Across February, the Irish Sailing Performance Teams have been in action in Vilamoura, Portugal, building momentum at one of Europe’s premier winter training venues. The ILCA4 squad and Academy opened their training camp by competing at the Carnival Regatta from 14- 16 February, delivering a series of composed and competitive performances in challenging conditions. The event provided valuable early-season racing, with several Irish sailors securing top-10 finishes and demonstrating the technical and tactical progress made over the winter period. Standout performance was 4th overall and first female finish from Abby Murphy (Royal St GeorgeYC) in the ILCA4 class.
Following the regatta, the Development and Senior squads have remained in Vilamoura to continue an intensive block of warm-weather training. The group, including Olympian Eve McMahon and 49erFX pair Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour, is now competing at the Vilamoura Grand Prix, using the regatta as a key benchmark within their broader performance plans.
The block represents an important step in the 2026 season build-up, combining high-quality racing with structured daily coaching. The collective effort of sailors and coaches continues to strengthen Ireland’s presence on the international stage.