Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Updates on the National Governing Body
Royal Cork's Chris Bateman (157561) works the right hand side of the course in the final race of the Laser Radial division of the Volvo Youth Sailing Nationals on Dublin Bay. Royal Cork sailors performed well at the event, scroll down for more.
The answer was written in the weekend's weather forecast: whoever could master the vagaries of Dublin Bay's light winds could count on victory at this year's Irish Sailing Youth National Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. After three days of racing,…
Topper dinghies reach a weather mark in the first day of racing for the class at the Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships
After a fickle day three of the Volvo Youth National Sailing Championships, dinghy class leaders clung to the top of their respective scoresheets but only just. Organisers were also breathing a sigh of relief after completing the minimum race requirements…
Strong winds are forecast for Dun Laoghaire
Racing in day two of Irish Sailing's Volvo Youth National Championships at Dun Laoghaire has been postponed. The next update will be made at 2pm, according to Race Officer Con Murphy at the National Yacht Club. UPDATE at 2pm: Racing…
Jamie McMahon of Howth Yacht Club leads the Radials after two races sailed
There were some predictable names at the top of the three competing fleets after the opening day of the Irish Sailing Volvo Youth Pathway National Sailing Championships on Dublin Bay. Jamie McMahon of Howth Yacht Club leads the Laser Radials,…
A total of 8 races are scheduled in the Laser 4.7 rig on Dublin Bay
The Volvo Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships start tomorrow at the Royal St. George Yacht Club and National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay. As previously reported by Afloat.ie, this is Ireland’s biggest youth sailing regatta…
Races at the Irish Sailing Youth Pathway Championships are open to all young sailors who sail in the five Irish Sailing Youth Pathway Classes (Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, 420, Topper and Optimist (pictured above)
Today is the last chance for early bird registration for the Volvo Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships that take place from the 5th – 8th April 2018 in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. It's Ireland’s largest Youth regatta and Irish Sailing’s…
Four days of racing in Dublin Bay in the Youth Pathway Championships will decide the six places on the 420 European team who will travel to Sisimbra, Portugal in July to compete in the 420 Junior (U18) European Championships
There’ll be three race courses, five classes, three evening talks, and 32 counties represented at next month's Volvo Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships taking place 5th – 8th April 2018 in Dun Laoghaire, jointly hosted by the Royal St…
IS President Jack Roy speaking at last week's Volvo Cork Week Launch. The abiding impression of Saturday’s IS AGM was that our President has put his enthusiasm and energy into the task of serving all Irish sailing with his customary dedication and enjoyment
Time was when Annual General Meetings were well-attended events with opportunities for the highlighting of grievances among the membership, and even – in the distant past – the possibility of a vigorous and sometimes heated debate writes W M Nixon.…
Racing at Howth Yacht Club’s Autumn League
#IrishSailing - The Irish Sailing Race Officials Conference for 2018, originally set for this past weekend, has been rescheduled for next month on Sunday 15 April. Irish Sailing made the decision on Friday (2 March) on account of the extreme…
Irish Sailing President Jack Roy sailing a Squib with his daughter Jill on Lough Derg. Roy will host a Commodore's forum immediately after the association's March 10th agm at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Sailing Association will be held at the National Yacht Club at 1100 hrs on 10th March 2017. The AGM will be immediately followed by a Commodores Forum chaired by Irish Sailing President Jack…
A RIB attempts a rescue of an Optimist Team Dinghy in Dun Laoghaire Harbour during Storm Brian last year. A person on the pier holds a lifebuoy. Two capsized Optimists are just visible in the top right of the picture. An independent report into the incident is published today
#Optimist - An independent report into an incident involving Irish Sailing’s junior Optimist squad last year, during which almost half the dinghy fleet sustained significant damage, has criticised the organisation’s coaching systems. Scroll down the page to download the full…
The Sailor of the Year Award will be made this Friday
There's a last chance to register for the Afloat.ie and Volvo Irish Sailing Awards, taking place at 6.30pm at the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin, this Friday 9 February that will see the presentation of the Afloat.ie Sailor of the Year…
Former Olympic 49er pair Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern sailing with Providence Team IRL ahead of Rio 2016
#IrishSailing - Irish Sailing has received the second-highest allocation from Sport Ireland for High Performance Programmes in 2018. On Thursday 1 February, Sport Minister Brendan Griffin announced this year’s around of investment for 2018, which sees Ireland’s national governing body…
Who will be Sailor of the Year for 2017? All will be revealed on February 9
Nearly one week to go before the Volvo Irish Sailing Awards, and the judges have been weighing up the nominations for the very last time. You still have time to register for tickets for the Awards, taking place in the RDS…
Irish Sailing Publishes 2018 & 2019 Tide Times
#Tides - Irish Sailing has published the latest tide times for 2018 and 2019 for mariners in Dublin Bay (North Wall), Galway, Belfast and Cork Harbour (Cobh). All times and related tidal variations (adjusted for Irish Summer Time) are estimates…
How To Go Sailing For The Leaving Cert
#Sailing - With sailing being included as Physical Education is added to the Leaving Certificate next September, Irish Sailing is encouraging parents to urge their schools to apply for the first phase of the new curriculum. Participating schools have three…

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.