Sailing into Wellness Project Supports Recovery and Wellbeing in Fingal

Participants on a path to recovery with the North Dublin Drugs Task Force celebrated the successful completion of the Sailing into Wellness project this week, following an inspiring four-day programme held at Howth Yacht Club.

The initiative, organised by Healthy Fingal in partnership with Sailing into Wellness and the North Dublin Drugs Task Force, and supported by Howth Yacht Club, provided participants with a unique opportunity to build confidence, resilience, and wellbeing through sailing and group-based activities. Over the course of the week, participants engaged in hands-on sailing sessions, teamwork exercises, and reflective learning, all designed to support physical health and mental wellbeing while fostering a strong sense of achievement and connection.

Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Tom O’Leary, praised the participants for their commitment and acknowledged the collaborative effort behind the initiative: “I want to commend everyone involved in this fantastic programme. The courage and determination shown by participants this week is something to be proud of. Initiatives like Sailing into Wellness highlight Fingal’s commitment to supporting people in recovery and strengthening community wellbeing.”

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Niall McGuirk, Healthy Fingal Coordinator, highlighted the importance of initiatives like this in supporting recovery journeys: "The Sailing into Wellness project demonstrates the power of partnership and innovative approaches to health and wellbeing. Seeing participants grow in confidence and build new skills over just a few days has been truly inspiring. This programme shows how community-based supports can have a real and lasting impact and I’d like to thank Howth YC for opening up their facilities to us.”

Participants were presented with certificates in recognition of their achievements, marking an important milestone in their ongoing recovery journey. Representing the North Dublin Drugs Task Force, John Sullivan recognised the value of experiential programmes in recovery support: "Programmes like this provide more than just an activity—they create opportunities for people to reconnect, rebuild confidence, and see new possibilities for themselves. The positive engagement we’ve seen this week has been exceptional, and we are delighted to be part of it.”

Due to the overwhelming success of this week’s programme, a second Sailing into Wellness project is scheduled to take place in August, offering another group of participants the opportunity to benefit from this impactful initiative.