2025 has been a defining year for training- the Irish Sailing triaing programme has undergone its most significant rewrite in years! With the rollout scheduled for the 2026 season, the Irish Sailing Training Department is currently on the road visiting sailing clubs around the country to introduce the new training programme.
Even before the new programme officially arrives, engagement with training remains incredibly strong:
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10,380 people introduced to structured training
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1,852 National Powerboat Certificates awarded
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628 instructors trained
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105 accredited Training Centres active nationwide
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This year’s participation profile offers valuable insight into who will benefit most from next year’s updated structure:
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54% male and 46% female participation, which one of the strongest balances in recent years
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Youth leading the way:
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238 sailors aged 60+ demonstrating lifelong learning is alive and well
And if you shouted James, Jack, Conor, Kate, or Emily on any slipway this year, chances are someone looked up- these were the most popular names to take part.
Regionally, the debate over Ireland’s real "capital of sailing” has clearly far from settled... activity lay highest in
The Small Boat Sailing Scheme (SBSS) saw a 12% increase in summer activity, a promising sign for how youth pathways may flourish once the new programme is live. With clearer progression and updated resources arriving in 2026, we’re expecting this trend to grow even further.
The updated programme, which has been developed throughout 2025, represents a major step forward in structure, accessibility, and support for instructors and centres. With branding, layout, and supporting tools currently being finalised, 2026 is set to launch a more modern, intuitive training experience for every learner.
Once everything is fully aligned, we can easily extract the most useful tools, checklists, and quick-reference resources into standalone documents to keep things simple for busy centres.