The latest news from Northern Irish waters produced by Yachting Life & Afloat
Royal Ulster Yacht Club Announces 'Rebranded' Bangor Regatta for June 2024
2 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A ‘Town’ Regatta at Bangor on Belfast Lough was first held over a century ago and saw a reincarnation in 2018. The 2020 event fell foul of Covid 19, but Bangor Town Regatta did run in 2022 and the Royal…
Over 2,000 Fish Dead in ‘Major Fish Kill’ in Co Derry River
29 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A “major fish kill” in a Co Derry river has tallied than 2,000 fish across a range of species, as BBC News reports. The incident was discovered last Friday morning (24 November) on the Muff River in Eglinton, near the…
Kennedy and Kane Move up the RS400 Winter Series Rankings on Belfast Lough
27 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
For the fourth instalment of the RS400 Winter Series on Belfast Lough the mood in the Royal North of Ireland boat park was less than cheery. Spells of rain and glassy conditions that morning led most sailors to believe that…
RYA Northern Ireland launches ‘We’re All In’ Pilot Scheme to Support Clubs With Volunteer Engagement
25 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland’s new five-year strategy, Navigating the Future, recognises that volunteers are one of the main driving forces behind sailing and boating in Northern Ireland. Now the organisation has announced a pilot scheme, We’re All In, which aims to…
East Antrim Boat Club Prizegiving Celebrates Successful Keelboat and Dinghy Season
25 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
East Antrim Boat Club at Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland recently celebrated a successful Keelboat and Dinghy series at its annual prizegiving. The keelboat series was raced across four months, from May to August, with an overall winner each…
Snipe Dinghy 'Valkyria' Restoration Project is Offered on Lough Erne
23 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Sailing enthusiasts around Lough Erne in County Fermanagh have a proud record of restoring old boats as well as building new craft in traditional designs. Some years ago, the late Fred Ternan set up a small organisation called Lough Erne…
River Conservation Charity Calls for Real-Time Sewage Alerts in Northern Ireland
22 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Rivers Trust supports the findings of new report that rings alarm bells about the critical state of water quality management in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Surfers Against Sewage Water Quality Report for 2023 says that in Northern…
Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Benefits from Belfast Lough's Community Generosity
22 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI station on Belfast Lough is one of three local charities in Bangor and Ballyholme to benefit from the generosity of the local community. On Monday, 20 November, volunteers from Bangor RNLI were delighted to be presented with a…
Six Newcastle RNLI Crew Recognised for Bringing Capsized Rowing Boat Crew to Safety in Gale Force Winds
22 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Six crew members from Newcastle RNLI in County Down have been recognised for their courage, determination and teamwork in bringing the crew of a racing rowing boat to safety after it capsized off Ardglass Harbour in June last year. Coxswain…
Experts Say Years Before Impact of Toxic Algal Blooms on Lough Neagh is Fully Understood
19 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Warning signage is being removed from locations around Lough Neagh following this past summer’s blooms of toxic blue-green algae. But as BBC News reports, it could be years before the ecological impact on the lough is fully understood. Ulster Angling…
Carrybridge RNLI Lifesavers Feature in BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea
19 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Following their fellow Northern Ireland lifeboat volunteers in Larne, as reported last month on Afloat.ie, the crew at Carrybridge RNLI will feature in the latest series of Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two at 8pm next Thursday 23 November.…
Cross Channel Record Holders Become Nacra 17 Euro Champions
16 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The UK catamaran pairing that set the fastest cross-channel time between Northern Ireland and Scotland in September have become European Champions in the mixed Nacra 17 class. Great Britain's Anna Burnet and John Gimson clinched the title at a light-weather edition…
Over 75 Per Cent of Seabird Species Breeding in Ireland Have Increased
16 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Over three-quarters of seabird species breeding in Ireland have increased, with only two species declining, according to a census just published. The “Seabirds Count” census shows that Ireland is particularly important for species such as Roseate Tern and European Storm-petrel…
Foyle College Completes Foyle and Carlingford Ambassador Programme
15 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
In late October and early November, Foyle College became the latest and final school to complete the 2023 Foyle and Carlingford Ambassador Programme after a week of engagement and educational workshops across the Foyle catchment area. On the Monday, 21…
