The latest news from Scottish and Northern Irish waters produced by Yachting Life & Afloat.
Dunaverty Ltd Celebrates Successful First Year of Rathlin Island ferry service with expansion plans and sustainability focus.
16 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Dunaverty Ltd, the operators of the ferry service to Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim, have successfully completed their first year in business. The company has announced that it has increased its team to 18 and transported thousands…
AC40 Sailing on Belfast Lough is Swedish Challenge Women's and Youth America's Cup in Training
15 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
If you were wondering why an AC40 was sailing in Belfast Lough in the last few days, here is the answer. About a week ago, the AC40 arrived in Belfast for the Swedish Women's and Youth America's Cup teams for…
Erne System: Erne Predator Challenger on Upper Lough Erne This Weekend
12 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Upper Lough Erne Predator Challenger boat pike angling competition will take place this Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April. The event will take place from…
Belfast Harbour Invests £1.5m in New Pilot Boat Equipped with Advanced Environmental Features
9 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Belfast Harbour has announced the arrival of its latest pilot boat, the Hibernia, marking a significant investment of £1.5m in its marine fleet. The new vessel will be responsible for ferrying pilots to and from ships at the port, helping…
Northern Ireland Sailors Selected for RORC’s Griffin Project in 2024
8 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland youth sailors Emma McKnight from Strangford Lough Yacht Club and Daniel Corbett from County Antrim Yacht Club are among just 20 across the UK selected for the Griffin Project 2024. The Griffin Project is a Royal Ocean Racing…
Bangor RNLI Launches Mayday Fundraising Campaign to Support Lifesaving Services
8 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI, the lifesaving charity on Belfast Lough based in Northern Ireland, has launched a Mayday fundraising campaign to support its vital services. The charity has revealed that it was called into action 36 times in 2023, highlighting the importance…
Cockle Island Boat Club Honours Three of its Original Founding Members at Mayor’s Reception
6 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Eagle Wing emigrant ship is reputed to have sailed from Groomsport on the south. shore of Belfast Lough in 1636 with 140 passengers and was the first attempt by Ulster-Scots folks to emigrate to America. At 140 tons, it…
Swan 40 with an Enviable Racing Record Enters June's Bangor Regatta
6 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Racing at Bangor Regatta in June promises to be keener than ever with the appearance in the Coastal IRC and YTC class of not one but two Swans. The Swan 40 Sloop John T is better known outside Northern Ireland…
Applications Open for Active Clubs Grants From RYA Northern Ireland
5 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland has launched its Active Clubs Grants scheme, which offers funding for Northern Ireland clubs aiming to grow and retain their membership. Priority will be given to clubs who are running programmes for women and girls, people with…
Ballycastle to Host Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2024
3 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, is all set to host a leg of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2024. This July, the global event will witness the world’s best cliff divers competing against each other on the beautiful Causeway Coast.…
Limbo 6.6 'FA 2' is Antrim Boat Club Winter Series Winner
1 April 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
There is not much in the way of shelter when the wind is in the north on Lough Neagh, so the fleet from the Club in the north west corner was greeted for the first race of the second half…
Larne RNLI Celebrates Charity’s 200th Milestone With Gala Ball Raising More Than £4,600
28 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland celebrated the RNLI’s 200th anniversary with a gala ball held at Magheramorne Estate raising £4,657.63 to help the station continue to save lives at sea. The event, organised by the volunteer fundraising crew, was held…
Now that the Six Nations Rugby is over, the Waszp class is embarking on its Four Nations Cup. For the first time in Northern Ireland, one of the fixtures will be at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. The others…
RNLI Lifeguards Returning to Causeway Coast for 2024 Easter Break
26 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The RNLI lifeguard team are returning to patrol seven beaches along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland over the upcoming Easter period. The lifeguard service is also adjusting its operational hours this season from 10am to 6pm each day. From…
RNLI's Carrybridge Lifeboat Crew to be Featured in BBC's Saving Lives at Sea
24 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The RNLI, renowned for its 200 years of lifesaving, is set to feature on the popular maritimeTV show Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two and iPlayer. The ninth series, which focuses on the lifesaving work of today's lifeboat crews…
Loughs Agency Staff Undergo Swift Water Rescue Training With NIFRS
22 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Loughs Agency staff traded their water testing kits for wetsuits and rescue lines after undergoing vital swift water training with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS). The collaboration stemmed from NIFRS seeking information about potential training exercises on…
