Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The Mirror Class enjoyed a fantastic 2025 season, with strong turnouts, new families joining the circuit, and a wave of young sailors stepping up with confidence. Across every event, there was a renewed sense of energy, community, competition and joy on the water. One thing stood out above everything else: the Mirror continues to be the only class in Ireland where young sailors can learn genuine, transferable crewing skills at such a young age, surrounded by experienced competitors who help lift their development. The teamwork, communication and confidence gained in Mirrors carries straight into any other class.

Southerns – Blessington Builds Momentum

The Southern Championships in Blessington brought sunshine, camping, paddleboards, kayaks and a relaxed family atmosphere that Mirrors have become famous for. The racing once again proved that older boats and classic rigs remain every bit as competitive as the newest Winders when sailed well. Youth development was evident at every turn. Anneliese Rooney and Lucy Coulter showed sharp tactical thinking. Ryan and Sean O’Doherty made major progress within the U19 category. If Ger and Robyn Owen were nearly untouchable around the race course, Michael Hanley and Ben Chaix continued their strong run of form, eventually taking the youth title, and a growing wave of new families from multiple clubs joined the fleet with great enthusiasm. Blessington once again demonstrated why it is one of the most loved venues on the Mirror calendar.

New partnerships and returning faces made 2025 a standout year for the Mirror Class, with a focus on skills, community and accessible double-handed sailing for all ages Photo: Nancy Rooney

O’Dowd Cup – Youth Take Centre Stage

The O’Dowd Cup, co-hosted by Malahide and Blessington, delivered the strongest youth-focused weekend of the year. Day 1 was a full training day led by Olympian and long-time Mirror champion Ger Owens, who worked closely with sailors on balance, trim, spinnaker handling, teamwork and race-start preparation. Every sailor left the day more confident and technically stronger, setting the perfect foundation for Day 2.

On Sunday, the young sailors took full control of the racecourse. Michael and Ben stitched together an exceptional series, winning four races with calm and consistent teamwork. Molly and Freddie Nelson, Ollie and Aurèle, and Anneliese and Noah all secured podium finishes and sailed with impressive determination. Annika and Catherine Walsh also showed excellent coordination and decision-making in the building breeze. The O’Dowd Cup showed exactly why the Mirror remains the number one double-handed youth pathway in Ireland… And arguably the nicest looking trophy of the season, according to Ben Chaix!

Nationals – Sligo Shines

Sligo Yacht Club hosted a wonderful Nationals, blessed with sunshine, dolphins, a trip to Coney Island and tight racing across every part of the fleet. The atmosphere was buzzing from the moment boats arrived under the shadow of Benbulben. New and returning youth teams made a huge impression throughout the event. Annika and Isaac Flynn sailed with great composure in big fleets, taking the youth rankings by storm on day 1. Michael Hanley and Ben Chaix recovered from early gear failure and returned with several podium-level races on the final da,y pushing the more experienced adult teams to deliver their best. But it was to be local Sligo partnership Anneliese Rooney and Noah Caliendo who were consistent enough in the youth pack, eventually taking the coveted junior helmsman nomination. The adults helms dominated with their young crew working hard at the front of the boat to deserve their ice cream and post-sailing fun with Ger and Robyn Owens retaining their 2024 title.

Strong entries in the Rookie and All-Female categories added real depth and vibrancy to the championship, creating a Nationals full of new names, big smiles and classic Mirror magic. With five gaffed rigged classic entries (and the best of them just about missing the overall podium), the event showed that older classic boats can still offer great options for enjoyable racing.

Tight racing during the 2025 Mirror Eastern Championships in Malahide, where light winds tested crews’ tactical skills and teamwork across the competitive double-handed fleet. Photo: Nancy Rooney

Easterns – Light-Wind Lessons in Malahide

The Eastern Championships in Malahide ran alongside the October dinghy regatta and presented the fleet with a light-wind puzzle from start to finish. One of the standout moments of the weekend came when John and Adam Scott, sailing a classic gaff rig, hit the pin perfectly and port-tacked the entire fleet, taking an early lead, closely followed by the other classic rig of the fleet, sailed by Thomas and Alayna Chaix. Sam Smith and Ruben Nelson sailed brilliantly to finish as top juniors in the opening race before Michael and Ben returned to their Youth winning affairs. Lucy and Dara Coulter, Annika Flynn, Gabrielle Walsh, and several newer teams all battled superbly through shifting conditions and tight mid-fleet racing. The scene ashore was as enjoyable as the racing, with warm hospitality, croissants, coffee and the usual Mirror camaraderie.

Looking Ahead – 2026 and Beyond

Although severe weather forced the cancellation of the Rush and Cullaun events, the enthusiasm across the class remains incredibly strong. Cullaun had twenty-five boats pre-registered, a clear sign of the fleet’s rejuvenation. Both events return in 2026, adding even more excitement to the calendar. Five brand-new Winder boats will join the Irish fleet next season, strengthening numbers and giving even more families a chance to get involved. A particular highlight for 2026 is the pairing of Cullaun and Lough Ree on neighbouring weekends, creating a natural mid-season training block and encouraging UK Mirror sailors to travel across the Irish Sea and join us.

Additionally, the biennial World Championships are returning to Europe (Poole in the UK) for 2027, and many partnerships are already looking with excitement at 2026 to continue progressing.

Youth teams take the lead at the O'Dowd Cup, co-hosted by Malahide and Blessington, with training support from Olympian Ger Owens helping sailors elevate their double-handed racing skills Photo: Nancy Rooney

Thank You

Sincere thanks go to Ger, Stuart, Thomas, Judy, and especially to Nancy Rooney, whose energy, organisation and warmth drive so much of what makes this class special. A heartfelt thank you also goes to every sailor, parent, volunteer and club who contributed time, enthusiasm and support throughout the year. The Mirror Class is thriving because of you.

A Final Word

The Mirror fleet in 2025 was younger, stronger and more vibrant than it had been in years. New families, returning sailors, classic boats and fresh partnerships all helped create a season full of learning, fun, intense competition and connection. Most importantly, the class continues to offer something no other fleet in Ireland can match: a pathway where young sailors learn real double-handed skills at an age when it matters most. The class is very conscious of providing that unique learning opportunity and allows Optimist sailors to dual-sail their Optimist and their Mirror by avoiding date clashes where possible. A few clubs, such as the NYC, have recognised the benefits of sailing both classes and have seen a growing cohort of sailors enjoying Mirror events.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the water in 2026 for what promises to be another brilliant year of Mirror sailing.

Irish Mirror Dinghy Class Photo Gallery Review of 2025 by Nancy Rooney