Countdown to the 2026 Optimist Nationals Begins!

 

In under a fortnight, the Royal Cork Yacht Club will proudly host the 2026 Irish and Open Optimist National Championships. We’re preparing to welcome approximately 175 Optimist sailors, making this the largest dinghy event in Ireland this year, with entries arriving from Ireland, Great Britain, Sweden, the United States, Chile, and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Preparations have been underway for more than a year, and the excitement is truly mounting. RCYC has a long and proud history with the Optimist Class, so when the opportunity arose to host this year’s Nationals, we seized it with both hands. As well as supporting our own club sailors and celebrating the Optimist community, the event is a fantastic chance to showcase the club’s capability in hosting major dinghy championships.

 

Beyond the racing, our theme for the week is “family and friends.” We’ve put several measures in place to ensure travelling sailors and their families enjoy a memorable, welcoming experience:

 

• Opening Ceremony – Wednesday
• Games Night – Thursday
• Ice Cream Van & Parents’ Reception – Friday
• Event BBQ – Saturday

 

We know the commitment required from parents, so the club and event team has worked hard to ease the load: no charge for camping on the Eastern Lawn and berthing for visiting club coaches, lots of fun and games. Generous support from sponsors Cully & Sully and Fehily Timoney & Co, helping subsidise Saturday’s event BBQ and Celtica.ie sponsoring the Parents Reception on Friday night. Our aim is simple, make the event as accessible as possible and return real value to the sailors from their entry fee through initiatives, trophies, and welcome packs.

 

We are fortunate to have an exceptional team at the helm, Anthony O’Leary as PRO and RO for the Main Fleet, Barry Rose as RO for the Regatta Fleet, supported by Lorraine O’Sullivan (Race Office Management), Ronan Duggan (Beachmaster), Aoife Buckley (Tally & Shore Checks) Colum O’Sullivan (CFO – Chief Fun Officer), Jimmy Nyhan (Safety Lead) and Craig Evans (Jury Chair). Each leads a dedicated team, and we are deeply grateful for their time, volunteerism, club spirit, expertise, and enthusiasm.

 

More than sixty volunteers will take to the water each day to support the event, and there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. If you can spare a day on shore or afloat, lend your RIB for safety, or allow your yacht or motorboat to act as a mothership, we would be delighted to have you join the team and be part of the fun.

 

Stephen O’Sullivan   

RCYC Optimist Class Captain & 2026 Optimist Nationals – Event Chair