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Set to Make First Stop in Northern Ireland on Causeway Coast
22 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
For the first time ever, this summer Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast will welcome the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Positioned in the World Series calendar as a major mid-season shake-up, the fourth stop of 2024 from 18-20 July has…
RNLI Red Bay Lifeboat and Sea Shanties on Second RTE Seascapes Special Tonight
22 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A man overboard exercise with Antrim’s Red Bay all-weather lifeboat and the experience of a dog walker rescued by Cork Harbour’s Crosshaven lifeboat are among topics on tonight’s (Fri, March 22) RTÉ Radio 1 special issue of Seascapes. The programme,…
St Patrick’s Day Launch for Portaferry Lifeboat to Assist Ocean Rowing Vessel
21 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Portaferry RNLI came to the aid of four people on St Patrick’s Day (Sunday 17 March) after their ocean-going rowing boat sustained a broken rudder and developed steering problems. Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at…
Dutch Sailing Barge to Embark on Epic Journey for Charity Fundraising from Lough Erne to Inverness
21 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
In May 2024, a 126-year-old Dutch Sailing Barge named Drie Gebroeders will set off on an epic adventure from Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh to the eastern Scottish coast, and back again. The goal is to attend two maritime festivals…
European ILCA 6 Championships at Ballyholme Yacht Club Attracting Sailors from 26 Countries
21 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Since the doors opened for the European ILCA 6 Championships at Ballyholme Yacht Club a few weeks ago, 388 applications for 440 places have been received. The club lies on the north shore of County Down near the mouth of…
19 GP14s Compete in Fifth Weekend of Spring Series at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
20 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
19 GP14s set sail on St Patrick's Day for the fifth weekend of the spring series at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. The sailors were greeted with a light 4-5 knots from the south, with a…
New Boats Arriving to Compete at June's Bangor Regatta on Belfast Lough
16 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Word on the grapevine is that Jonathan Anderson's Danish-designed X 4.3 will be among the boats new to Royal Ulster’s Bangor Regatta in June. The new boat is still in the factory so brand new. He was the previous owner…
Ireland’s Inland Waterways Assert Their Individuality As IWAI’s 70th Anniversary Arrives
16 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
If you were trying to think of the most utterly rural town in all Ireland, Longford would certainly be among the top ten - maybe tops of all. And our rustic view of it is emphasised by the fact that…
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club to Host 2026 GP14 Worlds as Championships Returns to Ireland For Second Time in Four Years
15 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ireland will stage the GP14 World Championships for the second time in four years following a decision by the International Committee to relocate the 2026 World Championship from Sri Lanka. Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Belfast, has agreed to…
Erne System: St Patrick’s Weekend Activities in Enniskillen
13 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the St Patrick’s Illuminated Flotilla will take place in Enniskillen this Saturday evening 16 March. The event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting at…
Lower Bann: Movanagher Lock Reopens to Navigation After Installation of New Lock Gates
13 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock has been completed as of Wednesday 13 March and the navigation is…
Relief for Scotland’s Marine Leisure Sector as Visitor Levy Bill Amended
13 March 2024 Scottish Waters
The Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill that would have forced marinas and other mooring providers to charge a levy on visitor accommodation — including mooring and berthing for boats — has now been amended. As previously reported on Afloat.ie,…
Antrim Boat Club's Winter Series Expects Close Finish
10 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
With Antrim Boat Club on the north west corner of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland nearing the end of the second half of its Winter Series it will be a close gallop to the final result. There is little between…
Sign Up Now for RYA Northern Ireland’s Women on Water Festival
8 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland’s Women On Water Festival will take place at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra on Sunday 12 May and online sign-ups are now open to women across Northern Ireland and the wider island of…
Sailing Community Learns and Shares Together at ‘Connected Scotland’ Event
8 March 2024 Scottish Waters
More than 70 representatives from across the boating community came together for RYA Scotland’s ‘Connected Scotland’ forum in Perth last Saturday (2 March) to talk all things around the development of sailing and related and activities. The event also saw…
Northern Ireland's New Minister of Agriculture Visits Loughs Agency to Learn About Environmental Preservation Efforts
