About Us

The Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School is based on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, in county Dublin. Since our establishment in 1978, we have provided sailing and powerboat training to approximately 170,000 trainees. We have a team of full-time instructors which allows us get you on the water all year round. We have a great passion for our sport and enjoy nothing more than introducing it to beginners for the first time. Whether you have been sailing for many years or are a complete beginner we would love to get you on the water with us. We provide powerboat training to all levels and abilities through scheduled courses and one to one training.

Our programmes include:

Junior Sailing
Schools and College Sailing
Adult Dinghy and Yacht Training
Corporate Sailing and Events
Shore based Courses, including VHF, First Aid, Navigation
Powerboat Courses

History
Set up by Alistair Rumball in 1978, the sailing school had very humble beginnings, with the original Clubhouse situated on the first floor of what is now a charity shop on Dun Laoghaire’s main street. Through the late 1970s and 1980s the business began to establish a foothold, and Alistair’s brother Arthur set up the chandler Viking Marine during this period, which he ran until selling on to its present owners in 1999.

In 1991 the Irish National Sailing School relocated to its current premises at the foot of the West Pier. Throughout the 1990s the business continued to build on its reputation and became the training institution of choice for budding sailors. The 2000s saw the business break barriers – firstly by introducing more people to the water than any other organisation, and secondly pioneering low cost course fees, thereby rubbishing the assertion that sailing is an expensive sport.

So after over 40 years in existence we believe our experience, excellent reputation, welcome, hospitality and competitive prices are a combination that offers you, our customer, an excellent time every time!

Fleet
Our fleet stands at over 270 boats, consisting of over 80 Topper dinghies, 42 Laser Pico dinghies, 45, Optimist dinghies, 7 Topaz Vibes, 2 Topaz Magnos, 1 Laser Vago, 8 RS Fevas, 3 RS Quests, 2 RS Zests, 5 Lasers, 8 Squib Keelboats, 8 J80’s Keelboats and 2 large yachts (Lula Belle, First 36.7 and Beaufort Venture, Elan 36), over 50 kayaks and a fleet of over 25 powerboats, made up of tiller arm and Rigid Inflatables Boats. The fleet is tended to by our two full time maintenance team members at our boathouse in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Safeguarding
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy & Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment