Irish Sailing has announced a new collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Ireland that will see the Irish Sailing Performance Team equipped with a fleet of five new vans to support athletes and staff travelling across Europe.
The three-year support programme, made possible through the backing of the Irish Sailing Foundation, will provide safe and efficient transport for athletes and equipment as the team competes and trains internationally during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
The fleet includes three Mercedes Sprinter 315.36 Crew Cab Vans, one Mercedes Sprinter 315.36 Tourer and one Mercedes Vito 114L Panel Van.
Commenting on the partnership, Fergus Conheady, Commercial Vehicles Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz, said the collaboration reflected shared values between the two organisations.
“We are proud to work with Irish Sailing Association, supporting an organisation that reflects the same values of performance, reliability, and precision that define our van range,” he said.
“Through this partnership, we are delivering practical, premium transport solutions that meet the demands of their operations both on and off the water.”
Catherine Tempany, Executive Director of the Irish Sailing Foundation, said the investment would strengthen the support available to Irish sailors competing at the highest level.
“We have a world-class team, and being able to provide world-class equipment is a big step forward for our sailors,” she said.
“Our donors are seeing the impact of their support, and investment in people, equipment and facilities continues to drive the strong results we are seeing on the international stage.”
The Irish Sailing Performance Team has enjoyed a strong start to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, securing five senior medals during 2025, including a bronze medal at World Championship level.
That momentum has continued into 2026 with a gold medal at the opening Sailing Grand Slam event of the season and two silver medals at French Olympic Week in Hyères.
The new transport support comes as the team prepares for next week’s 49er World Championships in Quiberon, northern France.
Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, along with FX sailors Erin McIlwaine and Erin Barbour, will travel to the event with the support of Mercedes-Benz Ireland.
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Image Credit: Irish Sailing
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