8 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland's new Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, recently paid a visit to the Loughs Agency Headquarters in Prehen, gaining first-hand insights into the organisation's essential work. The visit was warmly welcomed by Sharon McMahon, Chief…
'Purple Haze' Arrives on Strangford Lough: Vintage Quarter Tonner Will Contest 2024 ICRA Nationals and IRC Europeans on Dublin Bay
6 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Ker 32 Hijacker was a popular competitor owned by Stuart Cranston of Strangford Lough YC at Whiterock and the nearby Down Cruising club, but he was struggling to get enough regular crew (eight) so downsizing was the answer, and…
Northern Ireland Boats Among Scottish Series Early Bird Entries
3 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Four of the first 46 entries for the 2024 Scottish Series this season are from Northern Ireland. They received a 15% discount on their entries, which has now been extended to the end of March at 10%. The event will…
New Irish-Language TV Series Follows Epic Kayaking Adventure Along North Coast
2 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A new TV series as Gaeilge follows presenters Tessa Fleming and Irial Ó Ceallaigh as they embark on an epic adventure paddling their way along the North Coast. Together with kayaking expert John Hubbocks, the novice kayakers brave the unpredictable…
Andy Thompson of East Antrim BC is “Sailor of the Month (Worlds)” for February
1 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
We’ve become accustomed to veteran dinghy racing superstar Andy Thompson of Larne suddenly emerging into the spotlight again at some world championship, and he has already made his annual mark for 2024 by brilliantly crewing for Tom Gillard at Geelong…
Ed Wheeler of County Down is Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month (Voyaging & Services to Sailing)” for February
1 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ed Wheeler’s extraordinary career in sailing has ranged from racing the first International Cadet dinghy to be seen on Belfast Lough in the early 1950s (he won Ballyholme YC’s famous Lufra Cup for the big-fleet end-of-season pursuit race) to solo…
Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme is “Sailor of the Month (International & Cruising)” for February
1 March 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
There seem to be two Colin Leonards prominent in the sailing scene in the north, but in fact, it’s one and the same man making the best of several possibilities. Colin Leonard of Ballyholme was tops in the medal stakes…
Olympian Alison Young to Coach Northern Ireland Sailors at ‘Female-Focused Camp’
28 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Three-time Olympian and 2016 ILCA World Champion Alison Young will provide coaching for Northern Ireland sailors at RYA Northern Ireland’s ‘Female Focused Camp’ at Ballyholme Yacht Club on the weekend of 27-28 April. The camp is specifically targeted for junior…
Royal Ulster Yacht Club Launches 'Bangor Regatta 2024'
28 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Royal Ulster Yacht Club has launched Bangor Regatta 2024 with the publication of the Notice of Race and Entry Form for the event, which will be run in Belfast Lough out of Bangor from 27th till 30th June. Sixty boats…
RS Fevas Travel from Bangor, Wales to Bangor, Co Down
25 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ben Greenhalgh comes from a Bangor Co Down sailing family, and he races an RS Feva at Port Dinorwic SC near the Welsh Bangor on the Menai Straits. Ben is the joint winner with Topper sailor, Jess Powell, of the…
RYANI Discussing Options for Safe Disposal of Out-of-Date Flares
25 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland says it has been in discussions with British Marine and other stakeholders regarding the safe disposal of out-of-date flares. Marine flares have become increasingly difficult to dispose of in Northern Ireland in recent years, which RYANI recognises…
DAERA Minister Meets Fishers in Portavogie Harbour
24 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir met with members of the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority (NIFHA) and local fishers during a visit to Portavogie Harbour in Co Down this week. The visit on Wednesday…
The Northern Lights of Ireland’s Top Sailing
24 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Back in the day, Bangor Grammar School was seen by a small but significant sector of its pupils as a sailing school with a grammar problem. This was in a time when it was an establishment of friendly size, located…
Earl ‘Open to Options’ Regarding Future of Lough Neagh as Toxic Blue-Green Algae Returns
23 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The owner of Lough Neagh’s lakebed has said he is “open to exploring options” amid reports of the return of toxic blue-green algae blooms. But as BBC News reports, the Earl of Shaftesbury has refused to budge on suggestions that…
Erne System: Closure of Enniskillen’s Henry Street Jetties for Angling Weekender
21 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Henry Street Jetties in Enniskillen will be closed this Friday 23 to Saturday 24 February. This is to accommodate the annual Fishing Tackle…
Loughs Agency Extends Suspension of Foyle Native Oyster Fishery
20 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Suspension of the native oyster fishery in the Foyle area will continue for another month, with the closure extended until 6pm on Sunday 31 March. The Loughs Agency says it made the decision following an analysis of the latest stock…
Ballyholme Prepares to Host Irish Championships as Northern Ireland RS Feva Class Grows Steadily
