Training Centre

Welcome to the Western Yacht Club of Ireland Training Centre. We run sailing courses for adults (17+) and juniors (9 years old to 16 years old) in the summer months.

Our courses are operated in the safe haven of Kilrush Marina. Our waters are non-tidal and a perfect place to start sailing. More advanced sailors may occasionally go on supervised sailing trips outside the marina, subject to weather conditions.

All courses are run by qualified instructors in line with Irish Sailing guidelines.

Irish Sailing Courses

BOOKINGS
All bookings are handled online. Bookings are not handled via email, phone or in person due to limited personnel resources in the club. Book online on our easy to use online platform. Payments accepted online. When booked online and deposit paid the booking platform will send out information on times, what to bring and how to register on Checklick for evaluations.

COURSE DATES
See our Booking Page for dates of Adult and Junior Sailing Courses.

General Information

Junior courses are week long courses from Monday to Friday 1000-1600hrs.
You may book on to any week. Participants are spilt into groups based on ability and progression through the scheme.
Ages catered for are 9-16yrs.
All courses are delivered in accordance with Irish Sailing guidelines.
Instructors are trained to a high standard with a sailing instructing qualification, operation of a powerboat, basic first aid, garda vetted and safeguarding.
Adult courses may be run on either evenings or weekends during the summer months. Dates may vary. Please check our Booking Page for current scheduled courses.

Progress and Certification

Participants are filtered accordingly on to courses based on previous experience, certs awarded or progress in another Irish Sailing Training Centre as evaluated by the centre on Checklick.
Attendance on a course does not guarantee receiving an Irish Sailing certificate, however all participants receive an RWYCI course attendance certificate at the end of the week. As we are working according to delivery of an accredited syllabus some participants may not progress as quickly as others through the syllabus. It is up to the participant to put in the work to achieve the required standard. Every participant is afforded equal time and our instructors follow strict session planning according to club training standards
Participants can often take 1-2 weeks to complete an Irish Sailing certified course. This is due to a number of factors including but not limited to weather, ability and participation in for all modules. All participant's progress is evaluated by use of an online platform called Checklick which is used to issue the Irish Sailing certificate digitally.
Please ensure the participant is registered by Checklick prior to course attendance. You will receive details on how to do so when booked online.

Courses
Click on the links to each course to learn more about a course

Club Boats Used
Dinghies:

Oppie
Topper
Topaz Uno
RS Feva
GP14
Wayfarer

Keelboat:

Hawk 20

In certain cases a participant may use their own sailing dinghy on the courses. The boat owner will have to provide evidence of insurance which must be sent to the club email address contactrwyci@gmail at least 1 week prior to the training course taking place.

Taste of Sailing, Start Sailing and Improving Skills are run on the scheduled courses in July and August. More places may be allocated for Improving Skills on week 2 of the courses in July.

Please note that due to the volume of email enquires we get it is not always possible to respond to enquiries. Please refer to the FAQ section under the Training Centre tab for commonly asked questions.

Adult Training Courses

Adult training courses take place on both dinghies and our new keelboat, a Hawk 20 named the "Fintan K"

Courses are operated from the safe haven of Kilrush Marina and occasionally courses move outside on to the tidal Shannon Estuary where weather permits.

All bookings are handled online as per the schedule published. All you need do is book online and place a deposit on the online platform to book a place. When you book online information is sent out on what to bring, where to meet, pre course material etc...

Dinghy training may take place on the following boats:

Topaz Uno
RS Feva
GP14
Wayfarer

Keelboat Training takes place on the club's Hawk 20 - a cabined keelboat

Inclusion Training

Inclusion Training takes place using our newly acquired Hawk 20 cabined keelboat the "Fintan K" as well as the club powerboats.

2025 Inclusion Training week will take place from 14th-18th July

Please follow this link for more information and bookings.
Or navigate to the Inclusion Sailing tab under Training Centre on the website.

Keelboat Courses

A number of adult keelboat training courses will take place throughout the season.

All bookings can be made online at the link below. To secure a place follow the online link and pay a deposit or the full amount. All information on times, what to bring and pre course information will be sent out via the online platform.

All courses are weather dependant.

Course dates 2025

Dates	Level	Course Code	Type	Booking link
8th, 10th, 15th, 17th July	Beginner - Improving	K1	x4 evening sessions	Book online here
29th, 31st July 5th, 7th Aug	Beginner - Improving	K2	x4 evening sessions	Book online here
23/24th August	Beginner - Improving	K3	X2 full days	Book online here
26th, 28th Aug 2nd,4th Sep	Beginner - Improving	K4	x4 evenings	TBC