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2026 ILCA Worlds Update

2026 ILCA Worlds Update

Planning for the 2026 ILCA 7 Men's and ILCA 6 Women’s World Championships being co-hosted by the NYC and RSGYC is well underway. 

The ILCA 7 and 6 (previously known as the Laser and Laser Radial) are the classes used for the men’s and women’s single person dinghy sailing events at the Olympic Games and these two championships will be the first Olympic sailing class world championships to be held in Ireland since the men’s Laser Worlds in Cork in 2001. They were secured by the two Clubs against stiff competition from several other venues in Europe and beyond and their award is recognition of the success of previous World and European Laser Championships and other major events run by the Clubs over last 20 years. 

Olympic sailing class world championships are generally only held in Europe once every 4 years and as such, this is a once in a generation opportunity for Ireland to host such a prestigious and high calibre event. The 2024 Championship was hosted in Sydney and 2025 in Qingdao, China. Entry is limited to 160 men and 120 women competitors, all of whom are campaigning for a place at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. It’s an all charter boat event with 160 new ILCAs being shipped from Thailand to Dun Laoghaire by ILCA charter specialist Ziegelmayer Handelgesellschaft.  Dun Laoghaire is set to be a hub of activity from April onwards as teams come to prepare and familiarise themselves with the venue.

The notices of race for the two championships were published this week and confirmed the schedule as follows...

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19 Dec, 2025 | 3 min read

A Thank you to my supporters

A Thank you to my supporters

Mission Accomplished : Mini Transat đŸ

On Monday, November 10th at 5:27 p.m. local time (9:27 p.m. UTC), Mini Skippy and I crossed the finish line in Saint-François, Guadeloupe.

After more than 16 days alone at sea, we completed this Atlantic crossing aboard a 6.50 meter boat, without assistance, without communication, relying on my training,  skill and resilience.

The final miles delivered a thrilling showdown: a side-by-side sprint with another competitor to secure 20th place in the production boat ranking.  

As the finish line appeared on the horizon, Mini Skippy was behind Antoine Canivet’s pink boat, having overtaken him during the night and then fallen back. I knew I had to make a move and switching into match racing mode, I used the gusts and waves glide slightly downwind, and with a little burst of speed came level before overtaking his pink boat just meters before the line. I knew that with the first leg cancelled, this was it. Not the moment to give up.

After more than two weeks, 2,600 miles sailed, and an entire ocean crossed, we clinched the finish in a photo finish, just 27 seconds ahead.

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21 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

What a Week for Our Sailors!

What a Week for Our Sailors!

Brian Uniacke and Team Tongyeong have successfully arrived in Cape Town after completing Stage 3 of the 2025/2026 Clipper Round the World Race! The team currently sits in 6th place, an impressive achievement after thousands of nautical miles at sea.
Up next, on November 16th, they’ll set off on Stage 4: Marlow’s Blue Ocean Sleigh Ride — an exhilarating 4,800nm ocean crossing from Cape Town, South Africa to Fremantle, Australia.

Meanwhile, Damien Payne has returned home after his incredible adventure with Team “Power of Seattle Sport.” We’ll continue to cheer on Damien’s teammates, who are currently in 4th place after earning 3 vital points at the scoring gate in the last stage.

We’ll hear more from Damien over the coming weeks, as he shares some of his amazing stories with us, from the “choppy” waters in the Bay of Biscay, to lightning storms mid Atlantic.

Our junior sailors have also been making waves abroad!

13 Nov, 2025 | 2 min read

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

 

760 milles left to Guadeloupe
Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.

 

He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.

 

At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
 

Life on board
Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.

 

Speaking of strain
 let’s talk about sleep.

At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile. 

 

So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.

 

Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.

 

Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure.
 

Current Standings and Strategic Moves 
Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.

 

He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!

 

According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.

 

We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense!
 

Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.

 

As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.

 

Focus will be essential all the way to the finish
 
Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK
 
 
  ­
 

 

07 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Mark O’Connor – Mini Transat

Mark O’Connor – Mini Transat

Storm Gabriele, currently approaching the Portuguese coast, is proving to be particularly violent. Classified as Category 4, it ranks among the most powerful hurricanes of the year. With gusts reaching 60 knots and waves between six and eight meters, this weather system is comparable to Storm Ciaran, which swept across France two years ago.

Given these conditions, the Race Committee, in agreement with the event organizer, has decided to cancel the first leg. Gabriele is expected to hit the area as early as Saturday, allowing competitors still at sea to seek shelter under safer conditions.

Emmanuel Versace, organiser of La BoulangĂšre Mini Transat, explains this decision:
"The weather situation is very clear, and the storm promises to be devastating. Our priority is the safety of the competitors as well as the support boats. By warning them today, they have time to take shelter in good conditions. We are working with the ports on site so that they can best accommodate them. Â»

Boats are currently heading to the Spanish and Portuguese coasts seeking shelter 

Race management have made contact with Mark and he intends to dock in Cascais -this is approx 190nm from Marks current position he is currently making 3 kts so a long slog. 

We will be keeping watch and will update later 

Grainne Corrigan is further north and more likely heading to Porto not confirmed as yet 

Stage 2 set to start on schedule October 25th Santa Cruz de La Palma → Saint-François (Guadeloupe)

26 Sep, 2025 | 2 min read

Our Sailors Take On Mighty Challenges Across the World

Our Sailors Take On Mighty Challenges Across the World

This month, National Yacht Club members are making waves on the global stage. From the Clipper Round the World Race to the Mini Transat and La Solitaire du Figaro, our sailors are proudly representing the club.

Damian Payne (@teampowerofseattlesports ) and Brian Uniacke (@team.tongyeong.clipperrace ) have set sail on the first leg of the Clipper Round the World Race.

This Sunday, Tom Dolan (@tomdolanskipper ) begins his defence of the La Solitaire du Figaro title.

Later this month, Mark O’Connor (@marksmini650 ) will embark on his solo Mini Transat adventure.

Everyone at the National Yacht Club wishes them fair winds, safe passage, and every success.
Please give them a follow and show your support as they take on these incredible challenges!

  

03 Sep, 2025 | 1 min read

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