Irish Schools Sailing Launches with Inaugural Team Racing Training Event at Lough Derg
The newly formed Irish Schools Sailing will mark its arrival with an exciting new initiative, the inaugural Schools Team Racing Training Clinic, set to take place at Lough Derg Yacht Club, Dromineer, on the weekend of October 4th–5th.
The event is open to secondary school students across the country and promises to deliver a unique combination of competition and learning, aimed at building a strong foundation for the future of schools sailing in Ireland.
Teams will consist of six sailors, racing in dinghies supplied by the Organising Authority, with two sailors per boat. The format will follow a round robin structure, supported by experienced coaches on the water, live umpiring, and tactical theory sessions ashore.
To take part, sailors are asked to meet minimum skill levels:
- Crew: Basic Skills (Level 2)
- Helms: Improving Skills (Level 3)
No prior team racing experience is required. To help prepare, a study pack will be made available ahead of the event, giving sailors an introduction to team racing and its key concepts.
The weekend schedule includes a full day of racing on Saturday, followed by classroom-based tactical sessions and dinner at the club. Sunday will be devoted to further coaching, scenario-based racing, and skills development, finishing with a prize giving in the afternoon.
Competitors will be well looked after off the water, too. All meals are included, with catering provided by Bandon Grammar School chef Shane Deane, and support from Cully & Sully, who have generously sponsored soup for all sailors at the event. To add to the fun, CH Marine has kindly sponsored spot prizes, ensuring there’ll be plenty of surprises and extra rewards throughout the weekend. To keep costs accessible, students will also have the option to camp on-site at LDYC, adding an extra element of camaraderie to the weekend. If camping is not for you, alternative accommodation options are available via the LDYC accommodation list.
Entries are now open via the Lough Derg YC website, with options for either full team entries (six sailors) or pair entries (helm and crew). Entry forms must also be completed online, and the deadline for entries is Friday, September 26th to allow catering preparations to be finalised.
Lough Derg Yacht Club was chosen as the venue not only for its superb facilities and strong tradition of youth sailing, but also for its central location, making the event more accessible to schools from across the island of Ireland.
The launch of this event highlights the bright future for Irish Schools Sailing, which aims to give students across Ireland more opportunities to compete, train, and connect through sailing. With support from schools, clubs, and partners across the country, the organisation sees this clinic as the first step in building a sustainable and exciting schools sailing calendar for years to come.
If you or your organisation would like to support this event or future initiatives, please contact Irish Schools Sailing — partnership opportunities are welcomed to help grow this exciting new chapter for youth sailing.
Follow Irish Schools Sailing on Instagram for updates: @irishschoolssailing.
Irish Schools Sailing is confident that this is just the beginning. With enthusiasm building and opportunities expanding, the future of schools sailing in Ireland looks very bright indeed.
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