The latest news from Scottish and Northern Irish waters produced by Yachting Life & Afloat.
Irish Sailors Dominate 2025 Endeavour Trophy at Burnham-on-Crouch
5 October 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Irish dinghy sailors have finished top of the UK's prestigious Endeavour Trophy, taking the top two places overall on Sunday (October 5th) in Britain's champion of champions event at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. Big winds reaching over 30kts tested the 30 dinghy champions to…
Cork Harbour's Bateman Competes at 64th Endeavour Trophy as New Melges 15 Shines in Burnham
3 October 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Despite the threat of Storm Amy disrupting proceedings at the 64th Endeavour Trophy (3-5 October), a total of 30 UK national champions, including Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's World B14 Champion Chris Bateman and Lucy Loughton, gathered at the Royal Corinthian…
CalMac’s Main Arran Ferry Returns to Service After 20 Months and £12m of Repairs
2 October 2025 Scottish Waters
CalMac’s main Arran ferry, which has been beset with problems, has returned (since yesterday) to service after 20 months in dry dock and almost £12m worth of repairs. The 120-car capacity MV Caledonian Isles will carry its first passengers since…
Work Begins on Constructing Derry-Londonderry’s North Atlantic Museum
2 October 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Construction work has begun to transform a former hospital in Derry-Londonderry into a new £15m museum exploring the city’s maritime, cultural, and social history. A gathering of partners, local politicians, and ministers involved in the project took place last week…
Larne Lifeboat Rescues Two After Boat Breaks Down Off Coast
29 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Larne RNLI responded to reports of a boat in difficulty on Sunday afternoon (28 September). The volunteer crew of Larne RNLI were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat Terry and their all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran at 3.07pm…
Portaferry Lifeboat Crew Respond to Third Call-Out in 24 Hours
29 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged on Friday afternoon (26 September) at the request of Belfast Coastguard after a Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated close to Ardglass on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The inshore lifeboat Blue Peter…
Busy Sunday for Bangor Lifeboat Volunteers Following Three Separate Incidents
29 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The volunteers of Bangor RNLI in Northern Ireland conducted three operations on Sunday (28 September) following reports of people in difficulty. At 3.40pm, Belfast Coastguard asked Bangor RNLI to assist an angling boat that had experienced mechanical failure close to…
Hughes Claims 1720 Eastern Championship Victory at Royal Ulster
28 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Julian Hughes has secured the 1720 Eastern Championship title at Royal Ulster Yacht Club. His boat Root 1 claimed first overall with consistent top-three finishes. Robert Dix on LemonCello placed second, just one point behind on nett scores. National champion…
Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Mayday Call From Yacht Aground Near Ardglass
28 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew pagers sounded at 11.23am on Thursday morning (25 September) after a 44ft yacht with two on board lost engine power and ran aground hitting rocks close to Ardglass Harbour, on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The…
First Shout as Coxswain for Larne Lifeboat’s Roy McMullan to Report of Swimmer in Difficulty
26 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland responded to a report of a swimmer in difficulty on Tuesday afternoon (23 September). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat Terry and all-weather Llfeboat Dr John McSparran at 1.21pm…
Larne RNLI Aids Boat in Difficulty Near Portmuck Harbour
25 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Larne RNLI responded swiftly to a distress call this afternoon. At 3.46 pm, HM Coastguard requested the launch of two lifeboats after a crew member on a fishing boat raised the alarm. Weather conditions were moderate with choppy seas.…
Ridout Sisters Crowned RS Feva Northern Champions in Antrim
24 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Despite a less than favourable forecast, boats from eight clubs from all over Ireland, Cork to Cushendall, competed in the Glens of Antrim Crisps RS Feva Northern Championships. Saturday morning brought a good sailing day. As the forecast for Sunday…
Queen Mary 2 Stops in Belfast Lough to Evacuate Ill Passenger
20 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Belfast Live reports that the Queen Mary 2 made an unscheduled stop at Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland on Saturday (20 September) to evacuate a “critically ill” passenger. Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was called to assist as the passenger was…
