RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish National Championships 2026 at Killaloe Sailing Club

Double rainbow - RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe © Declan Carey

50-degree shifts, ukuleles and top racing set the scene as Killaloe Sailing Club hosted a cracking RS Irish Nationals in testing, shifty conditions that ranged from nothing to fifteen knots.

RS200 Nationals 2026 - By Thomas Chaix

Over 60 Fevas, 200s and 400s made way to Killaloe for a 3-day long weekend of racing. It was the largest event ever organised by the club, and they were certainly ready to deliver under the watchful eyes of a brilliant team of volunteers. What awaited was typical lake sailing with shifts, gusts and head wrecking decisions for the race management and sailors alike.

The RS200 fleet delivered a great show with 19 partnerships on the start line. The quality of the fleet was excellent with former national champions, young guns who had been showing solid promise over the course of the season and a few dark horses dipping their feet in the class for the first time. They surely delivered drama in a very competitive display.

RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

Friday: insane shifts in a medium 8-12 kts Northerly.

After a short postponement, the fleet lined up for the first race. The Hanley's were the sharpest off the start line at the pin and with an early tack made the most of the first big shift of the day rounding the windward in the lead closely chased by the rest of the fleet. The massive left shift combined with issues with the gate led to the race being abandoned. The course was slightly reset and the race restarted.

This time it was to be father and son Thomas and Ben Chaix who were the sharpest on the shifts taking an early lead with East Down's Jakub Ozarek and crew Abbie Stocking hot on their transom. By the finish line however, Ozarek/Stocking had squeezed into the lead followed by Luke Simpson and Ben Ferris who managed well a busy final mark rounding to overtake the Chaix's.

The second race went to Calum and Rory Pollard from County Antrim YC chased by club mate James Waugh crewed by Annabel Ridout who just about kept the Chaix's back in 3rd once more.

In the final race of the day, James and Annabel took the lead and were not caught despite Thomas and Ben's best efforts and close crosses on the second beat. A little further back Sean and Cian Hanley secured 3rd and that was it for the day!

RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

Saturday: still a solid 6-10 kts Northerly slowly dying off

The first race almost looked like a repeat of the final Friday race but this time it was father and son Thomas and Ben edging out James and Annabel. Master's and former national champion Frank O'Rourke and his son Kevin completed the podium. The positions reversed once more on race 2 with James/Annabel edging out the Chaix's with yet another win. The race podium was completed by Easterns' champions father and son Matthew and Peter Ridout.

The third race was possibly the most disputed of the event and certainly the shiftiest with zones of pressures, big shifts and navigating the Fevas and 400s shadows. The O'Rourke's took an early lead and looked secure and in control whilst a group of 7 boats including event leaders and podium hunters were swapping positions depending on positioning around the shifts. On the final lap, positions however changed with Luke Simpson and Ben Ferris surging into the lead closely followed by Thomas and Ben. The two partnerships were not to be caught and finished in that order with the Hanley's keeping the chasing pack at bay for third.

Race officer David Lovegrove launched a final race in the dropping breeze. Jakub Ozarek and Abbie Stocking had a stunning race taking an impossible lead linking pressures and playing each lift to perfection. A bit further back Thomas and Ben Chaix had secured an equally big gap on the chasing pack. The wind collapsed totally for a few long minutes and despite the leading boat crossing a reduced course finish line, the race was abandoned to the two leaders' despair. Jakub and Abbie certainly got the popular vote on the race, but sadly not a counter on the results board!

With the Sunday forecast giving winds not exceeding 4-5 kts, there was a sense that maybe the event was over and everyone enjoyed Killaloe SC great hospitality and BBQ.

Sunday: variable conditions with a nice window of opportunity at 6-7 kts Northerly

After a postponement ashore, the race team decided to launch the fleet and give it go... The 6-7 kts were encouraging and after a short wait afloat and a few attempts to find an appropriate position for the windward, a race was launched. The Chaix's kept a loose control over James and Annabel in the pre-start routine and managed to launch their race ahead of their opposition. Both teams then elected to play the shifts right of the fleet were pressures seemed more consistent with the Chaix's maintaining control. It paid off and the father and son team rounded the windward in the lead with their opposition a few boats length adrift. Pre-race practices were showing and they stretched their lead downwind before the race was abandoned and the fleet sent ashore.

Six solid races were completed and the event was eventually won by newcomers to the class Thomas Chaix and his 11 year old son Ben (NYC/TBSC). Runners up were James Waugh and Annabel Ridout (CAYC/BYC). The chasing pack was led by Luke Simpson and Ben Ferris (CAYC). The event had 5 different race winners. Consistency was the key at the end in what was a typical lake sailing weekend.

The event was also the opportunity to crown the traveller series champions. The Inlands champions Sean and Cian Hanley from Greystones were the most consistent over the course of the season and took the RS200 Traveller Trophy home.