Kennedy and Kane Produce the Goods on Day Two of RS400 Winter Series at Royal North of Ireland YC
13 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Week two of the RS400 Winter Series at Royal North of Ireland YC series on Belfast Lough arrived dank and dismal on Sunday with light rain and a forecast including 29-knot gusts; what a contrast to the previous bright and…
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club Crew Enjoyed JOG Success Until Penelope was Dismasted
12 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Until his Dehler 34 Penelope was dismasted competing in The Junior Offshore Group (JOG) racing in the Round the Isle of Wight race earlier this year, Peter McConnell, an outport member of Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough…
Vaughans Lead RS400 Winter Series After Three Races at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
7 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Counting a 3,2,4, Ross and Andrew Vaughan lead the RS400 fleet by one point on Belfast Lough after the first day of racing in the Winter Series trophy hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. Lying second on…
Former Portaferry RNLI Crew Member Heather Kennedy is New Lifeboat Operations Manager
6 November 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A former lifeboat crew member who joined the volunteer team at Portaferry RNLI on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland in 1980 when she was just 17 has recently returned to her hometown, where she has now taken up the reins…
NI Schools and Young People Complete Foyle and Carlingford Ambassador Programme
31 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Following July’s programme of events, the Foyle & Carlingford Ambassador summer programme was completed after a week of engaging and educational workshops across the Carlingford catchment this August. Young people signed up from across the catchment to take part. A…
Kennedy and Kane Look For Hat Trick at RS400 Winter Series at Cultra
31 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The RS400 Winter Series returns to Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club for its 17th Year on Belfast Lough next weekend. Resuming this Sunday (5th November) and running until the 17th of December, the series concludes with the infamous Christmas…
RYANI Performance Manager to Speak in Second RYA Connected Online Session
30 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Hear from the RYANI’s performance manager Andrew Baker in the second RYA Connected Online session on Monday 27 November, where the focus will be on the talent and performance pathways for sailing in Northern Ireland. The evening session will provide an…
Restrictions Lifted at Lough Neagh Beauty Spot After Discovery of Suspected Wartime Munition
27 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Restrictions have been lifted at Oxford Island in Co Armagh after the discovery of a suspected wartime munition. The object has since been made safe after its examination by specialist PSNI officers at the Lough Neagh beauty spot and nature…
'Free to a Good Home' - Appeal to Find New Homes for Two Ballyholme Bay Project Yachts
25 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two Ballyholme Bay yachts, which would make a great match-racing pair, need a new home (or homes). They are 22 ft plank-built sloops which were built on the Clyde in approximately 1939 for members of Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast…
‘Hundreds’ of Juvenile Salmon Lost in Fish Kill on Co Armagh River
24 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Local anglers have said it could take years for stocks to recover after a major fish kill in a Northern Ireland river. According to BBC News, it’s believed hundreds of juvenile salmon were lost as a result of a slurry…
Campaigners Appealing Dismissal of Legal Challenge to Larne Lough Gas Cavern Plans
22 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Local campaigners are taking their challenge against proposed gas caverns under Larne Lough to the Court of Appeal, following its dismissal by the High Court in August. As previously noted on Afloat.ie, all seven grounds of the legal challenge brought…
RS Feva 'Fling' Dinghy Regatta at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
19 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ten RS Fevas from clubs around Belfast Lough rounded off their season with a Final Fling at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club recently. After the initial strong wind died down to just in time to allow the event to…
Waterways Ireland Confirms Daily Operation of Portora Lock on Erne System
18 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and inland waterways users that Portora Lock on the Erne System is currently operation. The lock will be operated daily from 8am to 10.30pm. During these times, a lock-keeper will be present and will…
Rivers Trust Offers Safety Advice as Storm Babet Moves Across Northern Ireland
18 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Rivers Trust has issued advice to the public ahead of the potential flood impacts of Storm Babet on Northern Ireland waters over the next few days. Yellow weather warnings have been issued across the rest of the week for…
Native Oyster Fishery in Foyle Area Suspended to Prioritise Conservation
