Northern Ireland Sailing Team named for 2024/25 as winter training kicks off
The Northern Irish Sailing Team has been named for the 2024/25 season, listing 34 sailors across 4 boat classes.
These sailors are at various stages of development, ranging from those competing in junior classes such as the Topper, to senior athletes with Olympic aspirations in classes such as the ILCA 7 or the 49er FX.
RYA Northern Ireland has always run development programmes for performance sailors, however this is the first time an official ‘NI Sailing Team’ has existed.
The reason for the creation of the NI Sailing Team is linked to the RYA NI Navigating the Future strategy and wanting to ‘celebrate the people in our sport’. At an Olympic level, Northern Irish sailors represent Irish Sailing or British Sailing, but only a small number of sailors will make it to that stage. However, all sailors in RYA Northern Ireland Performance programmes sail for Northern Ireland. We want to create a sense of ‘team’ and ‘pride’ for NI sailors and their home clubs.
Members of the NI Sailing Team will receive top level coaching in training camps domestically and abroad. On top of this, they will receive support from coaches at targeted events throughout the year and access to strength and conditioning coaching from S&C Coach, Chris Penney.
Funding form Sport NI is crucial, and we continuously look to secure more sponsors and partners as we progress. Service providers at the Sports Institute of Northen Ireland can give our higher-level athletes the reassurance they can access support in any eventuality.
Following the naming of the NI Sailing Team, RYA Northern Ireland Performance Manager Andrew Baker said: “The mission statement of the NI Sailing Team is that ‘RYA Northern Ireland develop and support Northern Irish Sailors aspiring to compete at the highest level while supporting our clubs and classes to embrace sailors in a sport for life.’
“We want to ensure any sailors with potential and with Olympic ambitions have the support to realise their dream. On a bigger picture, we want to see growth in our classes, revitalised club racing and the celebration of the sport so sailing can be shown as a sport for life.”
Topper Squad
Adam Green - Lough Erne Yacht Club
Alex Eadie - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Ben McCaldin - Lough Erne Yacht Club
Charlie Haslett - Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Emma West-Hurst - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Zoe West-Hurst - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Leo West-Hurst - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Hugh Hutchinson - Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
James Eadie - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Polly Robinson - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Feva Squad
Emily Ridout and Annabel Ridout - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Jessica Dadley-Young and Sally Nixon - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Polly Robinson and Sophie Cairns - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Niamh Coman and Ellie Nolan - Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
ILCA Squad
Emily MacAfee - Ballyholme Yacht Club
George Doig - East Antrim Boat Club
Hugo Boyd - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Isabel Nixon - Ballyholme Yacht Club/ Donaghadee Sailing Club
Iseult Speirs - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Autumn Halliday - SLYC
Bobby Driscoll - BYC
Cormac Byrne - BYC
Daniel Palmer - BYC
Zoe Whitford - EABC
Freddie Doig - EABC
Senior Supported Athletes- ILCA 7
Dan McGaughey - Ballyholme Yacht Club
Tom Coulter - East Antrim Boat Club
Senior Supported Athletes- 49er FX
Charlotte Eadie - Ballyholme Yacht Club/ Donaghadee Sailing Club
Ellen Barbour - County Antrim Yacht Club
Erin McIlwaine - Newcastle Yacht Club
If you would like to learn more about the NI Sailing Team and performance sailing in Northern Ireland, please contact RYA Northern Ireland Performance Manager Andrew.baker@rya.org.uk