Take part in the 2025 Ceilidh Cup right away!
Scottish Student Sailing and Ceilidh Cup Set Sail for 2025
The highly anticipated Scottish Student Sailing (SSS) Match Racing Championship and the Ceilidh Cup are set to return in 2025, promising an exciting weekend of sailing competition.
The event, scheduled for the weekend of 4-5 October at the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club in Rhu, Scotland, will serve as the first event of the academic year for Scottish student sailing teams and the first event of the year for Scottish student sailors.
Competition Format and Venue
The Ceilidh Cup and SSS Match Racing Championship will be a two-day match racing championship, part of the RYA National Match Racing Series final qualifier. The race area for the 2025 event is at East Patch, just off Helensburgh at the top of the Firth of Clyde.
The competition will be held aboard Royal Northern & Clyde YC's fleet of Sonar keelboats, with teams consisting of 4 to 5 crew members and a maximum crew weight of 350 kg. Up to 12 teams can compete, and the event is an official qualifier for the RYA National Match Racing Series, governed by RYA Match Racing rules and the Notice of Race document available from RYA Match Racing.
Grand Finals in London
The winners of the Ceilidh Cup will have the opportunity to compete at the Grand Finals for the national series at London's Queen Mary Sailing Club, 17-19 October 2025.
Entry Requirements and Fees
The Ceilidh Cup is open to teams from clubs and universities in Scotland and beyond. The early bird entry fee is £330 per team (until 23:59 on 11 September 2025). After that, entry is £360 per team until noon on 26 September 2025. Teams should register through the official channels referenced by the RYA and Royal Northern & Clyde YC.
Historical Significance
The Ceilidh Cup is Scotland's only match racing championship and is a key fixture for student sailors and national competitors alike. In the 2024 edition, the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club won the Ceilidh Cup, and Strathclyde University won the Scottish Student Sailing title. Many university students traditionally get their first taste of match racing at the Ceilidh Cup.
Invitation and Popularity
The RYA National Match Racing Series is returning to the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club in Scotland for its final qualifier of 2025, known as the Ceilidh Cup. Teams from clubs and universities across Scotland and beyond are invited to participate in the Ceilidh Cup, which is a popular event and one of the highlights of the Scottish sailing calendar.
Event coordinator Eilidh Millar describes the Ceilidh Cup as a beautiful place to sail with no other match racing event north of the border. The Ceilidh Cup in 2025 welcomes both rookie and experienced sailors and teams.
For complete details, teams should consult the RYA Notice of Race and event-specific materials. The Notice of Race for the series can be found at RYA Match Racing.
Sailing teams and sailors looking forward to the 2025 academic year have an exciting opportunity ahead, as the Scottish Student Sailing (SSS) Match Racing Championship and the Ceilidh Cup promise a weekend of intense sports competition. These events, scheduled to take place at the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club, will offer an official qualifier for the RYA National Match Racing Series, attracting both rookie and experienced sailors.
