Performance » Governance

High Performance Committee

Irish Sailing set up an High Performance Committee to govern the activities of Performance Sailing in Ireland.

Function

The primary mission of the Irish Sailing's High Performance Committee (HPC) is to assist Irish Sailors to reach medal winning positions in the Olympic Games. While the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) selects the Irish Olympic Team, the HPC is responsible for setting fair and equitable rules for selecting and nominating suitable candidates to the OCI for membership of the Irish Olympic Sailing Team. The High Performance Committee also helps advise on the strategic direction of the Irish Sailing's Performance Pathway.

Members

  • John Menton (Chair)
  • Morgan Buckley
  • Martin McIlroy
  • Emma Lovegrove
  • Trevor Millar
  • Bill O'Hara
  • Marcus Spillane 
  • Annalise Murphy

Selection & Criteria

Olympic Games 2028 

World Sailing ILCA 6 & 7 Nation Qualifier in Fortaleza 15th-23rd January 2027

Preliminary Notifcation for Olympic Nomination 


Youth

Irish Sailing Performance have been developing Ireland’s most ambitious young sailors between the ages of 15 to 18 years on the Academy Programme for over a decade. 

In 2006, the Academy Programme of Irish Sailing's Performance Pathway underwent a major revamp, remodelling its objective to aid aspiring young sailors to ‘learn the skills to develop into independent Olympic campaigners by nurturing a culture of responsible athletes with a hunger for international performance.’  Since that time a holistic approach to personal development has been at the core of the Academy’s philosophy. It has recognised that the best sailors in the world love sailing and given that it’s a long term development sport (compared to most Olympic Sports) appreciation of fun and enjoyment of the process of learning has always been fundamental to the Academy’s training. 

2026 Youth Worlds Selection Policy

Policy Document Guidelines for selection - Irish Sailing Performance Academy

Irish Sailing Academy Pack 


Archive

2024 Youth Worlds Selection Policy 

2023 Youth Worlds Selection Policy 

2021 Olympic Games Nomination Procedures 

2020 Olympic Games Nomination Procedures 

 

Irish Sailing Junior Squads

The Irish Sailing Junior Squad Programme supports sailors who are ready to develop towards international competition and further opportunities within the Irish Sailing pathway.

Squads combine domestic and international training with support at selected international events. Programmes are led by Irish Sailing coaches with input from support services including strength and conditioning, nutrition and psychology.

JUNIOR SQUAD SEASONS

Irish Sailing Junior Squads operate on a seasonal basis:

  • Winter Squads: October – March
  • Summer Squads: April – August

Details and applications for upcoming squads will normally be released:

  • Beginning of September for the Winter Squad
  • Beginning of March for the Summer Squad

Sailors interested in joining a future squad should check this page around these times for the latest programme information and application links.

SQUAD INFORMATION 

Each squad has a Squad Description containing the information specific to that programme, including:

  • programme dates and venues
  • target events
  • estimated programme cost
  • squad size
  • programme expectations and commitments

How Squad Selection Works

Sailors wishing to join an Irish Sailing Junior Squad should:

  1. Read the Squad Description for their class.
  2. Read the Irish Sailing Junior Squad Selection Policy, which explains the selection process and criteria used across the Junior Squad Programme.
  3. Complete the squad application.
  4. Register and pay for the selection weekend, where applicable.
  5. Attend the relevant selection events outlined in the Squad Description.

     

Topper Squad & ILCA 4 Squad

Deadline: 30th September 2026

 

Junior Squad Application Form W26-27

Selection Policy Junior Squad

Topper Squad Description 2026-27

ILCA 4 Squad Description 2026-27

 

Prepare for Topper Squad Selection with Training on 26th & 27th September 2026 in the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Co.Dublin from 10am-5pm (age restriction - 15 or under by end of 2027).  Secure your spot here: Topper Squad Selection Training

Prepare for ILCA 4 Squad Selection with Training on 10& 11th October 2026 in Howth Yacht Club, Co.Dublin from 10am-5pm (age restriction - 16 or under by end of 2027).  Secure your spot here: ILCA 4 Squad Selection Training

 

 Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the programme lead liam.glynn@sailing.ie if you have any further questions.

