What is Data Protection?
Data Protection law safeguards your right to privacy and ensures that any organisation handling personal information — including Irish Sailing, affiliated clubs, and centres — uses it responsibly.
Personal data is any information that can identify a living person, such as:
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Name, address, date of birth, phone number, or email
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Membership or identification numbers
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IP addresses or photographs
Some information is classed as Sensitive Personal Data and requires extra protection. This can include:
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Medical information
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Ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation
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Trade union membership or other sensitive categories
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is EU legislation introduced in 2018.
It sets out how personal information must be handled and places clear responsibilities on those who collect and use it — known as Data Controllers.
GDPR gives every individual stronger rights over how their data is used, and it requires organisations to demonstrate compliance with the law.
The 8 Key Principles of Data Protection
All organisations handling personal data must:
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Obtain and process information fairly
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Keep it only for specified and lawful purposes
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Use it only in ways compatible with those purposes
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Keep it safe and secure
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Keep it accurate and up to date
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Ensure it is relevant and not excessive
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Retain it only as long as necessary
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Provide a copy of an individual’s data upon request
Guidance for Clubs, Classes & Centres
Each affiliated organisation must ensure compliance with GDPR.
Irish Sailing provides resources and examples to help you:
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Joint Controller Data Sharing Agreement
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Irish Sailing Privacy Notice
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Example Data Processing Activity Log
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Example Club Privacy Notice
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Tips to Ensure GDPR Compliance
For detailed guidance and templates, visit the Irish Sailing online Library or contact info@sailing.ie.
Further Information
For official information and professional guidance, visit: