MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Its hard to believe that January has gone by so quickly and February is nearly here. The new season is on the horizon, and we hope your summer plans include sailing at Sutton Dinghy Club.
It’s also time to renew your membership. Please renew via the club website or call into the clubhouse —boat-parking fees are also due. If you’ve already renewed, thank you!
As with last year, places on our three-week Junior Member training courses will be allocated in order of booking once membership and boat-parking fees have been paid. Course booking links will only be available to renewed members.
BOAT CHOICE –
Choosing the right boat after Optimists is an important step in a young sailor’s development. At this stage, the goal is to build confidence, broaden skills, and keep sailing enjoyable while providing a clear route for progression.
In our club, the primary single-handed pathway moves from Optimists into Toppers and then on to ILCAs. This route suits sailors who enjoy independence and taking full responsibility for boat handling, tactics, and decision-making. Single-handed sailing develops strong core skills: boat balance, sail control, race awareness, and resilience. Classes such as the Topper and ILCA reward good technique and consistency, and they provide a well-established route into regional, national, and international racing.
Alongside this, we offer a parallel pathway into double-handed sailing through classes such as the Mirror and RS Feva. Double-handed boats introduce teamwork, communication, and coordination between helm and crew. Sailors learn how to manage spinnakers, trapeze skills (in later classes), and higher-performance handling, all while sharing the workload. For many young sailors, this social and collaborative aspect is a major attraction and can significantly enhance enjoyment and retention in the sport.
Our club has a strong heritage in GP14s, IDRA14s, and Fireballs, and the double-handed pathway naturally feeds into these exciting, high-performance classes. Sailors who start in Mirrors or Fevas gain transferable skills that prepare them well for these boats as they grow older.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on the sailor’s personality, aspirations, and preferred sailing style. Both pathways are equally valid and offer rewarding, long-term opportunities within our club and beyond.
If you have any questions about the pathway or would like guidance on choosing the most suitable class, please do not hesitate to contact the club directly. We are always happy to discuss options, offer advice, and help sailors and families find the route that best suits their goals and interests.
BOAT DONATIONS
We’re always keen to find ways to reuse and upcycle dinghies that aren’t getting much use. If you have a boat that’s sitting idle, the club would be delighted to give it a second life through our training programmes. Donated boats can be refurbished and used to help new sailors get on the water, especially those without access to their own equipment. It’s a great way to support youth sailing and keep good boats in circulation. Please send us an email at info@sdc.ie if you’d be interested in donating.
SAUNA AND YOGA
We’re also delighted to share the success of our collaboration with our friends at The Nomad Sauna. They’ve had a very busy start at Sutton Dinghy Club since December, which has continued through January and shows no sign of slowing down. The sauna is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 8.30am to 2.30pm—check out their Instagram for booking details and updates.
In related news, we’re excited to welcome another new friend, Stonewall Coffee , who will be visiting us on Saturday 31 January. They’ll be serving delicious coffee and tasty pastries for our swimmers, sauna guests, and walkers from 9am to 3pm. To make it even better, anyone with a Nomad Sauna session booked that day will receive a complimentary coffee. Please come down and support these great local businesses.
Last but not least, we’re happy to announce that yoga is coming to Sutton Dinghy Club. Class times and dates are still to be confirmed, but sessions will take place in the warmth and comfort of our clubhouse—complete with what might just be the best view across Dublin Bay. Keep an eye on our website and social channels for more details, or feel free to contact Sarah at sarah@yogahub.ie if you’d like to express your interest.