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Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club to Host RYA NI Women on Water Festival at Cultra

1st April 2024
The WOW festival is an opportunity for women to try a variety of different activities on the water within a supportive environment and a chance to meet new friends whilst developing skills
The WOW festival is an opportunity for women to try a variety of different activities on the water within a supportive environment and a chance to meet new friends whilst developing skills Credit: RYANI.

This year’s Women on Water Festival will be held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club at Cultra on the south side of Belfast Lough near Holywood. The date is 12th May.

This event, hosted by the RYANI is planned to give women the opportunity to get involved in sailing and boating for the first time and is open to any women above the age of 18.

The WOW festival is an opportunity for women to try a variety of different activities on the water within a supportive environment and a chance to meet new friends whilst developing skills. This is an open entry festival which welcomes all women who may be new to the sport or may have tried it before but would like to build some more confidence on the water. It is aimed at women interested in learning more about boats, but you don’t have to have completed a WOW programme previously.

Women taking part will get the opportunity to try their hand on a huge range of boats, from small dinghies and powerboats to larger yachts. It’s also a great opportunity for those involved to meet like-minded women who often become their friends for life.

Last year, the Festival was hosted by the Donaghdee Sailing Club on the North Down coast, and Lara Sunday, who took part, said, “There were women from all over Ireland there – some who had been sailing their entire life and then newbies like myself- there was just a really nice mix. Sometimes you think you can’t start things, especially when you’re later in life. It made me think that this is something I can do.” Donaghadee Sailing Club gained several new members after the Festival.

Activities scheduled include Dinghy and Keelboat sailing as well as Powerboating. No experience is needed as it is a day for learning and socialising. Buoyancy Aids will be provided if you don't have your own and the price includes activities, goodies, lunch and most importantly a chance to catch up with others and have lots of fun.

Vice Commodore Lindsay Nolan said “We are delighted to be hosting the 2024 RYA WOW festival. We followed all the work and research done by the RYA on female participation in sailing and hope that we can offer a fabulous day on the water to showcase sailing. Sailing can be a competitive sport if you want it to be but also sailing can be a lot of fun, a way to make new friends and a special way to get outdoors”. Sarah Dalzell is event director.

Tickets will be on sale until Sunday 5th of May and If you would like to know more info please contact [email protected] or sign up here 

Betty Armstrong

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland 

  • The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.
  • The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.
  • The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.
  • The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.
  • The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.
  • The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.
  • The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.
  • You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.
  • RYA NI is a company limited by guarantee – Registration number NI 51945
  • Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]