Irish Sailing Policy Groups

The Irish Sailing Policy Groups have been established by and exist under the authority of the Board of Directors of the Irish Sailing (the Board). The Board has reviewed and approved these Terms of Reference.

General Purpose of Policy Groups:
The purpose of the Policy Groups is to:

  • Help connect the Association (the Board and the professional staff) with the members and stakeholders.
  • Provide advice and expertise to the Board on specialist areas and points of contact for the staff.
  • Help harness the experience and energy of volunteers to supplement the resources of the professional staff
  • Ensure the activities of the association remain relevant to the membership
  • Develop potential future Board members.

POLICY GROUPS – TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

POLICY GROUPS 2025/2026

Our Policy Groups are set up to guide the organisation on specific strategic areas, working closely with staff and reporting to the Board. They are made up of volunteers to help enforce the connection between Irish Sailing and its members and ensure that Irish Sailing activities are relevant and effective.

COMMUNICATIONS

Valda Boardman (Chair)

Justin Cullen

 

IRISH CRUISER RACING ASSOCIATION (ICRA)

Denis Byrne (Chair 2025)

John Leech (Chair – appointed 2026)

Alice Shanahan

Brian Raftery

Nigel Biggs

David Cullen (Departed 2026)

John Minnis

Mark Mills

Sam Hunt

Peter Ryan

Daragh Connolly

Ray McGibney

Nigel Moss

Stephen Mullaney

Barry O Connor

John Harrington

 

HANDICAP & RATINGS WORKING GROUP

Nigel Biggs (Chair)

Ruth McSweeney (departed 2025)

Dara Totterdell (departed 2025)

Brian Raftery

Ian Bowring

Colin McMullen

 

TEAM & MATCH RACING WORKING GROUP

Oisin Cullen (Chair)

Elliot Connolly

Mary Justine Geraghty

Clodagh O Driscoll

Clinton Copithorne (departed 2025)

Carla Nugent (departed 2025)

Toby Hudson-Fowler

Trevor Bolger

 

RACE OFFICIALS POLICY GROUP

Mal Nowlan (Chair)

Tadhg Donnelly

Alan Algeo

Suzanne McGarry

Ciaran McSweeney (departed 2025)

Cormac Bradley

Olive Parker

Dara Totterdell

David Lovegrove

Gordon Davis

Cxema Pico

Philip Scallan (departed 2025)

John Corkery

 

TRAINING POLICY GROUP

Nancy Rooney (Chair)

Rupert Musgrave

Jeff Cochrane

Eddie English

Alex Walsh

Aoife Devlin

Rory Fitzpatrick

RACING RULES COMMITTEE & APPEALS BOARD

Cxema Pico (Chair)

Ed Alcock

Diana Kissane

Ailbe Millerick

Emmet Dalton

Geoff O’Donohue

Michael Tyrrell

 

CRUISING & REPRESENTATION POLICY GROUP

Nigel Moss (Chair)

Alex Blackwell

Michael Pearn

Andrew Collins

Simon Parker

Derek Ryan

John Murphy

Cormac Mac Donncha

Aoife Nolan-Beattie

 

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION POLICY GROUP

Tessa Kingston (Chair)

Nancy Rooney

Mark Henderson

Sean Moloney

Cameron Keighron

Grace Moran

Sophie Crosbie

Donal Hickey

 

HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE

John Menton (Chair)

Marcus Spillane

Annalise Murphy

Morgan Buckley

Bill O’Hara

Trevor Millar

Emma Lovegrove

Martin McElroy

 

RACING & CLASSES POLICY GROUP

David Love (Chair)

Cliodhna O’Sullivan

Chris Bateman (departed 2025)

Oisin Cullen

Cara McDowell

 

World Sailing Committee

Fiona Bolger (Chair)

Diana Kissane

Damian Foxall

Chris Lindsay

Michael O’Conner