RYA Start Racing & Club Racing Course
Ballyholme Yacht Club offers RYA Start Racing courses for sailors who want to take their first steps into competitive sailing. This course introduces the fundamentals of racing, including basic rules, simple tactics, and race starts, all delivered in a supportive and enjoyable environment that builds confidence on the race course.
RYA Recognised Pathway Classes
The Topper is a single-handed sailing dinghy designed primarily for junior sailors who want a safe, manageable boat to learn and race in. Created by Ian Proctor, it’s especially popular with sailing clubs and training centres.
It’s loved because it’s tough, low-maintenance and is easy to handle, yet still exciting to sail. Its strict one design racing keeps competition fair, making it one of the most popular youth racing boats worldwide — and one of the most popular racing classes at BYC.
The RS Feva is a double-handed dinghy designed for young sailors who want to move into more advanced sailing. Built by RS Sailing, it’s ideal for junior and youth crews looking to develop communication, boat handling and racing skills.
It’s especially popular as a great class for team pairings, helping sailors build strong partnerships on the water while learning to race together. Stable, durable, and exciting to sail. It also has a strong international racing scene and is a growing class in Northern Ireland.
The ILCA is a single-handed dinghy designed for sailors ready to take on high-level, competitive racing. Raced worldwide and recognised as an Olympic class boat, it’s sailed at the highest level of the sport, including the Olympic Games.
It’s popular because it’s physically demanding, highly tactical, and raced under strict one-design rules — meaning success comes down to skill, fitness, and strategy. With different rig sizes to suit a range of sailor weights, the ILCA offers a clear pathway to elite competition and is a key performance class at BYC.
The 29er is a high-performance, double-handed skiff designed for ambitious youth sailors aiming for fast, technical, and competitive racing.
It’s popular because of its speed, asymmetric spinnaker, and twin trapezes, which demand strong teamwork, athleticism, and sharp boat handling. The 29er offers intense, competitive racing and is ideal for committed team pairings looking to push their performance — making it an exciting and aspirational class at BYC.
BYC Performance Team Representatives
Our Performance Pathway Sailors represent the dedication, ambition, and talent within our club. These sailors have committed to developing their skills at a higher level, training consistently and competing in regional, national, and international events.
As members of the pathway, they demonstrate strong work ethic, teamwork, resilience, and a drive to improve both on and off the water. They act as role models for younger sailors at BYC, showing what can be achieved through commitment and passion for the sport.
We’re proud to support their journey as they push their performance, represent the club, and strive towards their sailing goals.
See our represented athletes here: