The 2020 Irish Sailing Awards took place online. And while we could not get together in person, there was still much to celebrate.

On the night we recognised the young talent representing Ireland overseas, the training centres and instructors setting the standards in leadership and teaching, the battle for Sailor of the Year; awards which recognise people and organisations pushing innovations in the areas of Inclusion and Sustainability, and this year we re-introduced the Irish Sailing Volunteer of the Year Award.

The awards presented the perfect opportunity to show that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we were able to return to the water in a variety of different ways, and we hope we marked the end of a strange and difficult year with an optimistic eye on the future.

2020 Awards Nominees and Winners

✨ Training Centre of the Year

• East Region Winner: Blessington Sailing Club
• West Region Winner: Wild West Sailing and overall National Training Centre of the Year
• South Region Winner: Jamie Knox Watersports

✨ Senior Instructor of the Year 

Each of the regional winners is now nominated for the overall Irish Sailing Senior Instructor of the Year Award.

• East Regional Winner: Edie Thorup (Blessington Sailing Club)
• West Regional Winner: Sarah Nicholson (Sligo Yacht Club) and overall National Senior Instructor of the Year
• South Regional Winner: Molly Goulding (Glandore Harbour Yacht Club)

✨ Volunteer of the Year

A broad range of volunteers from every corner of the country - all info HERE.

Winning Volunteer of the Year is John Leahy of Cruising Association of Ireland

✨ Youth Sailor of the Year

With three nominees ...

• Eve McMahon - won Youth Sailor of the Year
• Tom Higgins
• Rocco Wright

✨ Sailor of the Year

In association with Afloat magazine and the 28 Sailors of the Month.

Tom Dolan won Sailor of the Year

✨ The Inclusion Award

Nancy Roe of Galway City Sailing Club won the inaugrual Irish Sailing Leadership Award

✨ The President's Award

Ron Hutchieson won the Irish Sailing President’s Award

✨ The Sustainability Award

The Oysterhaven Centre won the Irish Sailing Sustainability Award

✨ The Leadership Award

Pat Ryan of Galway Bay Sailing Club won the Irish Sailing Inclusion Award

See full details on winners here