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Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Competition at June's Bangor Regatta on Belfast Lough is expected to be keen
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…
The ultra-mix of sailing and the inland waterways – the century-old Shannon One Design Class transitting the lock in Athlone during their annual downriver race from Lough Ree to Lough Derg
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…
Skerries Sailing Club last hosted the GP14 championship in Ireland 2022 after a number of cancellations caused by COVID
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…
The Erne in Enniskillen will be illuminated for St Patrick’s Day this weekend
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…
Movanagher Lock on the Lower Bann
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…
Alfie Mayrs' H Boat Final Fling competing in Antrim Boat Club's Winter Series
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…
Participants of all background and experience in a previous Women On Water Festival hosted by RYA Northern Ireland
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…
Chief Executive Officer of Loughs Agency, Sharon McMahon, welcomes Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir to Loughs Agency
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…
Finished job - Quarter tonner Purple Haze' Arrives on Strangford Lough with (from left to right) yacht designer John Corby, skipper Stuart Cranston and Will Watson, Head Painter
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…
Martin and Victoria Dews' Sigma 33 Elandra from Belfast Lough
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…
John Hubbocks, Tessa Fleming and Irial Ó Ceallaigh approach Gola Island with a fishing boat behind them in episode one of Kayak-Ó-Thuaidh
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 on the wire and helm Tom Gillard after their convincing win in the Fireball Worlds 2024 in Australia
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…
Man in charge – in addition to long distance cruising, Ed Wheeler has given years of service to the Irish Cruising Club and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club
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…
Double jobber…..Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme won Silver at the ILCA Masters in Australia in February, and also collected an Irish Cruising Club award
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…
Alison Young, seen here competing in Tokyo 2020
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…
Charlie McAllister’s newly acquired Jacques Fauroux Quarter Tonner, called SKB, will compete at Bangor Regatta 2024 in June
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…