The chief ferry on the Isle of Arran route could re-enter service next week, according to CalMac. The 1993-built ferry MV Caledonian Isles has been off the Ardrossan-Brodick (Arran) link since early last year, having faced a succession of issues…
1720 Sportsboat Class Returns to Royal Ulster Yacht Club for Eastern Championships 2025
19 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
After a gap of many years, Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough is welcoming back the 1720 Sportsboat Class for their Eastern Championships 2025 on 27th & 28th September. Unfortunately, there are no 1720s based in Bangor now, but…
Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Two After Yacht Gets Into Difficulty
18 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI in Northern Ireland came to the aid of two people on Wednesday evening (17 September) after their yacht had engine difficulty and broke down. At 6.05pm, just as most people were getting home from work, watching the news…
Young Sailors Shine at RYA Northern Ireland Youth Championships
18 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyholme Yacht Club played host to over 150 of Northern Ireland's most promising young sailors this past weekend (13–14 September) for the John Minnis RYA NI Youth Championships 2025. With a high number of entries and some new race formats…
Warrenpoint Port Removes Stinking RDF but Harbour Authority Says Investigation Must Continue
16 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It has been confirmed by the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) that Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) has now been completely removed from the Co. Down port. This follows with hopes that the foul odours will dissipate following a number of years…
Upper Lough Erne: ‘Predator Battle Ireland’ Fishing Competition Stars This Weekend
12 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System that the Predator Battle Ireland, an annual European predator angling competition, will take place on Upper Lough Erne from 9am this Sunday 14 September until 5pm next Tuesday…
In southwest Scotland is where Peel Ports Clydeport has welcomed its largest turbines to a key facility for the renewable energy sector following a recent £3m investment in infrastructure. The King George V Dock in Glasgow handled six wind turbines…
Fairlie Yacht Club volunteer Pete Wright received a surprise RYA Scotland Impact Award at the 2025 Largs Regatta Festival. The presentation took place during the 'Cumbraes Weekend' prizegiving ceremony, where Pete has long served as Race Officer. The award was…
CalMac’s veteran ferry MV Isle of Arran made the first crossing from the mainland harbour in North Ayrshire in what seems like an age. The return yesterday morning of the 1984-built vessel was a welcome sight on the Firth of…
Casting for Sustainability: Soft Engineering Upskilling with Angling Clubs and Wild Trout Trust
8 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
As part of the Angling Improvement Fund, the Loughs Agency and Wild Trout Trust recently partnered to deliver a two-day workshop on soft engineering initiatives for river restoration. The sessions were led by Gareth Pedley and attended by members of…
End of Busy Summer Season for RNLI Lifeguards in Northern Ireland
6 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RNLI lifeguards in Northern Ireland have brought their seasonal daily cover to a close — but the team will continue a weekend patrol on selected beaches on the Causeway Coast until Sunday 28 September. Last Sunday (31 August) marked the…
Larne Lifeboat Crew Rescue Three After Boat Breaks Down Off Coast
5 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland came to the aid of three people onboard a broken-down RIB some four-and-a-half miles off the Larne coast on Thursday evening (4 September). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat Terry at 5.54pm…
Howth's Ryan Cairns & Ciaran Durnford are New IDRA 14 National Champions
3 September 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Think of Carlingford Lough, and most people think of the bustling miniature mediaeval township on the Louth shore. But across on the County Down shore, the little beachside village of Killowen offers a different world where the welcoming Carlingford Lough…
Topper Northerns Find Hidden Gem Of Quoile Yacht Club
29 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Hidden away in the southwest corner of Strangford Lough, Quoile Yacht Club in Northern Ireland is best known to exploring cruising people, who see it as a hidden but very hospitable gem. Yet last weekend (23-24 August) Topper dinghiesfrom Ireland…
S Class Cruisers Reunion Planned for June 2026 in Ballyholme
28 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
S Class sailing cruisers are synonymous with Bertie Slater, who designed them at his shipyard in Ballyholme on Belfast Lough in 1946. They were superb, affordable sailing yachts built traditionally by skilled craftsmen at the yard on the east side…
