Welcome to Season 2026!
Join us on Thursday March 19 as we review 2025 and look ahead to the 2026 season with our friend and now esteemed leader Mark Lyttle, President of the ILCA World Association, who will be joining our AGM from 19:00.
Click here to register for the online event
Mark’s attendance is a significant moment for us following our 50th anniversary year last year and the Dun Laoghaire sailor’s recent election as president of the association globally. A former Olympic campaigner and long-standing advocate for the ILCA pathway, his presidency represents the highest level of global leadership within the class. His participation reflects both Ireland’s historic contribution to the ILCA story and the continued strength of the fleet nationally.
The AGM will review a particularly active and memorable year for ILCA Ireland. Participation in this 50-year old class continues to develop and grow. The class rankings for the 2025 season show growth at regional and national participation levels up in all fleets. In the entry-level ILCA 4 youth participation increased from 58 ranked sailors in 2024 to 75 in 2025. In the ILCA 6 fleet ranked sailor numbers grew from 58 to 70 ranked sailors. Similarly, the ILCA 7 increased from 53 ranked sailors in 2024 to 74 in 2025.
At the 50th National Championships hosted by Ballyholme Yacht Club, 130 boats competed across ILCA 4, 6 and 7, reinforcing the class’s position as one of the largest and most active dinghy fleets in Ireland.
One of the most notable trends in 2025 was continued improvement in female participation. In ILCA 4, female participation at the National Championships rose from 40 percent in 2024 to 50 percent in 2025. Season rankings show a similar upward trend, increasing from 38 percent to 43 percent female participation year on year.
In ILCA 6, often regarded as the most challenging transition fleet for retention, female participation at Nationals increased from 16 percent to 27 percent. Season rankings improved from 19 percent to 23 percent female participation. In addition, the 2025 ILCA 6 National Champion was female, with three women finishing in the top five overall.
These gains reflect structural decisions within the class, including guidance around appropriate rig progression, mixed-gender team racing representation at European level, and expanded recognition categories at events. In addition the fleet introduced a funded Sailcoach Transition Year Scholarship awarded on attitude and potential to 2 sailors of 1 month duration, in Valencia, valued at €2,500 each.
A major driver of participation has been the continued expansion of the ILCA one-day sprint format. Nine sprint events were hosted across Cork and Dublin clubs in 2025, including Royal Cork, Kinsale, Cove, Bantry, Glandore, Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, Royal St George, Royal Irish, and Iniscarra. The sprint format, typically comprising five to six short races completed within a single day, has proven particularly attractive to sailors balancing work, study and family commitments. The format has helped retain Masters sailors, re-engage occasional racers, and provide competitive racing opportunities without the time and cost demands of multi-day championships.
Recognising that the 18 to 30 age group is a critical retention bracket, ILCA Ireland operates free event entry for sailors in this category. This initiative has been linked to growth in particular in ILCA 7 participation and greater engagement among younger adult sailors.
The class also invested in numerous development and access initiatives, including a three-day “Road to the Nationals” clinic that attracted 29 sailors ahead of the National Championships. Coaching and financial support were provided to six smaller clubs to strengthen local fleets. In addition, ILCA Ireland delivered multiple online winter workshops, including Rule 42 education sessions and tactical masterclasses, maintaining engagement outside the core racing season.
ILCA Ireland has continued to standardise event delivery across host clubs through an updated detailed event specification framework. This includes consistent Notices of Race and Sailing Instructions, centralised online entry and membership systems, structured Sailwave results protocols, and defined safety ratios. The class also worked with the Irish Jury community in 2025 to promote on-the-water observation for Rule 42 infringements, enhancing fairness, transparency and sailor confidence while reducing reliance on protest-room resolution.
Engagement has been maintained through a structured communication programme. Over 20 newsletters were distributed across the season to a subscriber base of more than 700 sailors and supporters, with open rates consistently exceeding 70 percent. These updates link grassroots participation with international achievement and include regular reflections from the class chair.
Irish ILCA sailors continued to deliver internationally in 2025, building on the momentum of the Paris Olympic cycle. It is testament to the depth of commitment from our fleet that Olympian and ILCA World Championship Bronze medallist Eve McMahon was named International Sailor of 2025 at the Irish Sailing Awards this week. In addition, the Irish Sailing Foundation Youth Sailor of the Year Award went to Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club following her Silver at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships and a sixth place at the ILCA Youth World Championships. The class also looks ahead to hosting major international championships in Ireland in the coming seasons. Mark Lyttle’s attendance at the AGM reinforces Ireland’s strong standing within the global ILCA community.
Our AGM will take place on March 19, marking both a celebration of the past season and a forward-looking moment for one of Ireland’s most enduring and active sailing classes.
