Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Lough Neagh ‘Dying’ From Uncontrolled Slurry and Sewage Run-Off, Anglers Claim
13th August 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
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
12th August 2023 Belfast Lough
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
12th August 2023 Squib
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
12th August 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
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
11th August 2023 ISORA
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
11th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
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
10th August 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
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…
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
10th August 2023 Racing
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 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…
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
5th August 2023 RYA Northern Ireland
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
5th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
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)”
3rd August 2023 Sailor of the Month
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…
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…