17 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Loughs Agency, the regulatory body for fisheries in Northern Ireland, has announced the suspension of the Native Oyster Fishery in the Foyle area starting from 6 am on October 24th, 2023, until 6 pm on February 29th, 2024. The decision…
Northern Ireland Squib Champions in Action at Lough Derg Yacht Club's Freshwater Keelboat Regatta
13 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Squib National Champions Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough are among 33 class entries that will compete this weekend at Lough Derg Yacht Club's Freshwater Keelboat Regatta in County Tipperary. Other entries…
Foyle Port Welcomes Lough Foyle’s Biggest Ever Ship
11 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Norwegian Star, the largest-ever cruise ship to drop anchor in Lough Foyle, arrived spectacularly at 7am, marking the end of the 2023 cruise season for Foyle Port. The ship has a gross tonnage of 91,740 and a length of…
Erne System: Pike Classic Takes Place This Weekend
9 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Erne Pike Classic will take place this weekend from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October. Friday involves a shore-based angling competition. The Waterways Ireland jetties…
Lighthouse Tourism in Ireland Sees Significant Increase, Belfast Conference Hears
8 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lighthouse tourism in Ireland has significantly increased, with a 60% rise in overnight stays in such facilities throughout the country since 2019, according to the Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism initiative. Last year, over 622,000 people visited lighthouses and lighthouse…
Belfast Lough Harbour Town Of Donaghadee Secedes To Viking Faroe Islands
7 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
When the Vikings first swept into Belfast Lough around 800 AD, the lack of harbours was no problem, as the gently shelving beach at the wide expanse of Ballyholme Bay was ideal for hauling their longships ashore. Thus Ballyholme –…
Six Wins for Kearney and Nelson at GP14 'Hot Toddy' at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
7 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Last weekend, 27 GP14s gathered at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough for the first of the Hot Toddy meetings of the 23/24 season. Dominating the competition were the home crew of…
Lower Bann: Portna Lock Closure for Gate Replacement Works
6 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann Navigation in Northern Ireland that Portna Lock east of Kilrea will be closed to navigation from Monday 9 October for a period of around six weeks. This is to facilitate…
XOcean Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) Visits Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough
5 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Many assorted vessels visit Bangor Marina, but the XOcean Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) may be the most unusual. Last week, Harbour Master Kevin Baird and his team, MCA staff and Belfast Coastguard welcomed the UK Maritime Minister Baroness Vere of…
Larne Lifeboats Called Out to Swimmer in Difficulty Outside Portmuck Harbour
4 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Larne RNLI came to the aid of a swimmer who got into difficulty half a mile from Portmuck Harbour on Wednesday afternoon (4 October). The station’s volunteers were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats…
Feva 'Final Fling' Held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
4 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The enticingly named RS Feva Final Fling and Social on Saturday afternoon (7th) is being held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough. Four of the nine boats entered were from Ballyholme…
UK Fined €32m by European Court of Justice Over Red Diesel Use by Pleasure Boats
2 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The UK has been fined €32m by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for allowing pleasure boats to use red diesel before Brexit came into effect. Under EU law, only commercial boats can use lower-tax dyed diesel, following a ruling…
Korean Marine Scientists Visit Derry~Londonderry Port
2 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Loughs Agency recently welcomed a marine science delegation from Korea to the North West as part of a two-day workshop focusing on transboundary cooperation for sustainable ocean and coastal areas. The workshop was organised and sponsored by Queen’s University…
Andy Thompson is "Sailor of the Month (Dinghies)" for September
1 October 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
For the second year in a row, East Antrim Boat Club top crewman Andy Thompson hit the sailing headlines by winning a major Fireball dinghy title with ace UK helmsman Tom Gillard. In 2022, Gillard and Thompson scooped the world…
Olympic Catamaran Medalists Smash Cross-Channel Record Time Between Ireland and Scotland
29 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Taking off from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Northern Ireland a day ahead of Storm Agnes' arrival, Mixed Catamaran Olympic Medalists, John Gimson and Anna Burnett sailing a foiling Nacra 17 have beaten the previous record (subject to ratification) for a…
