National Yacht Club

Primary Activity

The National Yacht Club is a waterfront yacht club located in Dún Laoghaire, focused on sailing (both dinghy and keelboat), yacht racing (local and offshore), cruising, training courses, and year-round social activities on Dublin Bay. More information can be found on their official website.

History

The clubhouse on the East Pier was erected in 1870. The site operated under several names before the National Yacht Club identity was established in the early 20th century, with the club being registered in 1930. The club has a long competitive history and, in 1950, received a government warrant allowing a special club ensign incorporating the harp. For further details, visit the history page.

Accommodation

While there are no dedicated guest bedrooms listed, the clubhouse offers dining rooms and private event spaces. The club provides berthing, overnight facilities, and fuel, water, and power for visiting cruising yachts. For large events, the club has asked members to assist with hosting visiting sailors. More information is available on the dining room page.

Boatyard Facilities

The club features an on-site boathouse and platform with a slipway from the clubhouse into the harbour. Facilities include platform dinghy parking, crane lift for lift-in/lift-out and winter storage, pontoons, fuelling and water services, crane/mast step services, power wash facilities, and launch/tow services. The boathouse operates year-round with specified summer and winter hours and published service charges. More details can be found on their website.

Moorings and Anchorage

The club operates over eighty moorings and runs an annual mooring application and lift-in programme. It also offers platform dinghy parking and organized lift-in/lift-out dates for boats each season. Further information is available on the moorings page.

Clubhouse Features

The clubhouse includes a members’ bar, a dining room with private dining options, the JB Room (a meeting/event room opening onto the platform), full catering services, bookable event spaces, and club merchandise facilities, all with direct waterfront views and access to the platform and slip. More details can be found on the dining room page.

Training Summary

The club provides a wide range of training and safety courses, including junior ISA/Youth sailing levels and summer courses. Adult courses such as Start Sailing and Improve Sailing are run in J80s and accredited by Irish Sailing. The club also offers VHF (SRC) courses, Enhanced ICC courses, and powerboat/first-aid training. As an approved Irish Sailing training centre, the club runs Sailability programmes and disability-awareness/volunteer training. Further details can be found on the training page.

Racing Summary

The club is active in dinghy and keelboat one-design and offshore racing. It hosts and organizes regattas, including the NYC regatta, participates in ISORA and D2D offshore events, and has hosted world championships and stages of international match-racing events. More information can be found on the history page.

Cruising Summary

An active Cruising Group organizes cruises-in-company, overnight visits, sea passages, training talks, and an annual AGM/awards supper. The group runs a programme of local and longer coastal cruises with skipper briefings and member coordination. More details can be found on the cruising page.

Social Summary

The club has a year-round social programme that includes regular bar quizzes, wine appreciation courses, wine dinners, private and club dinners (such as awards nights and AGMs), bridge, golf outings, walking groups, choir, snooker, and other members’ social clubs and events. For more information, visit the social page.

Dress Code

There is no single blanket dress code published sitewide; individual events specify dress standards. For example, formal dinners may require 'Jacket & Tie', while conferences and events may sometimes be 'smart casual'. More details can be found on the dress code page.

Seasonal Operation

The boathouse operates seven days a week year-round, with reduced hours in winter. There is a defined summer season and an annual lift-in/lift-out and winter storage programme. The sailing and social programmes run throughout the year, with expanded on-water activity in spring and summer, and organized winter social activities. More information is available on the boathouse sailing page.