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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

Mark O’Connor – Fireside Chats

Mark O’Connor – Fireside Chats

Join us for an unforgettable fireside chat with Mark O’Connor on January 15th.

Hear first-hand tales from one of Ireland’s most inspiring sailing achievements as Mark recounts his incredible Mini Transat adventure â€” a race widely regarded as one of the toughest solo ocean challenges in the world.

Mark took on the Atlantic alone, racing a 6.5-metre boat across thousands of miles of open ocean with no outside assistance, no weather routing, and no support — just skill, resilience, and determination. Battling relentless seas, shifting winds, exhaustion, and isolation, Mark pushed himself to the absolute limit.

His journey culminated in an extraordinary 20th-place photo finish after 17 intense days at sea, making Mark the youngest Irish Sailor to cross the Atlantic Solo, a testament to razor-thin margins, mental toughness, and relentless focus.

From moments of pure exhilaration to the harsh realities of solo life offshore, Mark will share what it truly takes to survive — and compete — in one of sailing’s most demanding races.

Expect gripping stories, hard-won lessons, and an honest look at courage, preparation, and perseverance on the Atlantic Ocean.

January 15th @ 7.30pm

18 Dec, 2025 | 1 min read

Boathouse Annual Closure

Boathouse Annual Closure

Dear Members,

Please note that the Boathouse will be closed from Saturday 20th December until Monday 5th January inclusive.

We will reopen on Tuesday 6th January.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year. Best wishes from the Boathouse Team!

16 Dec, 2025 | 1 min read

An Evening With Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

An Evening With Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Fundraiser in aid of UNICEF.  Hosted by Newstalk's Bobby Kerr.

Join an evening in Dun Laoghaire for dinner and conversation with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world and the winner of the first ever Golden Globe Race.

Dubbed the “David Attenborough of sailing” when he received the Pindar Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2025, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s story is one of pioneering adventure, courage and one that has helped chart a course for those brave men and women that have followed in his wake.

Friday 20 February 2026

Start: 6.30pm

Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

Ticket* €70

All profits on the evening go to UNICEF.

An Ideal Christmas Gift for the sailor in your life or the adventurer in you!

*Tickets include a 3 course meal + donation to UNICEF + entertainment on the evening.

Click Here To Book

12 Dec, 2025 | 1 min read

Time to honour the successes of our NYC sailors in 2025! Sailing Awards Nominations Sought….

Time to honour the successes of our NYC sailors in 2025! Sailing Awards Nominations Sought….

As 2025 closes out it is time to look back and reflect on the many and varied achievements of our sailors and send in your nominations for the very best.

NYC sailors have had another successful year on the water across numerous classes and many oceans!  Mark O’Connor  becoming the youngest Irishman to race solo across the Atlantic in the Mini Transat, Brian Uniacke and Damian Payne competing in the Clipper Round The World Race, Ethan Spain and Ben O’Shaughnessy winning gold at the 49er Junior European Championship, with Lauren O’Callaghan and Charlotte Eadie, finishing 15th in the 49erFX class at the same event and not forgetting Finn Lynch achieving a  World No. 2 ranking!

Our extremely talented event management teams delivered several remarkable major events in 2025, Adam Winkelmann and his team running the D2D, the ILCA U21 Worlds team delivering a flawless World Championship to the highest of international standards, Peter Ryan being awarded Penmaen Plate for the "Spirit of ISORA". The full team, led by Oisin Cullen and Ruairi Finnegan and including all the wonderful members who provided accommodation, who hosted the World Match Racing Tour demonstrating strong organizational capabilities.

 It is going to be a very busy night on Saturday 28th February 2026 when we honour our stars of sailing in 2025. 

The Sailing Committee is now looking for your nominations for the NYC 2025 Sailing Awards. Nominations should made using the form below by close of business on Thursday 22nd January 2025.

To view the list of perpetual trophies, what they are awarded for, how many nominations have been received and to nominate a fellow Club member for any Award, PLEASE CLICK HERE

12 Dec, 2025 | 2 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

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