Bangor Lifeboat Launches Following Report of Swimmer in Difficulty
27 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI in Northern Ireland were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat just before 4pm on Tuesday (26 August) following a report from a member of the public of a swimmer possibly in difficulty in Ballyholme Bay. The inshore lifeboat Ruby…
Loughs Agency Issues Alert Over Pacific Pink Salmon
27 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Loughs Agency has issued an alert requesting that anglers or members of the general public report any sightings of Pacific pink salmon in the Foyle or Carlingford river systems. These migratory species of salmon, also known as ‘humpback’ salmon,…
Insect Dinghy 'Lacewing' Shines at Ballyholme Regatta After Restoration
27 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Last Saturday, August 23rd, Ballyholme Regatta on Belfast Lough featured 60 boats, including Insect Class No. 11, Lacewing. This boat was built approximately seventy years ago as part of a new dinghy class at Ballyholme and has been immaculately restored…
Brand Scotland and Oban Distillery (Diageo) have teamed up to launch a Team Scotland entry in the upcoming Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The biennial event, founded in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox‑Johnston, covers 40,000 nautical miles around the…
ILCA Championships Mark 50 Years of Sailing Excellence
19 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The first Laser or ILCA Ireland Championships were held in 1975 in Kinsale, just four years after the design was launched in New York. Now, after half a century, the single-hander, which originally was called a Laser, is still as…
Classic Fairy OD Class Make Record Turnout On Belfast Lough
19 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The 1902 Linton Hope-designed, John Hilditch-built Fairy Class keelboats have long been a feature of Belfast Lough, and Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. Sadly, the Lough Erne division has been running out of steam in recent years, but growing enthusiasm…
Carrybridge Lifeboat Crew Assist 10 People in Two Separate Rescues
15 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard in Northern Ireland at 9.42pm on Thursday evening (14 August) to assess a 6.5 metre vessel with four people on board which had lost engine power close to the…
RNLI Lifeguards Rescue 11 People From Flash Rip Current at Portrush East Strand
14 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
On Saturday last (9 August), RNLI lifeguards in Northern Ireland rescued 11 people who were caught in a flash rip current at Portrush East Strand. The flash rip quickly developed between the black-and-white checkered flags and within a minute, 11 teenagers…
150 Sailors Compete at 50th Anniversary Irish ILCA Nationals
13 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The 50th Anniversary Irish ILCA Nationals to be held at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough this coming weekend (15th – 17th) is expecting 150 competitors of all ages from across Ireland and beyond, including entries from Canada, Croatia, Ukraine…
Holy Loch Marina on the Cowal Peninsula in Scotland has been sold to Tingdene Group. The 250-berth marina in Sandbank, Argyll, includes indoor and outdoor hard standing, as well as ancillary services. Christie & Co handled the sale on behalf…
Tingdene Group Buys Holy Loch Marina in Scotland
13 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Holy Loch Marina on the Cowal Peninsula in Scotland has been sold to Tingdene Group. The 250-berth marina in Sandbank, Argyll, includes indoor and outdoor hard standing, as well as ancillary services. Christie & Co handled the sale on behalf…
It was a case of third time lucky for Gordon Kane's Westerly Fulmar Artemis from East Antrim Boat Club on Larne Lough, as she was the best performing of the nine Northern Ireland boats in this year's West Highland Week…
Gordon Kane's Artemis Takes Class Eight Win at West Highland Week
11 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It was a case of third time lucky for Gordon Kane's Westerly Fulmar Artemis from East Antrim Boat Club on Larne Lough, as she was the best performing of the nine Northern Ireland boats in this year's West Highland Week…
ILCA Ireland National Championships Mark 50 Years at Ballyholme
10 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Following the success of the 2024 ILCA 6 Youth European Championships, Ballyholme Yacht Club will be hosting the ILCA Ireland National Championships next weekend (15-17th August) as the championship celebrates its 50th anniversary. Up to 150 competitors from across the…
Those cruising enthusiasts who prefer to go their own sweet way when making their annual cruise often – surprisingly perhaps – turn out to have the highest regard for the teams that now and again put together a Cruise-in-Company for…
Cranston's Quarter Tonner 'Purple Haze' Secures Second at Cowes Week