 

Anti-doping

Irish Sailing Anti-Doping Policy

Sport Ireland is the designated National Anti-Doping Organisation in Ireland and performs the functions and obligations of a National Anti-Doping Organisation. Irish Sailing has formally adopted Sport Ireland’s Anti-Doping Rules as the Anti-Doping Rules for Irish Sailing as prescribed in the Racing Rules of Sailing. By adoption of these Rules Irish Sailing specifically recognises the authority and responsibility of Sport Ireland for administering the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme (including conducting Testing of Athletes) in respect of all of the Persons to whom these Rules apply and authorises Sport Ireland to carry out Doping Control.

Irish Sailing Anti-Doping Policy

Irish Sailing's Prescriptions to Racing Rules of Sailing

Sport Ireland's Anti-Doping Rules

Medcheck Sport Ireland

Global DRO - Home

Anti-Doping E-Learning | Sport Ireland

DOPING

Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport.

The spirit of sport is the intrinsic value of sport.
The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind and is the ethical pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each Athlete's natural talents.
The spirit of sport is characterised, amongst other values, by health, ethics, fair play, honesty, team work, fun and joy, dedication and commitment, respect for rules and laws, respect for self and other Participants, courage, community and solidarity.

 

THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING PROGRAMME

Anti-doping programmes are founded upon the spirit of sport and seek to protect the health of Athletes and to provide the opportunity for Athletes to pursue human excellence without the Use of Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods. Antidoping programmes seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world. 

The Code is the fundamental and universal document upon which the World Anti-Doping Programme in sport is based. The purpose of the Code is to advance the antidoping effort through universal harmonisation of core anti-doping elements. The Code has been drafted giving consideration to the principles of proportionality and human rights.

The World Anti-Doping Programme encompasses all of the elements needed in order to ensure optimal harmonisation and best practice in international and national antidoping programmes.

World Sailing Anti-Doping Code

SPORT IRELAND AND WORLD SAILING

The Irish Anti-Doping Rules and World Sailing’s Anti-Doping Code were developed under the WADA Code. Sailing is governed by the WADA Code, implemented internationally through World Sailing and nationally through Sport Ireland Anti-Doping.
 

WHY TWO CODES?

Sport Ireland, as the National Anti-Doping agency, has responsibility for national-level testing, while World Sailing fulfils the role of the International Federation for sailing.
The core parts of both Codes are identical. They differ in regard to administrative matters such as test results management and hearing procedures.

 

HP Athlete Liaison Officer

Ciara Peelo, former Irish Olympian, has recently been appointed as Irish Sailing’s Athlete Liaison Officer. Peelo represented Ireland at the 2008 summer Olympics in the women's laser radial class, where she finished 20th. She was the Irish flagbearer during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing.

The Purpose of the role is to support the High Performance Committee in gathering feedback from the Irish Sailing Team members on the implementation of the recommendations of the Uppercut Tokyo Review.

The Athlete Liaison Officer (ALO) will also act as an ongoing independent mentor where members of the team will have an additional outlet to discuss their concerns around the HP programme in a less formal and risk free environment – in effect an additional outlet for the “Athletes voice” to be heard. This is addition to and separate from the formal complaint/grievance procedures which are already.

Her function will be to support and educate the athletes whilst engaging in the HP programme, and to deciding whether there is an issue that needs further action.

 

APPOINTMENT

The ALO is appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the OSG. The ALO is someone with direct experience of Irish Sailing’s High Performance Programme, and someone who is trusted by the athletes to act independently, and is objective in the management of the feedback received.

 

FULL APPOINTMENT DOCUMENT

Olympic Review

Tokyo Review Report

Rio Review Report

Sport Ireland undertook an extensive review of the full Rio Olympics Cycle (2013-2016) which they published in December 2016 and which assessed the Irish Sailing campaign. We worked with them to draw up recommendations and you can read the full sailing section .. found HERE.