Plas Heli has been recognised as one of the UK’s premier sailing venues as it looks ahead to another decade of hosting national and international championships.
Since opening in July 2015, the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre has welcomed more than 47 UK, European and World Championship events.
Plas Heli is also a much-valued training base, with sailors from across the country attending regularly for RYA, British Sailing Pathway, Welsh and class squads.
A Welsh Sailing | Hwylio Cymru Impact Award has now been presented to the Plas Heli team in recognition of their contribution to the sport, while the RYA has reaffirmed its commitment to the venue as a leading UK sailing centre.
Nick Scott, RYA Director of Sport, said: “Plas Heli is an important asset for sailing in Wales and across the UK. Through our youth and pathway programmes, we’ve seen first-hand the value it provides as a venue for training and developing the next generation of sailors. It is also one of only a handful of locations with the facilities, expertise and infrastructure required to host major sailing events successfully. Places like Plas Heli are vital to the long-term health of our sport, and we look forward to seeing it continue to develop and thrive in the years ahead.”
World class
Located between Hafan Pwllheli Marina and a sweeping sandy beach, Plas Heli provides direct access to Cardigan Bay and some of the world’s finest sailing waters, with a stunning backdrop towards Eryri | Snowdonia. Sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds, the beach enables even the biggest fleets to launch and recover efficiently, with a short sail to the racing areas, minimal tidal influences and no big commercial traffic.
Major events in 2026 have included more than 225 junior sailors competing at the RS Feva and RS Tera Nationals. As RS Feva class secretary Chrissie Le Petit summed up: “Plas Heli is an outstanding location for hosting events, featuring a sailing area filled with delightful Welsh waves, along with excellent camping facilities. The team is top-notch: always welcoming, professional, and dedicated to helping you achieve your vision for the event. The RS Feva Class consistently leaves with smiles, and we eagerly anticipate our next visit.”
Award winning
Presenting the Impact Award, Sarah McGovern, Chief Operating Officer for RYA Cymru Wales | Welsh Sailing, said: “From weekends to week-long national and international championships, running events and preparing the venue takes planning and an enormous amount of time and commitment.
“Without Plas Heli and its volunteers, these events would not run in Wales. The team showcases our sport brilliantly, and always with a smile and a ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ attitude.”
Welcoming the award and RYA recognition, Stephen Tudor, Chair of Plas Heli, said: “Our knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer team makes a real difference for competitors and all those who visit us. Everyone has a sailing, boating and events background and brings valuable skills – whether that’s race management and mark laying, engine maintenance or marshalling – and the team understands the needs of event organisers from setting up the venue through to prize giving.”
Reflecting on the venue’s development, Stephen added: “It’s about giving back. I’ve been sailing since I was six years old with my father and brother, offshore and in the bay, and I want to see the sport continue to thrive in Pwllheli and in Wales. Having a centre of excellence was always an aspiration and we’re continuing to invest to ensure Plas Heli remains a first class venue for the future.”
Event village
Plas Heli is a proven championship and training venue for class associations and governing bodies, with purpose-built infrastructure designed to create a seamless experience for sailors, coaches and families, from free parking and secure compounds for boats and trailers to affordable on-site camping.
A spacious main hall is ideal for registration, boat measurement and rigging, as well as large gatherings and dinners. There are also a variety of other meeting rooms along with a café bar and restaurant. Outdoor balconies meanwhile provide spectacular views for watching the racing or socialising.
There is CCTV and fast wi-fi across the site and along with 60+ camping pitches with electric hook-ups for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, Plas Heli is committed to making events safe and family friendly.
Race management is supported by an elevated control bridge with views across the pontoons, launching and race areas. Equipment includes an impressive fleet of 11 RIBs and two committee boats, VHF radios and multiple sets of racing marks, enabling more than one course at a time to run simultaneously.
Investment is ongoing and includes refurbished meeting rooms and lounge, new grassed areas for tents, resurfaced wash-down areas and landscaping.
Plas Heli Director Mark Thompson said: “I am proud to see the advancements made with our race management equipment, our fleet of safety RIBs, our new Committee Boat, and the ground and site works at Plas Heli, all of which have contributed to the brilliant feedback we have received from competitors, event organisers, pontoon customers, and from our campers. We have also invested in improvements to our meeting rooms and building facilities, making for a better experience for our community users.”
As well as hosting major sailing championships, the multi-functional centre has become an important part of the community and economy in Pwllheli. Alongside hosting Pwllheli Sailing Club and its youth sailing section, Sea Cadets and Bangor University, the venue is regularly used by local groups and other events/sports such as the SHEULTRA marathon team.
Plan your event
Other events in 2026 have included the UK Cadet Nationals in August, the Welsh Youth and Junior Championships in September and a 29er Grand Prix event in October. In 2027, Plas Heli is looking forward to welcoming both the Topper Nationals and Topper Worlds. For organisers, booking is easy. The Plas Heli website includes online booking for all of its facilities, with a live calendar making it simple to choose and book dates.
As Stephen sums up: “We can’t change the distance to Pwllheli from the South Coast but what we can offer is exceptional sailing waters, breathtaking scenery and facilities that match the quality of the racing.”
Interested in holding your training or event at Plas Heli? Visit www.plasheli.org or get in touch by email: ops@plasheli.org