GP14s Gather at Royal North for Autumn 'Hot Toddy' Event on Belfast Lough
28 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The first of the annual GP14 Hot Toddy events listed in the class calendar will be held this weekend (30th September -1st October) at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. The event originates at East Antrim…
Antrim Boat Club Aims To Revive Dinghy Sailing on Lough Neagh
27 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Antrim Boat Club (ABC) in Northern Ireland has taken a step towards bringing back dinghy sailing after a long absence with the purchase of five RS Zest dinghies to develop a new training centre. Training has already started. The Club…
Lough Neagh Pollution Crisis is End Result of ‘Decades of Neglect’
24 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Neagh “isn’t just dying, it’s been killed” by a combination of human-made factors, one conservationist has declared as the crisis around toxic blooms of blue-green algae continues. Speaking to The Irish Times, Friends of the Earth NI director James…
East Down Yacht Club Leisure 17s Continue Their 50 Years of Sailing Celebrations
24 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
In early September, five boats from the Leisure 17 class at East Down Yacht Club in Northern Ireland, along with a Leisure 20, a Drascombe Long Boat, and a Golden Hind 26, embarked on a 15-mile journey from Strangford Lough…
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club Admiral Authors Comprehensive History of the Belfast Lough Club
24 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Robert Hume, the Admiral of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, has authored a comprehensive history of the club, with invaluable contributions from many others. The 180-page hardback book is richly illustrated and covers the club's beginnings and development…
Mixed Catamaran Olympic Medalists Aim to Set New North Channel Sailing Record Time
22 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyholme Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough will be the start point for a record-breaking trip across the North Channel to Portpatrick on the Mull of Galloway in Scotland during the week beginning 25th September. Team GB…
Tom Gillard and East Antrim's Andy Thompson Win Fireball European Championship in Slovenia
22 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson of Larne in Northern Ireland have won the Fireball European Championship at Portroz, Slovenia. The pair scored three bullets during the final day of racing in spectacular conditions with winds typically around 18 knots but…
Appeal to Save Lough Neagh Issued By Two Archbishops
20 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two archbishops of Armagh have called for a joint task force to save Lough Neagh from “an environmental disaster”. Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin and Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop John McDowell have issued a joint statement in which they…
Northern Ireland Councillors Call for Action Over Toxic Blue-Green Algae Blooms
16 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Causeway Coast and Glens councillors have echoed growing concerns over the state of the aquatic environment following recent blooms of toxic blue-green algae, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. Alliance Councillor Peter McCully tabled a motion at last week’s Environmental Services…
New Life For Ireland’s Ancient Local Classes As Top Sailors Learn to Value Neighbourhood Sport
15 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
They’ve been part of our sailing furniture for so long that you could be forgiven for thinking Ireland’s historic local classes might just quietly fade away through being barely noticed. But you’d be very much mistaken. 2023 has been a…
RYANI Calls for Affiliated Clubs to Have Their Say on New Governance Structures
14 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland has been reviewing its governance structures for the delivery of its strategic plan, Navigating the Future. RYANI chief executive Greg Yarnall says: “The proposed changes are being put forward to help provide greater organisational stability and put…
ILCA Sailor Daniel Palmer is Overall Champion in RYA Northern Ireland Youth Sailing Championships for a Second Time
12 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Over the weekend, the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Sailing Championships took place at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, attracting over 130 sailors from throughout Northern Ireland and beyond. The sailing event marked the start of the competitive season for…
Council Planners Approve Cloghan Point Oil Terminal Expansion Despite Sizeable Local Opposition
8 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s planning committee have approved for expansion of a Belfast Lough oil terminal despite sizeable local opposition to the project, as BBC News reports. Cloghan Point has four large tanks which are currently used to…
Strangford Lough Youth Series Attracts Strangford Lough YC, Killyleagh, Quoile, East Down and Strangford SC
7 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Any sailing competition for young people that began in 2008 and is still going strong must have an attractive format. The Strangford Lough Youth Series is still drawing sizeable turnouts, and maybe it’s because the timing, on the day after,…
