Young sailors from across Northern Ireland proudly represented the Northern Ireland Sailing Team at the Eric Twiname Junior Championships, held from 2–4 May 2026 at Rutland Water.
Recognised as one of the UK’s leading junior sailing events, the annual championship brings together hundreds of sailors under the age of 16 to compete across a wide range of classes. The event offers an important development opportunity for young sailors to test themselves against some of the strongest junior fleets in the country.
The NI Sailing Team competed across three classes, highlighting the growing strength and depth of junior sailing in Northern Ireland. Throughout the weekend, sailors faced light and unpredictable conditions, where consistency and smart decision-making proved crucial.
Alongside the racing, the event provided valuable experience in larger fleet competition, race management, and high-performance environments. For many sailors, it marked another important step in their development pathway and provided strong foundations for the season ahead.
Topper Results
- Edward Reynolds – 5th – Donaghadee SC
- Charlie Haslett – 6th – Strangford Lough YC
- Emma West-Hurst – 8th (4th Girl) – Ballyholme YC
- Penny Doig – 19th (8th Girl) – East Antrim BC
- James Westhead – 25th – Strangford Lough YC
- Daniel Long – 1st Topper 4.2 – East Down YC
ILCA 4 Results
- Adam Green – 7th – Lough Erne YC
- Alex Eadie – 25th (14th Girl) – Ballyholme YC
RS Feva Results
- Leo West-Hurst & Ben McCaldin – 3rd – Ballyholme YC / Lough Erne YC
- Jessica Dadley-Young & Sally Nixon – 22nd (5th All-Girls Team) – Ballyholme YC
Congratulations to all sailors who represented Northern Ireland, along with the parents, coaches, and volunteers who supported the campaign throughout the weekend.