9 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Stuart Cranston, representing Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Northern Ireland, was on the podium again with his Quarter Tonner, this time finishing second in Class Six at Cowes Week. The winner was Sam Laidlaw's 28-foot Quarter Tonner BLT, which, after…
Groves and Parkhurst Crowned National RS400 Champions on Belfast Lough
8 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst claimed victory at the RS400 Eurocup UK National Championship 2025. They topped the leaderboard after a high-stakes competition at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. Robert Espey and Michael Ferguson finished second overall and…
RNLI Lifeguard Rescues Bodyboarder at Portrush West Strand
7 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RNLI lifeguard Eva Jones rescued a bodyboarder in challenging conditions at Portrush’s West Strand on Tuesday afternoon (5 August). While Eva was patrolling the beach, she spotted a bodyboarder in distress 50 metres out at sea. The casualty had lost…
All Aboard the Belfast Maritime Festival for a Weekend of Fun (6 & 7 September)
7 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Belfast Maritime Festival is all set to take place along the city’s heritage waterfront on a weekend of free fun on Saturday, 6, and Sunday, 7 September, from 11am to 6pm each day. The celebration of Belfast’s rich maritime heritage…
Groves and Parkhurst Dominate Belfast Lough RS Eurocup Championship on Day Three
6 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst from Beaver Sailing Club are in the lead at the RS400 Eurocup UK and Irish National Championship 2025 on Belfast Lough. Day three of the Northern Ireland dinghy championships produced fantastic racing across the 24-boat fleet. After…
Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Five in Separate Rescues Over 24 Hours
6 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard on Friday afternoon (1 August) to assess an eight-metre vessel with two people on board, which had broken down around a mile north-west of Derryadd slipway. Winds in…
Belfast Harbour On Course to be Island of Ireland’s First Net-Zero Port Operator
6 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
"Significant strides "have been achieved at Belfast Harbour as it makes its journey to becoming the first net zero port operator on the island of Ireland and one of the first net zero ports in Europe. At the launch of…
Espey and Ferguson Lead in Stormy Start to Belfast RS400 Eurocup Championships
6 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Northern Ireland duo Robert Espey and Michael Ferguson from Ballyholme Yacht Club lead overall at the Belfast Lough-hosted RS400 dinghy Eurocup and UK/Irish National Championships, which began at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Monday. Day 1 saw…
Join Ulster Wildlife to Protect Northern Ireland's Shores
5 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
There's still time to volunteer for National Marine Week. Ulster Wildlife is calling on coastal enthusiasts to help take the pulse of Northern Ireland's shores– by recording the incredible marine life found along the coastline. Marine week ends on 10th…
Cockle Island Boat Club (CIBC) Regatta Highlights Sailability
3 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Sailability was a special feature of the 2025 Cockle Island Boat Club (CIBC) Regatta on Belfast Lough. Cockle Island Boat Club is an RYA-affiliated club in Groomsport. There were 18 starters in its annual regatta, and although the wind was…
Celebrating 50 Years of Irish Laser Nationals at Ballyholme Yacht Club
3 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyholme Yacht Club is set to host a special reception to celebrate 50 years of the Irish Laser/ILCA Nationals. The event will take place on Friday, 15th August 2025, starting at 7:30 PM. All current and former Laser sailors are…
Sailing to Debut at Commonwealth Youth Games Malta 2027
3 August 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Sailing will make its Commonwealth Youth Games debut in Malta from 29 October to 4 November 2027. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the sport, according to the world governing body for sailing. World Sailing CEO David Graham expressed…
Young Northern Ireland Sailors Shine at Topper 5.3 Worlds in Netherlands
31 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Erne Yacht Club, the Upper Lough in County Fermanagh, has every reason to be proud of its two young Topper sailors who raced in the Topper 5.3 Worlds at Medemblik in the Netherlands. Adam Green finished fifth overall, counting…
Ballyholme's Glynn Leads ILCA 7 Leinster Championships on Dublin Bay
26 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Ballyholme Yacht Club's Liam Glynn leads the ILCA 7 fleet at the CH Marine ILCA Leinster Championships hosted by the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay this weekend (July 26) A good entry of 90 ILCAs (Lasers) raced in day…
Carrickfergus Navigator Ian Moore Guides Admiral's Cup Channel Race Winner