19 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The RS Feva class has been growing steadily in Northern Ireland in recent years, and to the satisfaction of Northern Ireland's Ballyholme Yacht Club, the club will host the Irish Championships, designated a 'GP 1' event, on the weekend of…
RNLI On the Lookout for New Beach Lifesavers in Scotland and Northern Ireland
18 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The RNLI is on the lookout for budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of the most popular beaches in Scotland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in…
RNLI On the Lookout for New Beach Lifesavers in Scotland and Northern Ireland
18 February 2024 Scottish Waters
The RNLI is on the lookout for budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of the most popular beaches in Scotland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in…
Colin Leonard's Silver Medal from ILCA 7 Worlds in Australia is Applauded at Ballyholme
18 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland achieved a significant milestone in his 23-year journey in the Laser dinghy by winning a silver medal in the Apprentices at the ILCA 7 Worlds in Adelaide this month,…
Gillard and Thompson Win 2024 Fireball Worlds With a Race to Spare
16 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Fireball sailors Tom Gillard of England and Andy Thompson of East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland have been crowned World Champions at the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong, Australia. The duo sailed a near-perfect regatta, rarely falling outside the…
Fireball Duo Look Set to Retain Fireball World Title in Australia
15 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Fireball duo Tom Gillard from Sheffield and Andy Thompson from East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland will take a seven-point lead into the final two races of the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong tomorrow as they look to be…
Virtual Public Consultation On Floating Wind Farm off Scottish Coast Closes Next Monday
15 February 2024 Scottish Waters
The “virtual” consultation on the Ossian wind farm project off the Scottish coast has included four live question and answer sessions, along with availability of documentation on the project’s website. The Ossian project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables…
Stormont Debates Motion Calling for Action to Save Lough Neagh from ‘Ecological Catastrophe’
14 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Three Sinn Féin MLAs have brought a motion to the newly restored Stormont Assembly for action to save Lough Neagh from its pollution crisis, as The Irish Times reports. MLA for North Antrim, Philip McGuigan described the situation on the…
RYA Northern Ireland Youth Squads Shine at Celtic Cup in Pwllheli
14 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ten of Northern Ireland’s Topper and ILCA sailors travelled to Plas Heli in Pwllheli for the Celtic Cup earlier this month (3-4 February). This annual event sees the best youth and junior sailors from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland compete…
Tributes Paid After Sudden Passing of Red Bay Lifeboat Helm Gary Fyfe
10 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Tributes have been paid to Red Bay RNLI helm Gary Fyfe after his sudden death on Thursday night (8 February). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the 46-year-old died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Cushendall, Co Antrim. His…
Judgment Reserved in Campaigners’ Appeal of Larne Lough Gas Caverns Decision
8 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Judgement has been reserved in campaigners’ legal bid to overturn the decision to approve the excavation of gas storage caverns under Larne Lough. As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the coalition of local campaigners — under the banner of No Gas…
Lower Bann: Installation of New Lock Gates at Movanagher Lock
6 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that due to the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock, the lock will be closed for a period of around…
Entries Now Open for Northern Ireland Team Racing Programme
5 February 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Entries are now open for RYA Northern Ireland’s Team Racing Programme, following on from a successful coach development weekend last month. This RYANI programme, which is the first of its kind for Northern Ireland, aims to provide more double-handed pathway…
Whitehead's County Antrim Yacht Club is Only Northern Ireland Club in Running for RYA Club of the Year Award
28 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland's County Antrim Yacht Club has been selected as a finalist for the second year running in the UK-wide RYA Club of the Year Awards. The Club lies on the northern shore of Belfast Lough in the town of…
2024 Scottish Series Notice of Race is Published
27 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It's 50 years since the Clyde Cruising Club delivered the first Scottish Series, and it has been run out of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, for the last 40 of those. This year’s event will be held from 24th till 27th May.…
RYA Northern Ireland’s Coach Development Programme Kicks Off With Team Racing at Ballyholme
26 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland’s Coach Development Programme held its first session at Ballyholme Yacht Club last Saturday 20 January. Launched in December, the new initiative — part of RYANI’s five-year strategy, Navigating The Future — offers free training in an effort…
