Spring Mirror Skills Sessions
The Spring Mirror Skills Sessions are designed for Mirror sailors — both helms and crews — who want to refresh and develop the skills gained last summer, while building towards the 2026 sailing season.

The sessions will be delivered by qualified instructors with extensive Mirror experience.

Topics covered include:

• Boat rigging and tuning
• Upwind and downwind sailing techniques
• Spinnaker setup and usage
• Start line strategies
• General race techniques

Hours spent on the course can be logged towards the Irish Sailing logbook requirements.

These sessions are open to all Mirror sailors, from improving beginners to confident racers. However, participants should have completed at least one week of basic skills training before joining.

Conditions for acceptance for Mirror skills sessions

1. Applicants must be at least 11 yrs old.

Booking Conditions

• Sligo Yacht Club reserve the right to cancel a course if there are insufficient bookings. Fees will be refunded if we cancel a course.
• All trainees agree to abide by Sligo Yacht Club - Code of Conduct.
• Trainees or their legal guardians (in the case of trainees under 18yrs of age) agree that SYC may take their photograph or videos during the course and may use such material for training or on our website or other publicity material.
• Sailing is a weather dependent sport and every effort will be made to make the best use of the prevailing and forecast conditions at the time of the course. However safety is paramount and sailing may be curtailed due to adverse weather conditions. Unfavorable weather conditions will not be grounds for refunds.
• Trainees will be allocated a place in groups based on their sailing skillset. Our courses offer an ideal opportunity for children to make new friends and mix with others. Sligo Yacht Club cannot accommodate children being placed with friends/family unless there are pressing extenuating circumstances. If you feel that this applies to your child please contact the Centre Prinicipal, Nancy Rooney, prior to making your booking. Refunds will not be issued based on group allocation.
• Where a place is cancelled with less than 72hrs notice prior to the start of the course, a refund will only be issued where SYC is able to fill the cancelled slot. All cancellations must be done by email to the Centre Principal, Nancy Rooney on training@sligoyachtclub.ie.
• Trainees become temporary members of Sligo Yacht Club for the duration of the course.
• Where a participant sails their own boat, adequate boat insurance, in line with club membership requirements, must be in place.

Course Times:

This course runs from 13.00 – 16.00 Wednesday to Friday. SYC is not responsible for any course participant outside these times. All participants should be ready in sailing gear at 1.00pm sharp.

Sailing Gear:

• Full Wetsuit
• Cag: A weather/wind protector jacket.
• Buoyancy Aid: snug, secure fit (can be rented from the club for a €10 fee per week).
• Wetsuit booties are ideal, but an old pair of trainers will do. These protect the feet when launching the boats and aid warmth.
• Swimwear for under the wetsuit.
• Rash Vest: helps prevent friction with the salt water and neoprene.
• Towel.
• Any medication taken, such as inhalers.
• Sun Cream.
• Warm, woolly hat and/or cap for sunny weather. Helps protect against knocks (from boom mostly!)
• Sailing Gloves: fingerless gloves are useful.
• Suitable warm change of clothing for after sailing. e.g. hoodie/fleece.
• Wet Bag/Tub/Box for wet gear
• Long hair: please tie-up.

There will be days when weather conditions will prevent some or all course participants going on the water. For this reason, course participants are required to bring dry clothes with them to change into during the day when necessary. Where the forecast is more amenable in the am or late afternoon, the session hours may be adjusted to maximise time on the water.

All possessions should be taken home every evening and sailing gear should be rinsed.

By attending each day, parents/guardians undertake that the answers given in the pre-sailing course questionnaire are still No on a daily basis.

Access to changing rooms and toilets will be available from 12.45pm till 4.15pm. Participants will be asked to adhere strictly to these times.