Get on the Early Interest List!

Lough Erne Yacht Club is a proven championship venue, offering excellent racing conditions and outstanding hospitality. The sailing area provides sheltered water with reliable breeze, making it ideal for close, fair and consistent IDRA 14 racing across the full wind range.

Ashore, the club is compact, friendly, and perfectly set up for a championship week. Easy launching, secure boat parking, and a welcoming clubhouse that naturally becomes the social hub each evening. Everything is close, simple, and sailor focused, which is exactly what makes this venue so popular with visiting fleets.

Provisional – subject to final Notice of Race. Four days of racing, socials, and fleet time with plenty of opportunities to tune, learn, and catch up. Please monitor the official notice board and the event WhatsApp group for updates or schedule changes.

Whether you’re arriving with a fully loaded boat and road trailer or travelling light, there are plenty of convenient accommodation options both on-site or close to the club, and all within a short drive.

On-site camping will be available on a grass area beside the club, suitable for tents. As well as this grass area there is plenty of paved area for caravans, and camper vans. This will be the heart of the event atmosphere and is the best way to stay fully immersed in Nationals 2026. Close to the boats, the bar, and the post racing stories. It’s relaxed, social, and ideal for competitors who want to be right at the centre of the action all week. 

Spaces are limited, so early arrival is always recommended.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads, there is a range of off-site accommodation nearby, from self-catering cottages to welcoming B&Bs and hotels. All are easily accessible and well used by visiting sailors. Full details can be found on the usual booking websites. 

Competitors are strongly advised to book early, as accommodation availability in the area may be limited during the event period.

A few nearby options to get you started are listed below (driving times are approximate):

Manor Cottages – 4 min drive

Manor House Country Hotel – 4 min drive

Old Schoolhouse B&B – 5 min drive

Rossclare Lodge B&B – 5 min drive

Ballycassidy Retreat – 6 min drive

Inishclare Cottages – 6 min drive

Longfields Lodge B&B – 6 min drive

The Old School – 6 min drive

Shirley Bradshaw Accommodation – 7 min drive

With everything so close to the venue, you can enjoy easy mornings and relaxed evenings with the fleet.

To properly mark the 80th anniversary of the IDRA 14, a full social programme will run throughout the event, making this Nationals as memorable ashore as it is on the water.

Planned highlights include;

A welcome evening

Relaxed post race socials

A special class social organized by our youth category sailors

Championship diner and prizegiving

There will be plenty of time for fleet chat, tuning debates, storytelling, and celebrating the history and future of the IDRA 14.

Staying on-site means you won’t miss a thing, the best conversations and moments often happen after sailing, sometimes in the middle of the night, and this event is designed to bring the fleet together every evening.

Have an idea for the socials? Tell us, if it works, we’ll try to make it happen.

Families and supporters are always very welcome throughout the event. The camping area or nearby self-catering accommodation make it easy to turn the Nationals into a full family trip, while the social programme, club facilities and social programme ensure there’s plenty happening both on and off the water.

For those supporters who are not sailing there are some ammenitites near by the club which could be of interest. Examples include Devenish Island Monastic Site, the Marble Arch Caves, National Trust - Castle Coole, Tully Castle, Pollnagollum Cave, Enniskillen Castle or Castle Archdale Country Park.

While it's still early days we've heard some rumours ...

Defending Champion Ryan Cairns along with 128 is tipped to be at the event and Simon Revill, with 134, is out for blood this year. You can be asured he will be doing all he can to regain the title. Both boats are already being prepped to be in top shape although last we heard neither have crew yet opening the door for someone to swoop in and grab the title!

Pierre Long and his sons have be sailing all year prepping to take on the title. They have regularly been racing against 38 and 128 and have really showed their speed in the winter sailing.

Dan Kinlay in the recently relaunched 30 is another confirmed to be entering. Dan has spent the entire winter carefully prepping the bottom of 30 which now has a fresh new paint job. He's now moved on to tuning and with months to go the boat should be well up to speed. No doubt he will be one to watch.

We'll keep an ear out and when we hear more you'll find it here.