All Aboard for a Weekend of Fun at Belfast Maritime Festival This Weekend
6 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Visitors can discover a treasure trove of free activities at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. Taking place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with entertainment stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the…
Record Engagement with Water Safety Programme Reported by Sport Northern Ireland
5 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Sport Northern Ireland has announced that the 2023 Get Wet Stay Safe Programme has achieved record engagement this year. The initiative, now in its second year, aims to raise awareness about water safety and has seen over 1,300 people participate…
Wychcraft Dinghy Restoration: A Tale of 1,000 Stainless Steel Screws and a Fascinating History
4 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
One thousand stainless steel screws and then more. That is what it took to restore Oliver Curran’s Wychcraft dinghy. They’re used to building boats in strange locations on either side of the Strangford Narrows in Co Down, with Billy Brown’s…
Discover the Maritime History of Groomsport with New Self-Guided Walking Tour Map
3 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Groomsport is a small village on the North Down coast about two miles east of Bangor but in no way overshadowed by the larger town. It and its inhabitants have always had strong maritime links. The original Gaelic name for…
Ballyholme Yacht Club Dominates RS Feva Northern Ireland Championships
3 September 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Fourteen boats with a mixture of duos and family crews took part in the East Down Yacht Club hosted RS Feva Northern Ireland championships over the Bank Holiday weekend. The club is situated on the sheltered shores of Holm Bay…
Legal Challenge Over Larne Lough Gas Caverns Is Dismissed
31 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The High Court in Belfast has dismissed a legal challenge against proposed gas caverns under Larne Lough. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, judgment was reserved in early May in the "complex" and "significant" judicial review into granting a marine licence…
24 Boats Set to Compete in Irish Flying Fifteen National Championships at County Antrim Yacht Club
31 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Entries are in from the North, South, East and West for this weekend's Irish Flying Fifteen National Championships, but where will the title rest after the sailing is over? On Wednesday, County Antrim Yacht Club advised that 24 entries have…
Ballyronan Boat Club Commodore Completes Epic Journey Across the Atlantic and Caribbean
31 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyronan Boat Club lies on the northwestern shore of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. In his welcoming words on the club website, Commodore Elywn Agnew says the Club is keen to create great experiences and…
Erne System: Dredging Operations Continue on Kesh River
29 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Erne System that dredging operations on the Kesh River in Co Fermanagh are continuing. Dredging at the mouth of the Kesh River (West Section) has been completed as of…
Tom Coulter is Top Northern Ireland Performer at Howth's ILCA National Championships
29 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Of the 15 Northern Ireland competitors in the ILCA Nationals at Howth Yacht Club recently, the best showing was that of Tom Coulter from East Antrim BC and Portrush YC in Co Antrim, who topped the 23-strong ILCA 6 fleet…
Issues With Access to Lough Neagh ‘Will Cost Lives’ Says Community Rescue Group
27 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Neagh Rescue says interference with access to the water due to silting issues “will cost lives”, as BelfastLive reports. The Northern Ireland community lifeboat group said two call-outs in recent days were delayed due to silt blockages at Maghery…
Newcastle RNLI and Lifeguards Assist in Rescue of Ill Walker
26 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Eliza, and all-weather lifeboat, Leonard Kent, launched on Thursday, (24 August 2023) to assist a man who took ill on Murlough beach. At approximately 1.40 pm, Belfast Coastguard requested assistance from Newcastle RNLI. The RNLI’s lifeguards…
NI Watersports Centre Closes After Nearly 30 Years Over ‘Unsustainable’ Blue-Green Algae Issue
23 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A popular destination for watersport on Northern Ireland’s North Coast has blamed governmental inaction over wastewater discharges for its decision to close after nearly three decades. In a statement on social media, Rob Skelly of the Cranagh Activity Centre said…
Howth Sailor Harry Dunne Tops the Optimist Nationals Podium
21 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
On Monday, as the international squads arrived at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland, the IODAI Development Squad - who are the newest sailors in the Main Fleet - took to the water with Head Coach Adam…
Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Assist Sailing Yacht in Difficulty
