Ireland’s top young sailors set to compete at Irish Sailing Youth Nationals  

The 2025 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, Ireland’s largest youth regatta, takes place from tomorrow, Thursday 24, to Sunday April 27 in Dun Laoghaire and will feature over 160 young sailors from across the country.

It will be hosted this year by the Royal St George Yacht Club and sponsored by Waterman Tecsar Engineering Alliance.

The Irish Sailing Youth National Championships are the biggest youth sailing event held in Ireland with the majority of competitors aged between 12 and 18.

The event marks the only time in the calendar where different youth classes come together to compete, gain valuable experience on the water, and learn more about the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway Programme directly from the coaches. 

Host club, the Royal St George in Dun Laoghaire, has a long track record of excellent youth sailors, including Olympian Ger Owens as well as a number of current Irish Sailing Pathway squad members and has a wealth of experience hosting world class sailing events.

Event Director and former Commodore of the Royal St George, Richard O’Connor said, “We are very proud to host Irish Sailing’s Youth National Championships and thank you to Waterman Tecsar for their sponsorship.

“Hopefully, the weather Gods will co-operate, and we will have a super event.

“The facilities at the Club are ideal for this type of event and we are really looking forward to welcoming all the competitors and their families.”

There are six classes competing at the championships, which make up some of the largest youth dinghy fleets currently being sailed across the country and include: Optimist, Topper, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, 420s and 29ers.

Sean Evans, Irish Sailing Development Manager said, “The Youth Nationals is a key event for those starting off their sailing career.

“It’s an opportunity for sailors from across the nation to test what they have been developing against the best competition.

“The event has something to offer all levels, from those who are very early in their careers with this as their first major event, to those who will be fighting it out at the top end of the results sheet.

“Regardless of where you are in your development Irish Sailing’s youth and junior coaches will be out on the water and on the land to watch every start, tack and gybe”. 

It’s not just competition that will be ongoing.

There will be talks throughout the weekend for sailors including a debrief from Irish Sailing coaches following racing each day in the Royal St George clubhouse and a Coach’s Conference on Friday with 49er Coach Matt McGovern. 

On Thursday at 5pm Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove will discuss “The Olympic Journey” about their time in Tokyo and their fourth place in Paris last year.

There will also be talks on the Irish Sailing Pathway as well as an anti-doping workshop from Sport Ireland.

 To find out more: https://www.sailing.ie/Events/Irish-Sailing-Youth-National-Championships