Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The INSS Debut at the RS Feva Easterns

22nd September 2022
The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School crews that participated at the RS Feva Easterns at Dun Laoghaire
The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School crews that participated at the RS Feva Easterns at Dun Laoghaire

The RS Feva Class is on the rebound in Dún Laoghaire thanks to the determined efforts of a small group of parents from the waterfront clubs and collaboration with RS Sailing agent MarineServices.ie. Last winter, plans were laid to see good numbers in the local RS Feva events and get boats not currently regularly on the water back racing, and Kenny Rumball was determined that the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School would play its part.

Heather from MarineServices.ie got to work and developed a one-stop Feva renewal clinic, assessing the current RS Fevas in the Dun Laoghaire waterfront clubs as well as the school to modernize control systems, rigging and sails.

As a result, there were six race-ready RS Fevas at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School, and when word was put out to parents and students of the summer and winter programmes about a 6-week coaching programme culminating in participating in the RS Feva East Coast Championships, all 12 opportunities in this double-handed class were filled in under two days.

Heather from MarineServices.ie joined the sailing school’s coach Ronan Mooney to deliver the six Saturday morning training sessions. The school’s programmes have always emphasized participation and enjoyment, and serious racing doesn’t often feature as it has to be accomplished in a manner where all those participating feel an accomplishment, regardless of the results. So when the group met for the first time, the emphasis was on enjoying the event as nearly all of the group had never participated in a competitive sailing event.

After six weeks of coaching, the final crews of the five boats received a huge boost with five brand new RS Feva XL sails ahead of their inaugural competition. Keen to support the National Yacht Club in running the event, a RIB and crew from the school were on the water to assist in safety and event coordination. This also provided familiar faces to the school’s sailing crews, helping to disperse nerves that understandably are associated with any competitive event.

Racing at the RS Feva Easterns at Dun Laoghaire HarbourRacing at the RS Feva Easterns at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

A major highlight for the coaches was watching the five boats round the windward mark and without hesitation all hosting their kites despite some hesitation from others in the fleet and catching up as many as 5 places. “ We could not be more proud of them. These children had never been on a start line before and despite this all managed to come away with a prize and lots of laughs a fantastic weekend all round.” said Heather Wright who assisted in the coaching delivered by school instructor Ronan Mooney.

The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School would like to say a huge thanks to all involved in the event and for making the novice racers feel so welcome. “While the school might be new to this, don't you worry, this is just the beginning,” said Kenny Rumball, centre Principal and Irish RS Sailing agent.

Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School Team Results

  • 11th Overall: John Healy& Daniel Burns
  • 12th Overall: Finn Byrne & Joe Gaffney
  • 19th Overall: Kealan Reilly & Oisin O'Reilly
  • 20th Overall: Orla Casey & Carla Williamson
  • 21st Overall: Theo Homan & Manus O Baoighill

Race Results

You may need to scroll vertically and horizontally within the box to view the full results

Published in INSS, RS Sailing
Afloat.ie Team

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

The Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School is based on Dun Laoghaire's West Pier on Dublin Bay and in the heart of Ireland's marine leisure capital.

Whether you are looking at beginners start sailing course, a junior course or something more advanced in yacht racing, the INSS prides itself in being able to provide it as Ireland's largest sailing school.

Since its establishment in 1978, INSS says it has provided sailing and powerboat training to approximately 170,000 trainees. The school has a team of full-time instructors and they operate all year round. Lead by the father and son team of Alistair and Kenneth Rumball, the school has a great passion for the sport of sailing and boating and it enjoys nothing more than introducing it to beginners for the first time. 

Programmes include:

  • Shorebased Courses, including VHF, First Aid, Navigation
  • Powerboat Courses
  • Junior Sailing
  • Schools and College Sailing
  • Adult Dinghy and Yacht Training
  • Corporate Sailing & Events

History of the INSS

Set up by Alistair Rumball in 1978, the sailing school had very humble beginnings, with the original clubhouse situated on the first floor of what is now a charity shop on Dun Laoghaire's main street. Through the late 1970s and 1980s, the business began to establish a foothold, and Alistair's late brother Arthur set up the chandler Viking Marine during this period, which he ran until selling on to its present owners in 1999.

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, thereby rubbishing the assertion that sailing is an expensive sport.