20 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The volunteer crew from Portaferry RNLI were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard shortly before 5pm on Friday (18 August) to assist a sailing yacht in difficulty. The 28ft yacht with two adults and a child on board had run…
RYANI Hails Local Topper Sailors’ Success in Worlds and Nationals
19 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland has hailed the success of its junior sailors in the recent Topper Worlds as well as the Irish and British Nationals in the region’s largest junior single-handed class. In early July, four out of the top five…
Two Men Rescued By Red Bay RNLI After Speedboat Catches Fire off Antrim Coast
15 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two men were rescued by the Red Bay RNLI after their 18ft speedboat caught fire off the coast of Antrim. The incident occurred south of Rathlin Island, and the rescue team was quickly on the scene after being alerted by…
Excellent Results for Northern Ireland Boats at West Highland Yachting Week
15 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland boats stamped their mark on the racing in West Highland Yachting Week in Scotland with excellent results, the best of which were Michael Petticrew's Nicholson 43 Magdaleyne from Strangford Lough YC, who took first overall in Class 3…
Lough Neagh ‘Dying’ From Uncontrolled Slurry and Sewage Run-Off, Anglers Claim
13 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Neagh is “dying” due to the affects of pollution from untreated wastewater and agricultural run-off, angling groups have claimed. BBC News reports on the concerns which follow recent toxic algal blooms on the lough — which has an important commercial…
Two Ballyholme Yacht Club Cadets Praised for Quick Action in Helping a Kayaker in Trouble
12 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two Ballyholme Yacht Club Cadets have been praised for their quick action in helping a kayaker in trouble in Ballyholme Bay on Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland last Tuesday. Hunter Reddy and Joseph Robinson could see on the Club webcam…
Women have always featured prominently at East Down Yacht Club in Northern Ireland, with several holding club officer positions over the years. Now in an initiative by Margie Crawford, the New Members Liaison officer, and following a very successful Women’s…
Eccles and Wright Win Irish Squib Championships at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
12 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
David Eccles and Mike Wright, in Inshallah from the host club, Royal North on the south side of Belfast Lough, are the new Irish National Squib Champions and lifted the trophy for the first time. Second were Ruan O’Tiarnaigh and…
Allen and Swanston Crowned Irish Open Multihull Champions 2023 at Antrim Boat Club
12 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Adrian Allen and Barry Swanston from Ballyholme regained the Irish title at Antrim Boat Club last weekend after an exciting high wind tussle with the 2022 Champions Matt and James McNicholl. Runner up was Wyatt Orsmonde, crewed by Tom Murphy…
Quoile Prepares to Welcome ISORA Fleet as Strangford Races To Decide Overall Wolf's Head Trophy
11 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A small but potent ISORA fleet is racing to a Strangford Lough finish this Saturday morning, and ISORA's overall Wolf's Head Trophy for 2023 is at stake. The race got underway following a postponement due to poor weather conditions on…
Three Rescued from 28ft Yacht Grounded on Cockle Island by Bangor RNLI
11 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Three people were rescued by the Bangor RNLI lifeboat after their 28ft yacht ran aground on Cockle Island, Groomsport. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, August 10th. The RNLI received a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist with the recovery…
Two Northern Ireland Boats Will Compete in ISORA's Holyhead to Strangford Lough Race
10 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two Northern Ireland boats are entered into the ISORA race from Holyhead to Strangford Lough, which starts on Friday at 19.30 hrs. Ross Boyd’s Elan 40 Evenstar from Royal Ulster Yacht Club (RUYC) on Belfast Lough, Quoile YC on Strangford…
Flying Fifteen Wins Moneley Oyster Pearl Regatta 'Dinghy' Prize
10 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Moneley Oyster Pearl Dinghy Regatta in Carlingford Lough between Co Down and Co Louth was held last weekend, with racing on a windward/leeward course on both days. So close was the racing that Diarmuid and Aine Gorman, in their…
Lough Erne's J24 Crazy Horse is 2023 Oyster Pearl Trophy Winner at Carlingford
10 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The long trail for the crew of the J24 Crazy Horse from the western county of Fermanagh to Carlingford Lough in the east between County Down and County Louth was worthwhile as they went home with the top prize in…
Enniskillen Lifeboat Assist Two After Boat Breakdown
9 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Jean Lewis was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard on Wednesday afternoon (9 August) to assess a boat breakdown near Portoa Lock. The Shetland cruiser with two people onboard had reported encountering mechanical…
14 Entries for ISORA's Race from Holyhead to Strangford Lough
