With the new Community Sport Facilities Fund now open, Irish RS distributor MarineServices.ie is urging sailing clubs to look at fleet renewal, safety boat repowering and the move to electric power.

The Government's Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), the successor to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, opened for applications on Monday 19 October 2026. It runs until 5pm on Friday 26 February 2027.

For sailing clubs, this round looks more promising than most. Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue has said the CSFF will specifically target sports and geographic areas that have been historically under-invested in, and it encourages multi-club and multi-sport projects.

Under the Local Grants tier, clubs can apply for up to €70,000 in equipment funding. For equipment-only applications, ownership of the property is not required. That matters for the many Irish sailing clubs and training centres that operate from leased harbour, foreshore or shared slipway sites.

Training fleets built for club use

A training fleet is often a club's biggest single equipment cost, and one of the clearest ways to grow participation. MarineServices.ie, the Irish distributor for RS Sailing, supplies a range of boats designed for exactly that job.

• Sailque Optimist. The classic single-handed junior trainer, and the first boat for generations of young Irish sailors. It remains the pathway into junior racing.
• RS Zest. A stable, forgiving first boat for junior and adult beginners. It suits training fleets and summer courses.
• RS Quest. A roomy, versatile trainer for groups, families and adult learners, equally at home with an instructor on board.
• RS Feva. The modern youth double-hander that takes sailors from training into racing, with a strong class and event circuit.

The RS training boats are built for club use: durable, low maintenance and suitable for all ages and abilities. A mixed fleet lets a club take a sailor from their first lesson through to racing, all within one programme.

Repowering safety and coaching boats

No training fleet goes afloat without safety cover, and many clubs are running coaching RIBs on ageing engines. The CSFF is an opportunity to repower them.

• Selva outboard engines. Reliable, competitively priced petrol outboards across a wide power range, for repowering safety boats, coaching RIBs and club launches.
• ePropulsion electric outboards. For clubs looking to move to electric power. They are quiet, zero-emission at the point of use and low maintenance, and are well suited to inland waters, lakes and coaching launches.

An electric coaching boat also lets an instructor talk to sailors without shouting over an engine, which is a real benefit on a training session.

Applying, and how MarineServices.ie can help

MarineServices.ie provides clubs with the formal quotations and product specifications needed for a CSFF application. It also offers advice on the right mix of boats and engines for each club, and delivery and commissioning nationwide.

Applications are made through the new SPRAOI system, accessed at gov.ie/SportsCapital. Clubs that have not applied before should register early and check the official CSFF guide for eligibility.

For quotations or advice, contact MarineServices.ie at [email protected] or +353 (0)1 233 0206.