after the event; 'The 1720 Sportsboat Class were delighted with Sailmon at our 2023 Nationals. There was superb viewing in the clubhouse after sailing, and created real focal point for all crew to chat about the day's racing. It also helped friends, family, and the wider 1720 fleet keep involved in the racing. We used a lot of the data on the speeds of the relative boats as prizes within the fleet, which made for fun sailing. We'll be using this service again in 2024.'

MarineServices.ie and Sailmon, can provide different packages and can tailor this to the requirements of each class.

Kenny Rumball gives his idea of how it can work for each class, ‘There is already a lot of work for organisers of sailing events and also classes to consider when running and regional or national event. Allow us to take the work out of it for you and let us do the job of enhancing your sailing event with top-class tracking. All we need is booking 6 months in advance with an anticipated number of boats. All we need after that is an entry list…. We can provide all the other ancillaries, drones, support RIBs and extra features as required.’

Join the revolution and put your class on par with some of the major international classes and names out there, including Melges 32s, SB20s, RS21s, British Sailing Team, J70, Cowes Week, Cape 31s, Nacra 17, the list goes on and on!

With some commitment and pre-planning we can be fully prepared and set up for and epic 2024 of live tracking and integrated video analytics for all sailing in Ireland!

The RS Sailing Super Series is about to kick off in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, bringing together sailing enthusiasts from various RS classes and the highly popular Waszp class.

With an action-packed schedule, this series promises an exhilarating display of skill, teamwork, and competitive spirit.

Organised by the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School (INSS), the RS Sailing Super Series is set to take place on the West Pier, offering participants and spectators a captivating view of the races against the sparkling backdrop of the sea.

Waszp sailing at Dun Laoghaire

Mark your calendars for the following dates: November 25th, December 16th, January 27th, February 24th, and March 23rd.

One of the highlights of this series is the multitude of races planned per morning, ensuring an abundance of thrilling moments for both participants and fans. The racing action begins early, with the goal of concluding the races by 12:00 noon, allowing sailors to make the most of the day.

To make things even better, registering for the RS Sailing Super Series is a breeze.

Visit the official event website hosted by the RS Sailing Club and complete your entry online.

This streamlined process ensures a hassle-free experience for participants, enabling them to focus on preparing for the exhilarating races ahead.

The RS Sailing Super Series offers an incredible platform for sailors across various RS classes and the Waszp class to showcase their skills and compete against fellow enthusiasts. From seasoned sailors to up-and-coming talents, this event welcomes participants of all levels, fostering a vibrant environment of camaraderie and healthy competition.

So mark your calendars, sailing enthusiasts, for the RS Sailing Super Series is just around the corner.