Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School Courses

Explore Dublin Bay while learning a new skill. We’ve 40 years of experience getting people afloat.

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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. 

Experienced Staff

Our qualified instructors are passionate about sailing and passing on their knowledge.

Personal Development

There is something for everyone no matter your age or ability, our courses are sure to provide you with a challenge.

Modern Methods

Children are divided into age categories and level of experience. We believe in learning through pressure-free, relaxed and fun environment.

Trusted School

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

safe and fun

What Makes the INSS Stand Out

We prioritise the health and safety of our students while learning through fun.

We understand that as a parent, your child's safety is paramount. At Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School, we believe our students deserve to be in the best hands at all times. Students will be taught by one of our team of experienced instructors and we are fully insured. We have an excellent safety record and pride ourselves on this and our superb reputation.

The training ground for the majority of our courses is the picturesque Dublin Bay, which is ideal for sailing. On our advanced yacht sailing courses we head further afield to Malahide and Greystones.

Our team here at the INSS is experienced and highly trained and fully insured. We pride ourselves on having a passionate and skilled team of instructors to teach our courses. 

Irish National Sailing School

Booking Process

Browse our courses ranging from children's camps, adult dinghy, keelboat, powerboat and mroe

01.

Find the Course for You

We have a range of courses for any age or ability.

02.

Book

Find your preferred course and dates and follow our easy booking system.

03.

Start The course

We provide all necessary gear so just arrive on the day ready to learn!

Explore Courses

Whether you want to introduce your child to the world of sailing or are an adult looking
to learn how to confidently crew a boat, we offer a variety of courses for all skill levels.

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Start Date: January 20, 2024
€325 per person
Attendees: 0/6Closed
Start Date: January 25, 2024
€45 per person
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Start Date: January 27, 2024
€185 per person
Attendees: 0/6Closed
Start Date: January 29, 2024
€275 per person
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Start Date: February 9, 2024
€120 per person
Attendees: 0/30Closed
Start Date: February 9, 2024
€120 per person
Attendees: 0/30Closed
Start Date: February 9, 2024
€120 per person
Attendees: 0/50Closed
Start Date: February 9, 2024
€120 per person
Attendees: 0/50Closed
Start Date: February 9, 2024
€120 per person
Attendees: 0/30Closed
Start Date: February 9, 2024
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Start Date: February 10, 2024
€325 per person
Attendees: 0/6Closed
Start Date: February 12, 2024
€199 per person
Attendees: 0/60
Start Date: November 23, 2024
€100 per person
Attendees: 5/8
Start Date: February 18, 2025
€475 per person
Attendees: 0/8
Start Date: November 9, 2024
€100 per person
Attendees: 8/8Closed
Start Date: October 19, 2024
€199 per person
Attendees: 3/3ClosedCancelled
Start Date: October 19, 2024
€199 per person
Attendees: 2/2Closed
Start Date: October 12, 2024
€199 per person
Attendees: 4/4Closed

JOIN TODAY

Irish National Sailing School Invites You to Sail

We are an open and friendly sailing school. We have a wide variety of craft available for teaching on all our courses. From our most basic small yaks to our teaching yacht, all craft are perfectly suited to teach every level from novices on their first day of powerboating to the advanced driver going to sea in rougher weather.

IT'S A GOOD DAY

We Will Help You Achieve Your Goal

We put emphasis on making our classes interesting and diverse with a particular focus on the practical skills and getting on the water.

01.

Our instructors are on the water with the students, allowing for individualised instruction.

02.

Numerous course dates to fit around a busy schedule.

03.

The picturesque Dublin Bay adds an extra layer of enjoyment to courses.

04.

Each instructor is passionate about sailing and brings personal experiences to their teaching.

05.

An opportunity to discover a love of the sea and develop new skills.

06.

A wide variety of available course options, including children and and adult lessons.

A FAMILY BUSINESS RUNNING FOR OVER 40 YEARS

We strive to ensure a friendly and familial environment

Set up by Alistair Rumball in 1978, the sailing school had very humble beginnings, with the original clubhouse on Dun Laoghaire’s main street. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s the business began to establish a foothold, and 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 and making sailing more accessible for everyone.

  • star ratingAmazing! Well worth it and I enjoyed every bit of it! - Firstly, Jess (our instructor) was amazing! I was a bit nervous starting this course as I didn't know what to expect but Jess made it so easy to understand everything and I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! As a result, I'll be booking more courses with them soon.

    I think the school is excellent, the structure of the courses are excellent and the instructors are very very good at what they do and I just want to thank Jess and everyone else involved for not only making it an excellent weekend but also giving me an interest in something that I want to stick with for the rest of my life!

    If there were 100 stars to choose from instead of just 5, I'd choose 110 😉

    avatar thumb 1V426
    12/09/2022
  • star ratingRockpooling & kayaking - We did once off rock pooling and kayaking and it was great fun. The kids had great fun and they allowed me to go ith them too. In the end the kids jumped off the pontoon and it was just pure giggles and laughs

    avatar thumb Shyamis
    05/08/2018
  • star ratingGreat sailing school in the tidal waters of Dublin Bay - I have just done the RYA Competent Crew course here, five-days aboard the 36-foot Beaufort Venture under the guidance of instructor Gary Curran. The whole week surpassed my expectations, and I cannot praise Gary's teaching style highly enough. We covered the syllabus with clear, safety-focused instructions, followed by lots of hands-on practice. He was patient when things didn't always go right first time, and challenged us to step up our skills when he thought we were ready. We got lots and lots of sailing in conditions ranging from 10 to 30 knots of wind, and the Beaufort Venture is a comfortable and forgiving boat to sail. I won't name check my wonderful shipmates, but I can say that after this week of instruction and encouragement I've raised my sailing ambitions to a higher level. The INSS under Kenny Rumball are super-well organised, and supported us with all the advice, equipment, clothing and food we needed. A great week, and I strongly recommend the INSS to anyone wanting to start sailing or to build their skills.

    avatar thumb PatrickKinsella
    01/07/2017
  • star ratingExcellent experience all round. Best of all was how real every dimension was approached, from sailing as a theoretical and practical activity, with complexity and simplicity in balance, to great food, great feedback, honesty and integrity.

    avatar thumb bobsS9026OX
    21/01/2024
  • star ratingGreat atmosphere - Very friendly staff and great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend for a day out or lessons. Paddle board and kayak rentals are lots of fun.

    avatar thumb Seandow103
    24/06/2020
  • star ratingCompetent Crew Course - Excellent Instructor - Having done a few courses with the INSS over the summer of 2023, and some sailing on the Mediterranean, doing the Competent Crew course with others who were doing the Day Skipper course at the same time was the highlight of my time learning how to sail. The reason it was the highlight was largely due to the course instructor Shona O'Dowd (I made certain to get her full name before leaving to give her the credit she deserved). Huge knowledge and experience mixed with a great attitude, with friendliness, patience and approachability making Shona stand out and make each day of the course something to look forward to regardless of weather or experience level. Shona guided practical use of all facets of sailing knowledge excellently and never micromanaged or tried to exert too much control, thereby never limiting the learning that can take place for students.

    This teaching style is difficult to find, having seen a variety of instructors and their styles, in different countries and even within the INSS, and so you will be very lucky if you get Shona on your boat when it comes your turn to learn the ropes (literally). All in all, the Competent Crew course was very enjoyable, and I just wanted to give credit where it was due.

    avatar thumb Maps57686967283
    20/08/2023

Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School

West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin

Phone

+353 1 2844195

Email

sailing@inss.ie