RS200 Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

RS400 Nationals by Annalise Cleary

Day one began with ambitions for four races, mindful of a light forecast for Sunday. The opening attempt was abandoned when the robotic leeward mark decided to pirouette the other, but once racing got going the pack thought the left paid handsomely. "Bang the right" Bob Hastings & Sam McLernon defied the fleet and found themselves leading until lap 3 when a vicious header nearly capsized them. Swamped and not going in reverse, three boats squeezed past them. Chris Helme and Alan Claffey made no mistakes, taking the first two races. A big left shift in the third saw Stephen McLernon and Jake Little snatch the win. Shout outs to teams Tom Moran/ & Sam Savage and Tom Kearney & Max Tubb who picked the winning left side, all three ahead of the pack by a country mile. After three mentally tiring and challenging races, the race committee sent the fleet ashore for the day.

The breeze direction steadied a little more on day 2. A five-to-ten-knot northerly arrived, on the upper end of forecasts. The course became a proper puzzle of oscillating shifts at the bottom, a right-hand bend at the top and narrow, traffic-filled lanes downwind. Sean and Annalise Cleary solved it best, winning the first two races of the day despite huge pressure from Jocelyn and Rowan Berry who kept it tight the whole way in race 5. On the final beat of the 3rd a forty-degree lefty appeared and Helme and Claffey took full advantage to claim another bullet. A seventh race started but abandoned on the third lap with fading breeze.

On Saturday night the hosts laid on a fine BBQ while The Ducks Ukulele band provided the soundtrack, the camping as good as the sailing.

Sunday dawned with flags hanging limp. The fleet waited under AP ashore for an hour in hope of a steady breeze that never really arrived. After a start abandonment for a moving pin mark, and two general recalls under U flag, one more attempt at a race was made. A light flukey race favoured the bottom right and top left but it was a guessing game to how to join the dots. Stephen McLernon and Jake Little lead the race which was unfortunately abandoned when the wind died at the bottom of the course on leg 2.

With six races completed and one discard, the championship was decided. When the points were tallied Chris Helme and Alan Claffey of Blessington Sailing Club emerged as clear winners on eight points. Sean and Annalise Cleary of Greystones took a well-earned second on fifteen, with Gareth Flannigan and Knox Wilson third on twenty-one. Special mention to Gareth and Knox for winning this year's RS400 Traveller's Series Trophy top spot.

RS400 Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

RS Feva Report - by Ben McCauldin

22 RS Feva's joined forces with 19 RS200's and 22 RS400's bringing an impressive total of 63 boats and over 120 sailors from clubs all across Ireland to the venue.

Race Officer David Lovegrove did a fabulous job in tricky conditions, getting 6 races in across Friday & Saturday but unfortunately the wind didn't play ball on Sunday and no races were completed.

Robotic marks were used to keep the windward / leeward courses fair in shifting winds.

With 22 RS Fevas here for their Nationals, Day 1 brought changeable and unpredictable conditions, but the fleet managed to get some hiking and the odd short down-wind plane. The day was dominated by the three Northern based boats with the McCaldin brothers from Lough Erne Yacht Club scoring 1,2,1. RNIYC's Ellie Nolan & Niamh Coman scored 3,1,5 and BYCs 2023 champions Jessica Dadley-Young & Sally Nixon 2,4,4.

Harry & Isabelle O'Mahony from Cove SC lead the silver fleet following Philippa Arthur & Emile Hennessy's unfortunate BFD in the final race.

RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

Day 2 brought lighter, more variable winds which tested the sailors.

Jessica & Sally were the stars of the day getting 3 bullets. The McCaldins remained consistent with 3,2,2 and Ellie & Niamh cemented 3rd place overnight with a 2,4,3.

Phillippa & Emily got the better of the O'Mahonys in all 3 races and discarded their BFD to take the lead in the silver fleet. Aisling and Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin in third place, just one point behind second.

The race officer started a 4th race with several teams finishing in their best position but unfortunately the wind completely evaporated giving the race officer no choice but to abandon that race.

Day 3 brought even lighter and more variable winds than the previous day. After a postponement on shore the fleet launched and made several abandoned attempts to race before returning ashore.

The top 5 were rounded out by siblings Slattery brothers in 4th with 3,3,5,5, and the Cooles in 5th.

RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

Grateful thanks

A huge thank you to all the catering, admin, rescue & mark team, race team, launching & recovery teams, water delivering (Keith) and many more volunteers all headed by Johnny & David at Killaloe Sailing Cub, for hosting such a brilliant event. They were all fantastic hosts and the fleet will be back to Killaloe in the very near future.

Thank you also to all the sponsors, F4 Energy, Marine Services, Higgins & Co Catering, Rooster, Finucane Electrical, David Scott Solicitors, Yachtman Euromarine, Lakeside Hotel, Argus Sphere, POD Marine. With their help and support it makes the events much more affordable, inclusive and enjoyable.

The 2026 Irish RS Traveller series has now drawn to a close, but there will be more sailing regionally before the end of the year, like the RNIYC Frostie Series in November & December which will be its 20th year. The 2027 Calendar will hopefully be ready in the next few months. Watch this space.

Retrieving the automated marks - RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish National Championships at Killaloe - photo © Declan Carey

RS400 Results:

RS200 Results:

RS Feva Results: