Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The Rathlin RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) has announced the Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre will re-open on Saturday 29th May in line with the NI Executive's indicative date for visitor attractions. This, of course, may be subject…

The good news for lovers of Rathlin is following the latest easing of restrictions by the Northern Ireland Executive, visitors are allowed to travel to the Island from Friday 23rd April. Rathlin lies nine kilometres across Rathlin Sound from Ballycastle…

Yesterday's strong southerly wind resulted in a spate of paddleboarding incidents involving lifeboat call outs at Larne and Bangor. Larne RNLI launched both of their lifeboats today to reports of a paddleboarder in difficulty at Ballygally, a village and holiday…

Yesterday evening (17th April), Ards and North Down Council notified the public about a diesel spill and pollution risk on the beach at Millisle. Millisle is about three miles south of Donaghadee on the North Down Coast and is a…

The Sunday Life recently highlighted the decision by Downtown Radio Star Neil McClelland to support Lagan Search & Rescue. Lagan S&R is an independent Lifeboat covering the seaward River Lagan and Belfast Lough; It relies on the generosity and support…

Last month Foyle Search and Rescue announced the refresh and upgrade of its drone programme following a £39,000 donation from supporters in the local video games industry. It operates on the River Foyle, which flows through the City of Derry…

In anticipation of an eagerly awaited easing of the Lockdown in Northern Ireland, and looking forward to a return to racing, the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Sailing Committee has arranged for Bill O'Hara, OBE, to lead a Zoom session to…

Yesterday afternoon (11th April) Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team had what turned out to be an Accident Prevention call out. At Cloughey on the east coast of the Ards Peninsula in Co Down, a dog had entered the water to chase…

Lough Neagh Rescue was paged on the 9th April to the aid of a lone yachtsman whose vessel had engine difficulties just outside Kinnego Bay on the southern shore of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. On scene, the lifeboats found…

The PSNI has confirmed that a man's body was recovered from a river in Co Fermanagh after what is believed to have been a tragic jet ski accident, reports Belfast Live. The Emergency services attended the scene on the River…

Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team was paged on Saturday along with Newcastle Coastguard after a report that seven people were stranded by the tide on Guns Island, off the southeastern County Down coast near Ballyhornan. Two Coastguard Rescue officers in water…

Lough Neagh Rescue was called last Friday evening to a 24ft cruiser that had lost power. The vessel was located about 1.5 nautical miles to the east of Ballyronan on the west side of Lough Neagh. Lifeboats were launched and…

Coastguard and Lifeboat rescue teams have been extremely busy over the Easter Weekend and of course, answer distress calls without hesitation. But Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre has reported a hoax call. Both Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked…

Even the weather played ball for the Return to Water at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough this Easter weekend. And there was no shortage of members keen to get afloat. Commodore Aidan Pounder kicked the day off with an…

The last two days in March were busy for Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team with incidents on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st March in Strangford Lough. On Tuesday the team responded to a report of a person in the water near…

 It isn't an April Fool! Thursday will be to Bangor Marina berth holders the end of a long-awaited return to their craft after a roller coaster of lockdown, opening up and lockdown again over the past year. In Harbour Master…

One of the smallest clubs in Northern Ireland, Cockle Island Boat Club at Groomsport on the North Down coast certainly isn't lacking in enthusiasm. A Lift - In of about 20 boats is planned for Thursday 15th April with a…

Newcastle RNLI volunteer crew launched the inshore D class lifeboat 'Eliza' at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assist three kayakers who were in difficulties in Dundrum Inner Bay yesterday morning. The bay lies on the south County Down coast…

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, James Nixon's Strangford Lough Yacht Club's River Class history was published in December last and has proved so popular that a re-print of another 100 copies has been ordered. Already 50 of these have been…

Seven sailing clubs in Northern Ireland have been awarded funding totalling £174,343 through the Department of Communities Sports Sustainability Fund. They are Ballyholme who got the largest sum at £49,138, Carlingford Lough - £3,957, Carrickfergus SC - £29,716, Down Cruising…