21 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Although the very focused Admiral's Cup campaign by current overall leaders YC Costa Smeralda for Italy is a forceful reminder of that nation's rising star in international sailing, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's performance in the opening Channel Race…
Inaugural Northern Ireland IRC Championship Victory for J109 Blue Jay
21 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
What a difference a day makes! John Stanley-Whyte's J109 Blue Jay from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club, Scotland, outshone the overnight leader, John Minnis's Archambault 35 Final Call II, to win the first-ever Northern Ireland championships in the Irish…
RYA Northern Ireland Supports Schools With Sailing Opportunities
21 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
School children across Northern Ireland have experienced sailing for the very first time as part of as part of a new initiative linked to the RYA OnBoard programme. RYA Northern Ireland has so far hosted successful taster days run with…
Minnis's Final Call II Leads Class One at Northern Ireland IRC Champs
19 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
It has been a sports-filled day in Northern Ireland today (July 19th). Up on the North Coast, there is golf at The Open in Portrush, from Australia we see the British and Irish Lions secured a victory in their first…
Loughs Agency Delivers Extensive Fisheries Improvement Works Along River Faughan
17 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
As part of its Fisheries and Angling Improvement Strategy, the Loughs Agency has delivered a series of enhancement works along the River Faughan in Northern Ireland to improve fish habitats, protect riverbanks and promote sustainable land and water management. With…
MAIB Releases Annual Report 2024 on Maritime Safety
17 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its Annual Report for 2024. The report covers statistics on accidents involving UK ships, seafarers, and foreign vessels in UK waters. In 2024, the MAIB received 1,515 reports involving 1,633 vessels. They…
Carrybridge Lifeboat Crew Assist Six Over Separate Call-Outs Over NI Holiday Weekend
16 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard just after 1.30pm on Friday (11 July) to assess a four-metre vessel with five people on board which had broken down near Bellanaleck.…
Bangor Lifeboat Assists Three After Reports of Vessel Adrift
15 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI came to the aid of three people on Monday night (14 July) after their small pleasure craft encountered engine problems close to the Belfast Lough shipping lane in Northern Ireland. At 7.43pm, Bangor RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic…
Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Reports of Dinghy in Difficulty at Benone After Busy Weekend
15 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard on Monday evening (14 July) to several reports of persons in difficulty in a dinghy three quarters of a mile off Benone Beach. The launch request was received at…
Pre-Nationals ILCA Clinic Set for Ballyholme Yacht Club
15 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
ILCA Ireland is hosting a three-day Pre-Nationals Coaching Clinic at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough from August 11 to 13. The event is designed for sailors of all ages and levels, featuring all three ILCA rigs. This clinic is…
The Narrows Series Attracts 100 Boats on Strangford Lough
15 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Nearly 100 boats crowded the stretch of water between Strangford on the west side of the entrance to Strangford Lough and Portaferry on the east for Northern Ireland's Narrows Series held by three clubs on 11th, 12th and 13th July.…
Minnis' Dun Laoghaire Victory Adds Extra Spice to Inaugural Northern Ireland IRC Championships
14 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
John Minnis' Final Call II returns to Belfast Lough fresh from victory at last weekend's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta that saw a three-way tie for first place in IRC Zero. The Final Call campaign will be looking for more silverware…
Belfast's A35 Final Call Tops IRC Class 0 After Volvo Dun Laoghaire Last Race Tie-Breaks
13 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta IRC Class 0 went bonkers on the tie breaks, as John Minnis's A35 Final Call from Belfast Lough blew what had been an extremely good scoresheet until today (Sunday), when she slipped back to a fourth.…
Sailability Open Series Gets Off to a Roaring Start on Belfast Lough
8 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Over 35 sailors travelled to Belfast Lough Sailability Centre in Co Antrim for the first Sailability Open of 2025. This event, held on 28 June, was the first of three Sailability Open events in Northern Ireland this summer which will…
Strangford Lough Yacht Racing Set for Narrows Series