7 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
This weekend, the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) will be holding its 14th race from Holyhead in North Wales to Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. Up to 14 boats are expected to participate in…
NI Skiff Girls Compete in Their First International Event at 49erFX U23 Worlds
5 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
For the first time ever, Northern Ireland had two sailors competing in the Junior U23 World Championship for Olympic 49er and 49erFX at Travemünder Woche in Germany late last month. With competitive racing and up and down the leaderboard, over…
Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat Responds to Emergency Medical Issue on Cruise Ship
5 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
In the late hours of Friday, August 4th, 2024, the volunteer crew of the Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat station in Northern Ireland received a call from HM Coastguard. The Coastguard reported an emergency medical issue involving a female passenger on a…
John Minnis of Belfast Lough is July “Sailor of the Month (Regatta)”
3 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
John Minnis of Royal Ulster YC and his longtime helm Gareth Flannigan will look on Dublin Bay as their Happy Hunting Ground. For although the previous Minnis boat, the First 31.7 Final Call, and her distinguished successor, the very optimised…
ISORA Switches Tack for Northern Ireland Weekend
3 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) is set to embark on a new adventure on August 11th as it heads to Strangford Lough for a Northern Ireland-based weekend. After a season of coastal and cross-channel fixtures between Dun Laoghaire…
Luke Simpson from County Antrim Yacht Club is Top Northern Ireland Sailor at Cork's Topper Worlds
1 August 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A famous Laser sailor in the Seventies, Ed Baird, is reputed to have said that spending time on the water was what counted. The 258 young sailors competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted Topper World Championships last week…
Carrickfergus Sailing Club's 'Hot Orange' Takes the Crown as Ruffian 23 National Champion
30 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two second places in the final races of the 2023 Ruffian 23 National Championships at the National Yacht Club handed overall victory to Stephen Penney's Hot Orange from Carrickfergus Sailing Club on Belfast Lough. Royal St. George's Shannagh (S. Gill & P. MacDiarmada)…
Penney's 'Hot Orange' from Carrickfergus Leads Ruffian 23 Nationals at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
29 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
After five races sailed at a breezy Ruffian 23 National Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Stephen Penney leads the fleet counting three race wins on his scoresheet. The Belfast Lough 'Hot Orange' crew are two points clear of Royal St.…
Newcastle RNLI Launches to Drifting Yacht with Five People Onboard
27 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Newcastle RNLI’s lifeboat crew launched both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats yesterday (Wednesday, 26 July) at 3.08 pm following a request from HM Coastguard. A 36ft yacht with five people onboard, including two children, had reported that their equipment had…
Loughs Agency Hails New Projects Under Way in Northern Ireland Thanks to Angling Improvement Fund 2023
26 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A number of projects funded by the Loughs Agency’s Angling Improvement Fund 2023 — which aims to reinvest in angling-related initiatives that directly benefit the Foyle and Carlingford catchments — have officially commenced. Angling clubs, fisheries, charities and community organisations…
Consultation on Changes to RYA Northern Ireland’s Articles of Association
22 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Following the launch of its Navigating the Future strategic plan, RYA Northern Ireland has been looking at governance structures to ensure it is are set up in the best way possible to progress as a sport and organisation. This process…
Mark Miller's Voyage Round Britain and Ireland for the Seafarers’ Charity
22 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Seafarers’ Charity is the subject of a fundraising voyage by Mark Miller, who is on an around Britain and Ireland Harbour Master Sailing Challenge. Over the last three and a half years, Mark’s voyage has taken him around England,…
Portrush Lifeboat Volunteers Hold Joint Exercise With RNLI Lifeguards
16 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
On Wednesday (12 July) Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew carried out a joint simulation exercise with RNLI lifeguards on the East Strand in Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The exercise was a simulation of a sea swimmer who had…
Final Call II's Win in IRC One is Top Northern Ireland Result at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023
15 July 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Seven boats from Northern Ireland made the trip to Dun Laoghaire for the Volvo Regatta, one of which, FA 2, trailed from Antrim and craned in off the town's Carlisle Pier. John Minnis’s first place in the 22-strong Cruisers One…
