NORTHERN IRELAND SAILING TEAM ABOUT US EVENTS CLASSES RESOURCES PARTNERS COACHES TEAM

The focus of the NI Sailing Team will be to Maximise Athlete Potential. Its purpose is to increase the quality of delivery and commitment at the top end of our Performance Pathway. We will support those sailors with Olympic and career-driven potential to achieve their aspirations and represent at the International Level.

As per our RYANI Strategy

Developing sailors that go on to have success on the world stage achieves so much more than the achievement in and of itself. We believe it also contributes to:

• Inspiring participants of all ages of what can be achieved by NI athletes
• Creating local excitement and public interest in the sport
• Developing National pride, creating a sense of unity and togetherness

Success on the World stage won’t just about the Olympics or Paralympics, it is about being ‘world-class’ in their respective field, which might be competing in a Sail GP event, medalling in a non-Olympic/Paralympic class of sailing, success in premier yacht racing circuits.

• We have international representatives achieving top 32 and above in World/European competition every year
• There is a wider understanding and appreciation of the performance pathways that exist, i.e., not just Olympics
• A fit-for-purpose racing pathway is in place, which effectively develops and retains participants
• Clubs are passionate about producing high-level sailors in Youth and Junior squads that are showing the behaviours required to reach a world/international level
• There is a wider diversity of participants entering into and staying within performance pathways
• Sailing is seen as a career opportunity by sailors, coaches, parents and clubs
• Self-perpetuating coach/volunteer pathways are in place that enable programmes and events to run sustainably at high standards year-on-year
• There are sustainable pathways for mixed disciplines in place, e.g. double handed/foiling

• There is an increased number of coaches that have the knowledge and skills required to work within the NI Performance pathway:
• There are more sailors competing at national level events
• More clubs are supporting sailors through the talent and performance pathways
• There is an understanding of the class of boats that exist across NI and where
• Sailor achievements are being celebrated more frequently and the sailing and boating community have an improved knowledge of these achievements
• Sailors and Parents have a clear understanding of ‘what it takes’ to reach different levels of performance
• There are an extended range of opportunities across different classes available within the performance pathways
• Sailors are getting the time and quality of time on the water to maximise their potential

The Northern Ireland Sailing Team forms a fundamental step on the RYANI Performance Pathway. The Performance Pathway allows sailors to develop their skills and supports potential sailors in selection for British and Irish National Squads and Olympic Pathway.

NIST will facilitate winter training camps and event support during the summer competition season. Our goal is to encourage continuous sailor development throughout the year.

Sailing involves ongoing, consistent skill development in a variety of wind and wave conditions that require sailors to:

• Sail on a regular basis
• Work with others
• Engage in appropriate physical development
• Compete at events appropriate to their level of development
• Have an open mindset

For sailors in the team, it is expected they shall train regularly between each session, undertake a competition plan relative to their age and experience and aspire to meet the above core attributes. These core attributes are critical in the long-term development of all sailors.

RYA NI will run two major events under the NI Sailing Team Banner. Our Annual Youth Championships and the Celtic Cup.

The Youth Championships is an Under 19 event ran over a weekend in September each year. It is a celebration of what sailors and clubs have achieved in the summer season and forms part of our selection criteria for any winter teams/squads.

It is also one of our most marketable events from a sponsorship point of view.

The Celtic Cup is a shared event with RYA Wales and RYA Scotland. Hosting is passed around the three nations NI will host 2025.

As a late winter event, it is a chance for our sailors to put in practice their training efforts in a more competitive environment and establish friendship/training groups going into the competition season.

6 x ILCA and 6 x Topper to constitute a team, racing in Junior and Youth divisions.

The NI Sailing Team will run its training programmes using the RYA Pathway Classes.

Topper is a well-established class in Northern Ireland and the wider UK with good numbers attending traveller series, provincial and national championships.

RS FEVA is the world’s leading double-handed dinghy for youngsters and parent/child teams. An International Class with events around the globe. The RS Feva offers a double-handed alternative and a stepping stone at a crucial time in sailing lives.

Many NI Clubs already have RS Feva in their club fleets for training and do not take a lot of changes to convert into championship racing conditions.

ILCA, is one of the longest-serving Olympic classes and can be found at all clubs throughout NI with 29er’s are an exciting fast-paced youth race boat with healthy numbers across England & Europe, though low in Ireland.

It is the most appropriate transition class before the 49er senior classes and as much of the downwind sailing landscape has become A-Symmetric Spinnakers, are now arguably the appropriate choice over symmetric dinghies such 420 as a boat to learn transferable skills.

Our Targeted Senior Level Classes are in Single Handed with the ILCA 7 for Men and ILCA 6 for Female
Double Handed is the 49er For Men and 49FX for Female.

We will continue to look at opportunities in other classes and disciplines such as foiling and kite/wing.

As part of NI sailing Teams Initiatives, we plan to work with three ‘Recognised’ Classes. These are classes that are not part of the RYA Olympic Pathway classes but are classes that boast a strong following and active racing/participation here in Northern Ireland.

The goal is to enable sailors to become more adaptable and try new forms of sailing without having to actually own the boat themselves.

It will also bridge the gap between our youth sailors and the greater sailing community of Northern Ireland. It will also give sailors who may not wish to continue on Olympic pathways to find their place in a new type of boat and encourage the sport-for-life culture of sailing.

You could play a part in supporting the next Northern Irish Olympic Sailor by donating to the NI Sailing Team. Supporters will be kept up to date with the progress of NI Sailing Team athletes and have the opportunity to join us for special events and be listed as an official supporter of the NI Sailing Team.

You can donate on our very own Crowdfunding page by clicking here Supporting the future of Northern Irish sailing – a Community crowdfunding project in Newtownards by RYA Northern Ireland

These courses and events are currently advertised via an e-zine, which can be found here: RYANI Ezine Sign up

Through the year we run a number of RYA Instructor courses and Race Coach Courses as well as coach and instructor development sessions.

Mary Martin
Workforce Development Officer
mary.martin@rya.org.uk
07919 923018