Welcome to the first bi-monthly club newsletter. This edition looks back on recent activity around the club and looks ahead to the events, training and racing coming up over the next two months.

Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club Newsletter June 2026

Welcome to the first bi-monthly club newsletter. This edition looks back on recent activity around the club and looks ahead to the events, training, and racing coming up over the next few weeks.

From the Club
Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club remains one of Dublin's most active sailing clubs, with a busy marina, racing programme, training centre, and social calendar throughout the season.

The club continues to grow its membership, sailing activities, training programmes, and community engagement initiatives. Membership now stands at 288, with members, volunteers, supporters, and local partners continuing to play a vital role in building momentum across junior sailing, adult participation, and public events.

Committee and Club Updates

Farewell to Mary Clarke
After many years of dedicated service to Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, our longstanding Accounts Manager, Mary Clarke, has retired from her role. Mary's commitment, professionalism, and attention to detail have been invaluable to the smooth running of the club over many years. Her work behind the scenes has supported generations of members, committees, and volunteers.

On behalf of everyone at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, we extend our sincere thanks to Mary and wish her every happiness in her retirement.

Welcome, Chris Trevithick
We are delighted to welcome Chris Trevithick to the club team, taking on the role previously held by Mary. We wish Chris every success and look forward to working together in the years ahead.

Clubhouse and Marina Update
The clubhouse continues to improve for members and visitors. The upstairs lounge area has been repainted and offers a comfortable space overlooking the harbour, alongside the training room at the top of the stairs.

A new BBQ is now in place, with burgers available at weekend events for €4. We look forward to welcoming members and guests throughout the summer.

We hosted the Docklands Waterfront Club with a wood fired Sauna, hot tub and Cold Plunge and wood fired bbq for our Regatta weekend on June 27^th which was very popular.

Sponsorship and Support
The club has secured significant support for the 2026 season.

A major sponsorship from Google will support branding on new sails and an Introduction to Sailing programme for students from St Patrick's School, Ringsend.

Support from Lioncor (Glass Bottle site) has contributed to the refurbishment of the Sean Whiston as a Floating training Room, alongside a welcome event with BBQ and trips up the river for members and new local residents on July 30^th 6pm.

Additional funding has been secured from Dublin City Council and Codling, strengthening training, outreach, and development activities across the club.

SAILING AND POWER BOAT TRAINING
The Sailing and Powerboat Training Centre is now in full swing with many dinghies and our ruffian keelboat are out training led by Senior Instructor David Bourke and Tom Gaffney.

Courses include children's sailing camps, adult dinghy sailing, powerboat courses are run by Jimmy Dent, and adult keelboat training.

Members receive a discount code and are encouraged to book early and share details with friends and family.

Bookings: www.poolbegtrainingcentre.ie

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DATES

Please note the following key dates and put them in your diary:

Club Grounds Litter Clean up

Volunteers are needed for a club grounds clean-up on Saturday 26 July from 9:0012:00.

Glass Bottle Open evening and BBQ
Hosted by PYBC, 6pm until late

The evening will include a BBQ, RIB trips, Rospico trips, and Sean Whiston trips.

Home Regatta Rescheduled
The Home Regatta will now take place on Saturday 8th August following earlier weather disruption.

First gun: 14:00 (Cruiser classes, White Sails, and Clontarf fleets).

The day will conclude with a BBQ, prizegiving, and music in the clubhouse.

Junior Regatta
16^th August . A focused and lively event taking place directly in front of the clubhouse.

3 Bridge Rally

Irish Cruising association 5^th and 6^th September 3 bridge Rally https://cruising.ie/three-bridges-rally-2026-announcement/

EARLIER IN THE SEASON

Our Home Regatta is one of the highlights of the summer sailing calendar, with strong participation across fleets. It was a wonderful social day but unfortunately a Small Craft warning stopped us from racing. Its rescheduled for August 8^th.

Clontarf hosted their annual At Home Regatta on Saturday and Sunday next 18th & 19th July

The Club Hosted the Shipman Association of Ireland Sunday 28^th July

Sunday 14 June Kish Lighthouse Race
Followed by BBQ in the clubhouse

Old Gaffers Association Weekend
We were delighted to host the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association Regatta Weekend from 22nd24th May, welcoming a beautiful fleet of traditional vessels and creating a vibrant atmosphere around the marina.

Blessing of the Boats
The annual Blessing of the Boats on 17 May was a great success and remains one of the most important traditions in the club calendar.

Racing Update
The 2026 season has seen strong participation despite some weather disruption. Cruiser fleets continue to show excellent engagement across Wednesday and Sunday racing.

Committee Boat Racing Report 2026

Wednesday Series 2025

The first sailing of the year was on 7^th May 2025, with a total of 4 Wednesday night races over the course of the month.

Over the four Wednesday nights in the month, an average of 3 Cruiser Class 1 boats and 8 Cruiser Class 2 boats participated each evening. In total, of boats registered for racing 13 Cruiser 1 boats and 30 Cruiser 2 boats repeatedly took part, with a total of 201 crew during the May series.

Note: it was generally the same crew that sailed over the Wednesday series season and 16 boats registered for racing

Casa Trips on the Rospico

Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club (PYBC) has teamed up with CASA, a voluntary group that provides respite care and social activities for adults and children living with disabilities, including, but not limited to, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and life-limiting conditions. Their mission is to enable members to develop friendships and be empowered in caring and relaxed social settings.

Since July 2024, we have had six Rospico outings, including to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Dublin Bay, and on the Liffey. Each trip includes eight CASA members - 2 of whom are wheelchair users - and volunteer PYBC sailors. So far this season, we have held one trip on May 14, 2026, with three more planned.

The trips have received very positive feedback from participating members of CASA, particularly since many of them had never been out on the water before:

"Best day of my life"

"Felt safe and secure with a very competent crew"

"First time I have ever been on the water and to see the city so close and different, it was magic"

One wheelchair user said it made her " feel like an able bodied person to be able to be on the sea with the wind blowing in her face".

Following each trip, we have organised a social gathering in the club. It is rewarding to see the excitement, hear the laughter, and enjoy the craic both on board and back at the club.

Whizzy Wheels trip

On a gorgeous Friday evening, 17th June, we took Rospico over to Dun Laoghaire for a special event with the amazing kids from the Whizzy Wheels camp at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, in partnership with Spinal Injuries Ireland.

We had two fantastic trips each one with wheelchair users and their parents on board and the smiles said it all. The energy, the excitement, the pure joy it was one of those evenings that reminds you why we do what we do.

A huge shoutout to our skipper Aido Martin, Rosaleen Maguire, Susan McGrath, and Spinal Injuries Ireland volunteer Eugene Power for making the whole thing run so smoothly. A brilliant team on a brilliant evening.

In Memoriam
The club remembers with gratitude those members and friends who have passed away this year.

Fr Derek Harris is warmly remembered for his kindness and presence in the lives of so many.
Samuel Benjamin was a much-loved sailor and friend.
Sean Christopher (Cooke) was a valued companion and long-time member of the sailing community.

Is mé an gaoth ar an muir.
"I am the wind on the sea."

Fair winds and following seas.

Get Involved
Whether racing, cruising, training, volunteering, or simply enjoying the social side of club life, there are many ways to get involved this summer.

Thank you to all members, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters for helping make 2026 another successful year for Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. We look forward to seeing you on the water and around the clubhouse in the weeks ahead