Irish Sailing conducts Training Centre Support Visits to help centres uphold national standards in safety, quality and programme delivery — while offering practical guidance for continuous improvement.

The purpose of each visit is to:

1. Engage with your Instructor team and stakeholders
    Meet instructors, volunteers and staff to gain an understanding of how your programme operates in practice.

2. Observe instruction afloat and the quality of delivery
    Join sessions on the water to provide coaching feedback, assess instructional standards and support instructor development.

3. Inspect equipment, safety systems and facilities
    Review the condition, maintenance and suitability of boats, safety gear and shoreside infrastructure used for training.

4. Ensure compliance and consistency with Irish Sailing standards
    Confirm that operational practices — including ratios, syllabus delivery and safety procedures — meet the Irish Sailing Recognition Requirements and liklihood of syllabi success.

5. Provide constructive advice and ongoing support
    Offer recommendations, share best practices and help centres strengthen safety, efficiency and the overall participant experience.

“helping you deliver better training.”
 

When do Training Centre Support Visits happen?

• New centres (pre-accreditation): A visit is required before initial accreditation is issued.

• Accredited centres (ongoing): Visits take place on a regular cycle by an Irish Sailing–appointed Inspector and may be unannounced or spot inspections as needed.

• Significant changes: Additional visits may occur if your operating status changes (e.g., new facilities, new activity areas, major programme changes).
   

How are Support Visits arranged?

• Your centre will be contacted in advance by your allocated Inspector to agree a date and time.

• Wherever possible, visits are scheduled while training is underway, especially for new centres.
  
   

What happens with the Inspection Report?

• During the visit, the Inspector shares preliminary findings with the Centre Principal or Senior Instructor.

• The details are recorded on an Inspection Report Form, which the centre representative reviews and signs.

• Reports are sent to the Irish Sailing Training Department and recorded on the Irish Sailing database.

Details on the Irish Sailing Training Centre Recognition Requirements are available to download from the online Library.

Preparing for your Training Support Visit

Step 1 — Schedule

The Centre Principal will be contacted by the appointed Inspector to arrange a suitable date/time.

Step 2 — Self-Assessment

Download the Training Centres Inspection Checklist from the Library and ensure all listed requirements are in place and available for review.

Step 3 — Review key documents

• Training Centre Recognition Requirements
  Confirm coaching standards, facilities, equipment, ratios and scheme-specific operating requirements.

• Policies & Procedures Manual
  Ensure safety statements, risk assessments, course programmes and other documentation are current and complete.

• Instructorships
  Check that all your Instructors are appropriately qualified, with Garda Vetting, Safeguarding and First-Aid all in-date.

Go to Library

During the Centre Inspection

After the Centre Inspection
 

Inspector responsibilities

• Provide you a copy of the  Inspection Report — Summary, Recommendations and clear Action Items for your records.

• Submit documentation — Send the full visit report to the Irish Sailing Training Department.
   

Training Centre responsibilities

• Acknowledge and sign the report.
• Progress on action items as agreed within the timeline agreed.
   

Irish Sailing Training Department responsibilities

• Record & publish — Review all documents and record the Inspection Report on the database.

• Notify the Centre — Email the Centre Principal if any significant and immedaite action or intervenion is required.

• Follow up — Support and progress with the Training Centre and Inspector on agreed action items during the visit.

Circumstances for Non-Compliance

Irish Sailing expects all Training Centres to address agreed action items within the timelines set during their Support Visit.
Failure to complete required actions or to maintain the standards outlined in the Irish Sailing Recognition Requirements may result in one or more of the following steps:

1. Follow-up contact and an agreed new completion date.

2. Additional Support Visit to review progress.

3. Temporary suspension of recognition until compliance is confirmed.

4. Withdrawal of recognition where issues remain unresolved or standards cannot be met.

Irish Sailing’s priority is to support centres in achieving compliance through guidance and partnership, but maintaining national safety and quality standards is essential to continued recognition.