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Irish Sailing Race Officials to Gather in Galway for Conference and Networking

31st October 2024
A race start at the inaugural Melges 15 dinghy National  Championships at Howth Yacht Club
A race start at the inaugural Melges 15 dinghy National Championships at Howth Yacht Club Credit: Afloat

The 2024 Irish Sailing Race Officials and Event Management Conference will take place on Saturday, 9th November in Galway Bay Sailing Club, between 10am and 5pm. 

A biennial event, the conference aims to attract Race officials and Event Managers from across the Country. Here, experiences and ideas will be shared collaboratively in an ever-changing sports landscape.

Some of the many speakers on the day will include Chris Lindsay, International Umpire & Judge, who will give an overview of the amendments to the new Racing Rules of Sailing coming into force in January 2025, while Irish Sailing Head Coach Rory Fitzpatrick will present learnings from the race management at this year’s Olympic games.

The conference will be of interest to many Race Officials at every level, and should you wish to attend, please click on the relevant link below to register;

To reserve your place for the Race Officials conference ONLY here

To reserve your place for the Race Official Conference and Conference Networking Dinner here

Published in Irish Sailing
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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.