Northern Ireland's Cockle Island Boat Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary
24 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Cockle Island Boat Club may be in the minority in Northern Ireland as it doesn’t have its own clubhouse, but for the 50 years of its existence, it has used the local Council facility, the original lifeboat house on the…
Northern Ireland Protocol: Blamed By Freight Groups for Making it Harder for Irish Sea Ferry in Storm Isha to Head for Port
23 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Blame has been put directly to the Northern Ireland Protocol for narrowing down the options of captains, as vessels get hit by storms in the Irish Sea. With Storm Isha just over, the News Letter also reported the the severe…
Ballyholme ILCA Sailors Bill O’Hara and Conrad Simpson Competing in NZ and Australia
23 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bill O’Hara and Conrad Simpson from Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough are used to travelling far and wide to race their Lasers and in Bill’s case, to officiate at world events, but at the moment, they are both on…
ILCA Youth Sailor Zoe Whitford from East Antrim Boat Club Awarded Mary Peters Trust Bursary
22 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Seventeen-year-old Zoe Whitford from East Antrim Boat Club on Larne Lough is one of ten young athletes to be awarded a £500 bursary by the Mary Peters Trust. The Sports section of Local Women Magazine in Northern Ireland reports the partnership…
Another first for the fiftieth Scottish Series this year will include RS21 keelboats racing on Loch Fyne. The RS21 Association has included the event as one of its 'Official Series', and that will give the class a chance to start…
Marine Tourism Stakeholders Welcome Amendment to Scottish Visitor Levy Plans
20 January 2024 Scottish Waters
The Scottish Government has confirmed that changes will be made to the proposed Visitor Levy Bill, in a move welcomed by marine tourism stakeholders. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the bill had proposed giving powers to local authorities in Scotland…
Northern Ireland ILCA Sailors Ring In the New Year at Valencia Training Camp
18 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Several of RYA Northern Ireland’s ILCA squad spent the New Year break at a warm-weather training camp in Valencia, Spain from 27 December to 3 January. Supported by RYANI performance manager Hammy Baker, the contingent comprised ILCA 6 sailors Lewis…
Ice in Bangor Marina But Icebreakers Not Required So Far!
18 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor in County Down had a coating of snow and ice on Wednesday morning this week, and the Marina didn’t escape either. Temperatures are forecast to plummet as low as -8C over the coming days as Northern Ireland continues to…
Dorman is New East Antrim Boat Club Commodore
17 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
East Antrim Boat Club (EABC) on Larne Lough in Northern Ireland has a new commodore - Chris Dorman, who has been a member of EABC since boyhood. He is also a long-serving RNLI coxswain with the nearby lifeboat station and…
Court of Appeal Is Next Stop for Campaign Against Larne Lough Gas Cavern Plans
15 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Campaigners against plans to excavate caverns for gas storage under Larne Lough took to its shores last weekend to reaffirm their opposition to the proposals. And as Belfast Live reports, the protest at Browns Bay Beach on Sunday 7 January…
PSNI Officers Rescue Kayakers From Strong Tide in River Bann
11 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Police officers in Coleraine have been praised after their rescue of two kayakers from the River Bann in Northern Ireland earlier this week. Dog walkers noticed the kayakers had gotten into difficulty in the river at around 6.20pm on Tuesday…
Fiftieth Anniversary Scottish Series Attracts Northern Ireland Sigma 33s
10 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
One hundred and ten and counting. The popular Scottish Series Regatta run by the Clyde Cruising Club out of Tarbert on Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland has, at the last count, 110 expressions of interest. The event…
Ballyholme Yacht Club Present Bangor RNLI With Cheque for £2,500
9 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI on Belfast Lough received a donation of £2,500 from the members of Ballyholme Yacht Club this Christmas. The funds were raised during the festive period over a series of events hosted by the club. The Christmas Prize Draw…
Three Open Coaching Roles at RYA Northern Ireland
8 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYANI is currently recruiting for two lead coach roles for the Development Academy and Team Racing as well as a Women On Water Ambassador. The lead coach of the Development Academy provides a supportive learning environment for junior sailors within…
Councillors Oppose ‘Shocking’ Fare Increase Planned for Strangford Ferry
7 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Plans to increase fares for passengers on the Strangford Ferry by as much as 32 per cent have provoked a strong reaction, as Belfast Live reports. The RORO ferry operated by Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure provides a crucial link…
Armagh Woman Will Spend January Rowing the Atlantic
3 January 2024 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lurgan’s Linda Blakely aims to cross the treacherous 3,000-mile Atlantic Ocean in a 12-foot boat aptly named Ulster Warrior, reports the Sunday Life. She will start 2024 attempting to break a world record for a female solo rower, which is…