8 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Narrows Series is a busy three days of Northern Ireland yacht racing at the mouth of Strangford Lough in Co. Down, comprising three regattas run by Strangford Sailing Club, Portaferry Town and Portaferry Sailing Club. The series will bring…
From the lone shieling of the misty island Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas- Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland, And we in dreams behold the Hebrides It may be the first verse of…
Lower Bann: Maintenance Works to Bascule Railway Bridge at Coleraine Harbour
8 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann that maintenance works will be carried out on the bascule railway bridge spanning the river at Coleraine Harbour in Northern Ireland. The schedule of works is as follows: Thursday 10…
Enniskillen Lifeboat Crew Assist Two on Cruiser Near Inish Davar
7 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard just before 11am on Saturday (5 July) to assess a 39ft cruiser with two adults onboard which had reported breaking down. Weather conditions at…
The opening ceremony of the World Championship of the St Ayles class of coastal rowing - SkiffieWorlds 2025 - took place in Stranraer, Scotland, on Sunday 6th July. Stranraer hosts the largest gathering of St Ayles coastal rowing boats in…
Cranston's Purple Haze from Strangford Lough is Quarter Ton 2025 Series Winner in Cowes
6 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Stuart Cranston's Purple Haze from Strangford Lough Yacht Sailing Club in Northern Ireland has won the Quarter Ton 2025 Series in Cowes and finished fourth overall in the Quarter Ton Cup. The Cup, sailed from the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes over…
Northern Ireland Boats Set Sail for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
5 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
There are eight Northern Ireland entries for Ireland's biggest sailing event in 2025, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR), which begins on Thursday, July 10. Among the northern boats competing are two Sigma 33s, which made the short passage from Howth…
Loughs Agency Opens New Office in Grounds of Carlingford Sailing Club
4 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Loughs Agency has opened its new Carlingford Office, signalling a boost in cross-border collaboration. The office is situated at Carlingford Sailing Club, moving from its previous location on Dundalk Street. The official opening was attended by Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister…
Newcastle Lifeboat Involved in Multi-Agency Rescue of Young Calf Trapped on Rocks
1 July 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Newcastle RNLI was involved in a multi-agency rescue on Tuesday morning (1 July) to come to the aid of a young calf that got stuck on rocks close to the Bloody Bridge, three miles south of Newcastle in Co Down.…
Sunfast 3600 Blacksmith is Line Honours Winner in 2025 Ailsa Craig Race
29 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
While some celebrated the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, others were racing in the Royal Ulster Yacht Club’s Ailsa Craig Race and viewed the sunrise on 21st June afloat. Apparently, there was only about an hour of darkness for the fleet…
Topper Dinghy Sailors Compete in Irish National Championships on Lough Erne
23 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Erne Yacht Club in Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, welcomes Topper dinghy sailors to the Irish National Championships from Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July. Around 50 talented young sailors will travel from all over Ireland, with some venturing from…
Bangor Bay's 'Pickie to Pier Swim' Returns on 4th July at Seaside Revival
23 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The Seaside Revival, organised by the Open House Festival, includes the legendary Pickie to Pier Swim on 4th July as part of its programme. Pickie refers to the area on the west side of Bangor Bay on Belfast Lough and…
Chance to Own ‘A Bit of Ireland’s History’ in Strangford Lough Islands
22 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Buyers have a chance to own “a bit of Ireland’s history” as a pair of islands on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland have hit the market for £108,000 (€126,655). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the Dunnyneil Islands off Killyleagh comprise…
Bangor RNLI Rescues 10 After Boat Capsizes Off Carrickfergus
19 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI on Belfast Lough has brought 10 people to safety on Thursday evening (19 June) after a 6m boat capsized off Carrickfergus. There was a multi-agency response. HM Coastguard requested the volunteer crew to launch their inshore lifeboat at…
Spain Wins as Optimist Ulster Championships Attract Over 100 Young Sailors
18 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The 2025 Optimist Ulster Championships took place over the weekend at East Antrim Boat Club in Larne, drawing over 100 young sailors from across the country. Despite torrential rain all day Saturday, Race Officers Richard Doig and Gavin Doig successfully…
The Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival returns to Portsoy on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June. The event will offer a variety of water activities for all ages. Festival-goers can enjoy coastal rowing in wooden skiffs, bathtubbing challenges, and coracle…
Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Four on Fishing Boat in Difficulty
16 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard on Saturday afternoon (14 June) to reports of a fishing boat with four people on board in difficulty around one mile from the Northern Ireland harbour. The lifeboat, under…
HM Coastguard Officer Peter Brown Honoured with British Empire Medal
14 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
A volunteer HM Coastguard Rescue Officer who has dedicated more than 50 years to keeping people safe at sea and by the coast has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours announced on Saturday (14 June…
Newcastle RNLI Rescues Solo Sailor with Engine Failure at Harbour
11 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Newcastle RNLI came to the aid of a lone sailor yesterday evening (Tuesday, 10 June) after their sailing vessel encountered engine failure upon entry to Ardglass Harbour. The volunteer crew were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch the all-weather Mersey…
Bangor Lifeboat Launches to Two on 30ft Yacht With Engine Trouble
5 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor RNLI’s volunteers were called on Saturday evening (31 May) to assist the crew of a 30ft yacht with suspected engine failure just off South Briggs in Groomsport. The inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson launched shortly after 7pm and made best…
‘Amazing’ Experiences at RYA’s Women on Water Festival in Ballyholme
5 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
RYA Northern Ireland’s latest Women on Water Festival at Ballyholme Yacht Club has been hailed as a roaring success, with 42 women taking part in the event on Saturday (31 May). As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Belfast-based chartered accountants RBCA…
When Lasers Cost £466 - ILCA to Celebrate 50 Years of Laser Sailing in Ireland
3 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Sailing on Saturday last weekend told of Centenaries and suggested that 100-year fatigue may have set in. But one anniversary will not pass without huge celebrations, and that is the Golden 50 years of ILCAs or Lasers, as old hands…
Donaghadee Lifeboat Responds to Two Yacht Emergencies
2 June 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat volunteers in Northern Ireland responded to two emergency calls within 48 hours over the weekend. The first call came on Saturday, 31 May, at 6.35pm. HM Coastguard requested assistance for a 36ft yacht near Briggs Buoy at…
Unusually poor weather greeted Scotland's Royal Highland Yacht Club (RHYC) members when the club's Social Sailing Network gathered in Tobermory, Isle of Mull, for the annual Mull Music Festival. Yachts came together on Friday, 25th April, to make use of…
Ridout Sisters Secure Sixth in RS Feva Nationals at Dalgety Bay
28 May 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Emily and Annabel Ridout from Ballyholme finished a commendable sixth overall in the 42-strong Gold fleet racing in the RS Feva Nationals at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, Scotland, over the weekend of May 24/25, according to provisional results. Their Black Flag in…
'Hot Orange' Dominates Inaugural Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships
27 May 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
The weekend of 24th – 25th May saw the Inaugural Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships hosted by Carrickfergus Sailing Club on Belfast Lough. Saturday morning started an overcast day with the wind 15 kts gusting into the late teens/early twenties. The…
Continuing Ireland’s prolific record of winning the historical regatta’s top overall award, the National Yacht Club’s J/109 Something Else, owned and steered by Brian Hall, lifted the historic Scottish Series Trophy on Monday (26 May) after counting a perfect scoreline…
Bill O'Hara Appointed Race Officer for IRC NI Championships
25 May 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Bangor man Bill O'Hara has been appointed Race Officer for the inaugural IRC Northern Ireland Championships, scheduled for July 19th and 20th. This event marks the final of the Irish Sea Nations Cup inaugural challenge and will be hosted by…
Larne RNLI Rescues Three from Stranded Pleasure Boat
24 May 2025 Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
County Antrim's Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland rescued three people from a pleasure boat that broke down near Ballygally Head on Thursday evening, 22 May. The incident occurred around 4.49 pm after HM Coastguard received an alarm from the crew. Conditions…
