Ireland’s Champion Sailors Set for Two October Showdowns in Dún Laoghaire
Following a memorable period of international championship racing on Dublin Bay, attention now turns to two major domestic events taking place close to Viking Marine’s door in Dún Laoghaire.
The 2026 Irish Sailing Champions Cup will bring together leading sailors from classes around Ireland over two consecutive weekends, with separate competitions for dinghy and keelboat champions.
The Dinghy Champions Cup takes place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
Twelve invited helms will compete in supplied Melges 15s, placing sailors from different dinghy classes into the same fast and closely matched one-design boats. The format is designed to test how quickly each helm and crew can adapt, removing many of the equipment differences that usually exist between classes.
The Melges 15 is a modern two-person dinghy with an asymmetric spinnaker. Its speed and responsiveness should produce close racing inside the harbour, while giving spectators a good opportunity to follow the action.
One week later, the Keelboat Champions Cup will be hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.
Another 12 invited helms will compete in J/80s. Using the same one-design keelboats puts the emphasis on teamwork, tactical decision-making and adapting quickly to an unfamiliar boat.
The two-weekend structure allows dinghy and keelboat sailors to compete within their respective disciplines, with each event producing its own Irish Sailing Champion of Champions.
The full invitation lists and detailed racing formats will determine the individual contests. They are expected to bring together national champions and leading performers from a broad range of Irish sailing classes.
Viking Marine will follow both events throughout October, with reports covering the opening-day racing, leading results and the deciding races from each championship.
Viking Marine has been supporting Ireland’s sailing community from Dún Laoghaire since 1987. From dinghy racing to keelboat campaigns, we stock sailing clothing, ropes, fittings, safety equipment and chandlery for sailors at every level.