Sailing
Set sail on Ireland's legendary waters
You do not need to own a boat to sail in Ireland, and almost nobody starts by buying one. Sailing schools and clubs recognised by Irish Sailing run courses in dinghies and keelboats using their own fleet, and most clubs operate crewing lists that put beginners on other people's boats for racing. Dún Laoghaire is the largest sailing centre in the country, Kinsale and Galway Bay cover the south and west, and Strangford Lough gives the most sheltered water in Ireland. The main season runs April to October, with frostbite racing continuing into the winter at the bigger clubs.
161 clubs and schools across 24 counties
Listed by Irish Sailing and Irish Surfing, reproduced as published. Pick a county to see them.
Where to go
Season: April – October · Suits: Beginner to Advanced
Dún Laoghaire
DublinThe biggest concentration of sailing in Ireland: four waterfront clubs, a large dinghy scene, and racing most evenings in summer.
Kinsale
CorkA sheltered harbour opening onto serious offshore water, and a long-standing base for cruising and race weeks.
Galway Bay
GalwayWest coast sailing with Atlantic swell outside the bay and the Aran Islands as the obvious first passage.
Strangford Lough
DownA large, near-enclosed sea lough. The most sheltered sailing water in Ireland, with fierce tides at the Narrows.
Sailing by county
The 18 counties with named spots, accredited centres or registered trails behind them.
5 accredited centres
Across 4 counties, each accredited by Canoeing Ireland for sailing. The badge links to their register.
Approved here in 2001, and still accredited today.
- Website
- ulac.ie
Gecko Adventures
Cork- Website
- geckoadventures.ie
- Website
- oysterhaven.com
- Phone
- 021 477 0738
- [email protected]
Coláiste UISCE
Mayo- Website
- uisce.ie
About sailing in Ireland
From dinghy sailing in sheltered harbours to offshore racing in the Irish Sea, Ireland's sailing tradition runs deep. Yacht clubs, sailing schools, and adventure centres along the coast welcome sailors of all abilities.
Common questions
Do I need my own boat to learn to sail?
No. Courses at Irish Sailing recognised schools and clubs use the school's own dinghies or keelboats. Many clubs also run crewing lists matching beginners with boats that need crew for evening racing, which costs nothing but your time.
How do I learn to sail in Ireland?
Through a training centre recognised by Irish Sailing, the national governing body. Courses are structured in progressive stages for both dinghy and keelboat sailing, and are run by clubs and commercial schools around the coast.
What age can children start sailing?
Most Irish Sailing clubs and centres run junior courses from age 8, though some set 10 for the Start Sailing Level 1 course. The real gate is the swim test rather than the birthday: clubs typically ask that a child can swim around 25 metres wearing a buoyancy aid and tread water for two minutes. Junior programmes run to 18, and adult courses have no upper age limit. Ask the club, because the threshold is theirs to set.
What's the difference between dinghy and keelboat sailing?
A dinghy is small, unballasted and capsizes, which makes it the fastest way to learn how a boat responds. A keelboat has a weighted keel, is far more stable, and is what's used for cruising and offshore racing.
When is the sailing season in Ireland?
April to October for most clubs, with the racing calendar concentrated in summer. Several of the larger clubs run frostbite series through the winter for dinghy sailors willing to dress for it.
More centres
The full directory holds 76 adventure centres, including ones that run sailing without holding an accreditation specific to it.