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Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Members of Loughs Agency, Enagh Seniors Group and River Faughan Anglers on the banks of the River Faughan
Loughs Agency, in collaboration with Enagh Seniors Group and volunteers from River Faughan Anglers, recently organised a tree-planting event at Teenaght, situated along the scenic banks of the River Faughan near Claudy. Approximately 150 willow saplings supplied by Enagh Seniors…
Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist a trawler in difficulty and unsure of its location
In the early hours of Thursday 25 April, the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew from Donaghadee lifeboat station received a call from HM Coastguard to launch a rescue mission. A 40ft fishing trawler with one person onboard had contacted the Coastguard…
Winners of the RYA Northern Ireland Annual Awards for 2023
The Northern Ireland sailing community enjoyed a celebratory evening at Riddel Hall in Belfast last Friday (19 April) as people came together for the RYA Northern Ireland Annual Awards. The evening was “the perfect opportunity to recognise the achievements of…
Harland & Wolff’s CEO, Mr. Wood, said a replacement vessel for the new operator, Scilly Ferries, had become unviable due to conflict in the Middle East. AFLOAT adds that the above fast ferry is the original proposed craft; however, an alternative, Aquabus Jet 1, has been chartered and renamed Atlantic Wolff. The craft departed Spain, and today (24 April), it is off Portugal before it completes a delivery voyage to Portsmouth in the UK.
Scilly Ferries, a division of Harland & Wolff Group, is a new ferry operator that was due to start running in May between the Isles of Scilly and Penzance, Cornwall, but has been delayed. The shipbuilder group announced on Friday that…
Victoria Dews, the owner of Sigma 33 Elandra based in Belfast Lough
Victoria Dews, the owner of Sigma 33 Elandra based in Belfast Lough, possesses many of the characteristics associated with the name Elandra, such as a strong personality, energy, charisma, and focus. She is a great advocate of Women on Water,…
Darach Dinneen's Mermaid Endeavour with son Max steering and Niamh Lynchehaun crewing
Dublin Bay has been the home of the Mermaid class since 1932 when they were designed by J B Kearney. They race regularly in Dun Laoghaire, Clontarf, Rush, Skerries, Wexford, Foynes, Dungarvan and Sligo. And for the first time ever…
Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat
Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched on Monday evening to assist a 6-meter fishing vessel which had suffered engine failure close to the Bar Buoy at the entrance into Strangford Lough. Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat at…
File image of Henry Street Jetty on the River Erne in Enniskillen
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the downstream section of the Henry Street Floating Jetty in Enniskillen will be closed from this Sunday 21 to next Friday 26 April. This…
Bob Espey was the first-ever Northern Irish championship Waszp winner at Ballyholme Yacht Club
Despite the Yellow Weather warning for County Down last weekend, six Waszp dinghies did turn up at Ballyholme Yacht Club for the first ever Northern Irish championships section of the Four Nations Cup. But with little respite from the North…
Puffin - the charismatic birds have already been delighting visitors in recent weeks as they arrive back at Rathlin Island
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) anticipates that puffins will benefit from the closure last month of the industrial fishery for sand eels in the North Sea and Scottish waters. The closure of the fishery from March…
Rathlin Island ferry service - Charles Stewart, Director at Dunaverty Ltd, Dawn Hynes, Managing Director at Dunaverty Ltd and Robert Lynn, Business Manager at Danske
Dunaverty Ltd, the operators of the ferry service to Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim, have successfully completed their first year in business. The company has announced that it has increased its team to 18 and transported thousands…
The Swedish Challenge Women's and Youth America's Cup AC40 is craned into Belfast Lough for training purposes
If you were wondering why an AC40 was sailing in Belfast Lough in the last few days, here is the answer. About a week ago, the AC40 arrived in Belfast for the Swedish Women's and Youth America's Cup teams for…
Waterways Ireland logo
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Upper Lough Erne Predator Challenger boat pike angling competition will take place this Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April. The event will take place from…
The new Pilot Boat Hibernia underway on Belfast Lough
Belfast Harbour has announced the arrival of its latest pilot boat, the Hibernia, marking a significant investment of £1.5m in its marine fleet. The new vessel will be responsible for ferrying pilots to and from ships at the port, helping…
Emma McKnight from Strangford Lough Yacht Club (left) and Daniel Corbett from County Antrim Yacht Club are among just 20 across the UK selected for the Griffin Project 2024
Northern Ireland youth sailors Emma McKnight from Strangford Lough Yacht Club and Daniel Corbett from County Antrim Yacht Club are among just 20 across the UK selected for the Griffin Project 2024. The Griffin Project is a Royal Ocean Racing…
The RNLI’s Mayday fundraiser begins on Monday, 1 May, and will run for the whole month across Ireland and the UK
Bangor RNLI, the lifesaving charity on Belfast Lough based in Northern Ireland, has launched a Mayday fundraising campaign to support its vital services. The charity has revealed that it was called into action 36 times in 2023, highlighting the importance…