East Down Yacht Club To Stage 2024 Impala European Championship on Strangford Lough
30 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
East Down Yacht Club in Northern Ireland will host the Impala European Championship on 25th/26th May next year. The event will incorporate the UK and Irish National Championships of the 28-foot one-design keelboat class. The club has a nine-acre site on…
New Challengers to Limbo 6.6 'FA2' at Antrim Boat Club Winter Series
24 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Antrim Boat Club Winter Series returned on 5th November with six races scheduled for the first half when nine competitors signed up for the series and sailed out of the club in the northwest corner of Lough Neagh in Northern…
Strangford Lough Sailor Wins Match Racing World Championships
22 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It’s 6,000 miles from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in the small hamlet of Whiterock on the western shore of the Lough in County Down, to Da Chan Bay in Shenzhen, China. And it is very different racing for Jon Gundersen…
Loughs Agency Retains Existing Salmon Carcass Tag Allocation for 2024 Season
21 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Loughs Agency has made the decision to retain salmon carcass tag numbers for angling licence holders for the 2024 season in line with the policy followed in the previous three years at a maximum of one blue tag (1st March…
East Down Yacht Club to Start 2024 with Icicle Series on Strangford Lough
20 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
East Down Yacht Club will start the New Year with its annual Icicle Series on Sunday, 7th January. It will run for six Sundays, ending on 11th February. The Club is situated on a nine-acre site on the western shore…
County Down Sailor Steps in to Skipper Qingdao in Clipper Round the World Race
20 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Philip Quinn has been chosen as the new Skipper of Qingdao in the Clipper Round the World Race. He will join from Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia, at the start of a long stint of about 26000 miles to the…
Strangford Lough's Peter Kennedy and Steven Kane Make it Three in a Row at Royal North's RS400 Frostie Series
20 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The last Sunday of the RS400 Frostie Series at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club was raced on the 27th of December, and the excitement was building as it looked like it was going to be a big day, and…
New Native Oyster Nursery in Belfast Harbour Shows Promising Results
19 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A shellfish nursery recently installed in Belfast Harbour in an effort to revive the Northern Ireland capital’s native oysters is already showing promising results. Last month, hundreds of oysters were lowered into the water at City Quays for the project,…
Portrush’s Lifesaving Chambers Family Add Voice to RNLI’s Christmas Appeal
17 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Christmas is a time for family and, for many, a time for sharing stories of times and generations past. For the Chambers family from Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, these stories often involve saving lives at sea. Jason Chambers…
RYA Northern Ireland Launches Coach Development Programme
13 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland has announced the launch of its Coach Development Programme designed to develop a pool of coaches capable of coaching at a national level. This free programme is inviting people already involved in coaching to apply to develop…
Nominations Now Open for RYA Northern Ireland’s 2023 End-of-Season Awards
10 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
As RYA Northern Ireland marks its 50th anniversary and reflects on a fantastic year for sailing and boating in Northern Ireland, it’s time to submit nominations for its end-of-season awards and celebrate the best of the region in 2023. The…
Tender Process For Belfast Lough's Bangor Marina Operator Contract Opens
8 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It will be all change in the operation of Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough from September 2024. This has been outsourced to a private operator since 1 April 2008, with the latest agreement expiring on 30 September 2024. An opportunity…
2024 European ILCA 6 Youth Championships For Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough
8 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The European ILCA 6 Youth Championships 2024 will be sailed at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough next season. “This is a very significant championship for Europe’s youth sailors and hosting the event is a feather in the cap for…
World Sailing Names Belfast Lough's Chris Lindsay as an International Judge for Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition
6 December 2023 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, has announced Belfast Lough's Chris Lindsay as an International Judge and Umpire for the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition. Lindsay, who also officiated at Tokyo 2020, is the only Irish appointment in…
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 Scotland has welcomed Philippa Howie to the team as Communication and Engagement Officer. Howie has a longstanding passion for sports, including sailing through her involvement with the Cadets at Solway Yacht Club. Her wider interests led to an education…
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…
