Winter Youth Sailing - An interview with a Senior Instructor at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School
The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s Junior Club is a youth sailing programme that started over 20 years ago at our base in Dun Laoghaire. It was set up to help young sailors at the INSS to master sailing techniques through a structured and consistent learning model for beginners up to advanced students.
The INSS Junior Club programme operates in blocks during the school term from September to June, with Saturday sessions offered in both morning (10 am–1 pm) and afternoon (2 pm–5 pm) slots. Many sailors who first experience sailing during summer camps return during the academic year to continue building confidence and experience.
The programme follows the Royal Yachting Association Youth Sailing Scheme, designed to provide an enjoyable and progressive learning pathway for our Junior Club sailors. For sailors aged 11 and over, progress is recorded through the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme Logbook, where each completed skill and certification is tracked. Younger sailors aged 6–10 tend to focus more on practical, hands-on learning on the water, building confidence in boats with less emphasis on theory at the early stages.
Alongside the RYA framework, the school operates as an accredited training centre under the Irish Sailing Small Boat Sailing Scheme (SBSS). This national programme provides structured pathways across dinghy, keelboat and catamaran sailing.
Irish Sailing Small Boat Sailing Scheme Pathway
According to one of our Senior Instructor, Zixi, the January–February Junior Club term offers learning opportunities unique to the busy summer season.
Zixi first joined the sailing school as a young sailor, starting in the 7–10 age group at the age of 10. After several summers sailing at the school, he became interested in instructing and later applied for the instructor pathway at 16 years old. Today, he works as part of the senior instructional team.
“The Saturday Junior Club sessions allow for much more progression,” he explains. “In the summer camps, instructors often have mixed ability groups and sometimes need to repeat skills. During Junior Club, we can tailor sessions more specifically to each group’s ability.”
Instructor Path: INSS Senior Instructor Zixi (left) shares guidance with young sailors during a Junior Club winter training session in Dun Laoghaire, highlighting the pathway from student sailor to instructor.
Winter sailing also introduces young sailors to more varied conditions.
“If the wind gets too strong - around Force 5 or 6 - we’ll be cautious about going afloat. But when conditions allow, sailing in stronger winds and colder weather can be beneficial for learning.”
During the winter term, sessions often include more theory and shore-based learning, helping sailors understand the principles behind what they are doing on the water.
Theory Time: Young sailors at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School take part in an interactive classroom session learning wind awareness, rigging and sailing theory during the winter Junior Club programme.
Young sailors learn about rigging and preparing boats correctly, wind awareness and direction, boat care and maintenance, techniques for improving speed and efficiency, and sailing manoeuvres.
“All of the theory is linked to the logbook,” Zixi says. “When kids understand how theory connects to what they’re doing in the boat, it opens their eyes to sailing in a new way.”
Skill Builder: Junior Club sailors practise boat control techniques during a winter training session at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School in Dun Laoghaire.
This combination of theory and practice helps develop more confident, knowledgeable sailors at the INSS. While Junior Club focuses primarily on fun and enjoyment, it can also serve as a stepping stone towards more competitive racing.
Feva Focus: Young sailors train in RS Feva dinghies during a Junior Club session at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School, developing racing skills through the Irish Sailing youth pathway.
The school occasionally runs introductory racing sessions for the Junior Club to help young sailors experience the basics of competition. For sailors aged 11–14, those interested in racing are often encouraged to explore RS Feva campaigns at the INSS and youth racing pathways with Irish Sailing.
For some sailors at the INSS, the journey can continue into instructor development. Zixi himself progressed through the INSS instructor training pathway, impressively completing his Senior Instructor qualification, as well as becoming a powerboat instructor by the age of 21.
He explains that the responsibilities evolve significantly as instructors progress through the pathway.
“As a sailing instructor, the primary focus is working directly with a group of sailors - teaching them on the water, running sessions and helping them develop their skills safely,” he says. “As a Senior Instructor, the role evolves to include supporting and coordinating other instructors as well.”
The position involves helping instructors plan sessions, supporting them throughout the day and assisting with the overall coordination of the sailing school’s programmes.
“It’s a role where you learn a lot about leadership and management,” he says. “You’re supporting instructors in their roles while also helping ensure the overall programme runs smoothly.”
Ready Rigged: INSS instructors and Junior Club sailors prepare RS Quest training boats before heading afloat for a winter youth sailing session in Dun Laoghaire.
INSS sailing instructors and Junior Club sailors preparing RS Quest vessels for training
He adds that continuing to work with students remains an important part of the role.
“There are still opportunities to step back into instructor duties and work directly with sailors, which is something I really enjoy.”
One of the most rewarding aspects, he says, is seeing former Junior Club sailors begin their own instructor journeys.
“Last year I worked with a group of 15–17-year-olds, and most of them applied for the instructor pathway this year. Seeing that progression reminds me of when I was their age and how much my instructors influenced me.”
Tacking Time: INSS sailing instructors demonstrate tacking manoeuvres to Junior Club sailors during a youth training session designed to build confidence and boat-handling skills.
Beyond the technical skills, Junior Club offers something equally important for youth development - a strong social community.
“Sailing is a sport that people can start at any age, and progression can happen quickly,” says Zixi. “But kids need to want to learn and come with an open mindset.”
For many young sailors, the friendships formed at the sailing school become one of the highlights of the experience.
“It’s very social. Kids make a lot of friends, and there are opportunities later to work in sailing as well. It becomes a community - and a lot of us never really leave.”
Quest Ready: An RS Quest dinghy used by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School for youth sailing instruction and Junior Club training sessions in Dun Laoghaire.
