The Junior Committee is thrilled to announce the return of our ever-popular Nippers and Nippers+ courses for May and June 2026, kicking off on Friday, 8th May!

Our Nippers programme, inspired by the ISA’s Cara na Mara initiative, is specially designed for children aged 6–11 who are new to sailing or have some prior experience. The focus is on building confidence on the water, learning essential safety skills, and—most importantly—having plenty of fun in a safe and supportive environment.

The NYC will run six Friday evening sessions on the following dates: May 8, 15, 22, 29 and June 5, 12. Each session begins with registration at 5:30pm and finishes at 7:30pm.

Rough outline of each and age groups:

• Nippers: New to sailing  6– 10 years 
• Nippers+: Have sine experience, having completed Nippers or a summer course previously  8–11 years

The cost is €160 per child, which includes expert instruction, supper, and a prize-giving celebration on the final evening.

To help everything run smoothly, parents are asked to remain nearby during sessions in case their child needs to be collected early, and to volunteer for one of the six evenings. Volunteers will assist ashore at the NYC (no on-the-water duties required).

Participants should be reasonably confident in the water, as activities may include sailing Optimists, Ventures, Wayfarers, Fevas, and paddleboarding, depending on conditions. Children must bring their own life jackets and wear appropriate warm gear (wetsuits and booties are recommended; no shorties, shorts, or open shoes).

In line with ISA guidelines, we maintain a 1:6 instructor-to-child ratio, ensuring a safe and high-quality experience for all.

As always, places are in high demand and the programme typically fills up quickly, so early booking is strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment!

Registration is now open via your Smartclub member account for Full and Family members. A limited number of places are also available for prospective members who would like their child to experience Nippers, with a view to joining NYC in the future.

For enquiries, please contact Aoife Hofler (087 0692024).

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for another fantastic summer on the water!