Ballyholme Yacht Club will host the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships 2026 and welcome more than 200 of Ireland’s top young sailors for four days of high-quality racing. Taking place from 9th to 12th April, the event is the pinnacle of junior and youth sailing in Ireland.
Single-handed fleets will include the Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and Topper 5.3, while double-handed racing will see the 420, 29er, and the RS Feva, which joins the championship as a new entrant for 2026. Adding the Feva increases the number of two-person classes from two to three, creating more opportunities for sailors progressing through the youth pathway.
Several important format improvements have also been introduced for this year’s event. For the first time, both the ILCA 4 and Topper 5.3 fleets will compete over four days of racing, moving away from the previous three-day structure to align with the rest of the championship programme. To ensure the event remains accessible despite rising costs across the board, entry fees have been held constant for the third consecutive year.
Stephen O’Shaughnessy of Irish Sailing said, "We are delighted to return to Ballyholme Yacht Club. The club has a strong track record of running large, successful regattas and a proven ability to deliver championships of the highest standard."
The event will be preceded by two days of multi-class training on Monday, 6th, and Tuesday, 7th of April, for a regatta warm-up.
Entries for the 2026 Youth Nationals are now open by clicking on the link here.
