Spotlight on Queen's Sailing Club
Thinking of joining one of our clubs or societies? Find out more about the Sailing Club at Queen’s.
Joining a club is about more than making new friends—it’s a chance to connect with like-minded people, have fun, and even enhance your CV.
At Queen’s, we’re proud to have over 200 clubs and societies, each with its own unique community and opportunities. In our Spotlight series, we’re delving into the stories behind these societies and meeting the passionate students who turn shared interests into something extraordinary. Whether you’re new to campus or simply looking to explore, this series promises inspiration, connection, and maybe even a little motivation to get involved.
This time, we’re chatting with Eoghan, current Captain of the Queen's Sailing Club and Mechanical Engineering student.
Introduce yourself: who you are, your role in the club, what you are studying at Queen’s, why you decided to join this club, how long you’ve been a member.
Hello! I’m Eoghan, the current Captain of the Queen’s University Belfast Sailing Club. I’m studying Mechanical Engineering and have just started my placement year. I’ve been a part of the Sailing Club for the past four years, and it’s been one of the best parts of my university experience. I’ve been sailing since I was very young, so I was thrilled to discover that Queen’s had a sailing club when I first joined. It was an easy decision to get involved - and I’ve never looked back.
Summer Sail Week in Croatia
Can you tell us a bit about the origins of your club? When and why was it founded?
The club was founded in September 2012 to provide students at Queen’s with the opportunity to sail competitively and socially while studying. It’s grown massively since then and remains the only university sailing club in Northern Ireland. This past year, we reached a record of over 120 members - a massive achievement for the club!
What are the main goals of your club?
The two main goals of the club are to compete at university sailing events across Ireland and the UK, and to introduce beginners to the sport. You don’t need any experience to join - many of our current committee members only learned how to sail through the club! Whether you’re a complete beginner or a competent sailor there’s plenty of ways to get involved in the club and that’s probably my favourite thing about the club.
Sailing event in Bundoran!
"You don’t need any experience to join - many of our current committee members only learned how to sail through the club!"
Why do you think a club like this is important for students at Queen’s?
The Sailing Club is a brilliant way to take a break from the pressures of study. We sail out of Bangor, so it’s also a great excuse to get out of Belfast! More than that, the club offers a really good social scene - we run themed nights out, pub crawls, and many more social events nearly every week during term time. It’s a great way to make friends and live the university experience!
Varsities in Schull, Co. Cork
Who is the society open to? Are there any requirements to join?
There’s pretty much no requirements to joining, the club is open to all students, regardless of experience. You don’t need to have sailed before - we’ll teach you everything you need to know. We also welcome students from Ulster University, so it’s a great mix of students involved in the club!
Queen's training session
What are the benefits of joining your club?
One of the best parts of joining is the opportunity to travel. Over the past year alone, I’ve sailed at events in Donegal, Sligo, Louth, Kerry, Dublin - and we even head over to Glasgow each year to compete with Scottish universities. These events are not just about sailing; there’s a huge social aspect involved with the events and it’s a great way to make friends with students from other universities!
Varsities Formal 2025
What kind of events or activities does your society organise? Do you have any traditions?
One of our big annual events is our Alumni Event, where past and current members come together to race in Bangor. It’s always a highlight - this year we welcomed teams from Edinburgh, UCD, and Trinity, and finished off the event with a black-tie dinner in the Great Hall at Queen’s. The Alumni event is always good fun and is open to all members of the club. It’s always nice to see some old faces come back for the weekend too!
How does the society stay connected outside of events?
Our main form of communication is our WhatsApp group - it's the best place to keep up with announcements, training sessions, and social plans. You can join the WhatsApp group chat here:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KqK9azIxO9jDsUuzeN3JkR?mode=ac_t
We’re also very active on Instagram, @qubsailingclub, where we post event recaps, sailing photos, and club news. It's a great way to see what we get up to, especially if you're thinking of joining this September.
Can you share a memorable event or highlight from your time in the club?
There have been loads, but one of the biggest highlights has to be our club trip to Greece this year. At the end of the second term, we chartered a yacht and spent a week sailing around the Greek islands with other university clubs from Glasgow, Strathclyde, Aberdeen and Dundee. Each night we docked at a different island, explored local towns and beaches and headed out for the night. It was unreal and I would highly recommend this trip. Next year we plan to head to Croatia, and I think everyone’s excited for this one already!
Greece 2025!
How has being a member in this club shaped your time at Queen’s?
Being part of the club has completely transformed my university experience. It’s given me lifelong friends, incredible travel opportunities, and so much confidence - not just on the water, but in leadership and organising too. I’ve been on the committee for four years now, and it’s been amazing to see the club grow from under 50 members to over 120.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining your club?
Just give it a go! I know it can seem intimidating if you’ve never sailed before, but it’s not as hard as it looks - and you’ll pick it up quickly. While we do compete seriously, the atmosphere in the club is really welcoming and social. We also offer a social membership for those who wish to get more involved into the social side of things but don’t want to commit to going sailing every week!
"Being part of the club has completely transformed my university experience. It’s given me lifelong friends, incredible travel opportunities, and so much confidence."
What’s the best way for students interested in the club to get involved or find out more?
The best place to meet us is at Freshers’ Fair on 17 September in the Students' Union - come say hi and have a chat with the committee. We’ll have a great night out planned for after where you can meet everyone in the club and learn more about what we get up to! After that, make sure to follow us on Instagram and join the WhatsApp group. We’re always happy to answer questions and get new people involved.
12 Pubs of Christmas!
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about the society?
Just that sailing at Queen’s is for everyone - not just elite athletes or people with experience. Whether you want to race competitively or just try something new and meet new people, the Sailing Club is a fantastic place to do it.
Find out more
Clubs and Societies at Queen's
Zoe BrankinStaff Writer | Queen's GlobalHi, I'm Zoe, and I'm proud to be part of the Queen's Global team. Outside of work, I love reading (I even run a local book club), spending time with my dogs, and never missing an opportunity for a coffee or brunch outing. |
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