Belfast Lough
Belfast Harbour has unveiled plans for a £1.3 billion investment programme to expand port capacity and regenerate parts of the harbour estate over the next 25 years. The masterplan includes proposals for more than 3,500 new homes, expanded freight facilities,…
The 2026 sailing season officially opened in Bangor Bay on Belfast Lough on 2 May with ‘Opening Day’ races hosted by Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club. Racing at Royal Ulster Yacht Club featured a revised format, starting…
The GP14 O’Tiarnaigh Challenge held at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra on the 25th and 26th April provided an excellent opportunity for the class to get used to the waters in which the World Championship will be…
Belfast Harbour Marina has reopened following a refurbishment that has increased capacity and upgraded facilities. The marina, located between Titanic Belfast and the SSE Arena, now offers 67 berths, up from 60, after pontoon extensions increased total length to over…
Belfast Lough will host more than 100 boats this August as the GP14 World Championships 2026 arrives in Northern Ireland. The week-long regatta runs from 8–14 August and is hosted by Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, with support from…
Racing on the opening day of the Irish Sailing Foundation Youth Sailing Nationals at Ballyholme Yacht Club was cut short due to strong winds on Belfast Lough. Nearly 134 boats and just under 160 sailors launched on Thursday, 9 April.…
National Museums Northern Ireland has opened the Harland & Wolff ship plans archive to the public for the first time. The collection is now housed at the Cultra Collections Store at the Ulster Folk Museum. The archive contains hundreds of…
Belfast Harbour is hosting an international port management workshop this week, led by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The nine-day programme runs from 25 March to 1 April and brings together senior port professionals from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia,…
Belfast is marking 30 years of cruise tourism as it prepares to launch its 2026 summer season. The milestone comes as the port confirms its position as the second busiest cruise destination in the UK, behind Southampton, and the busiest…
A new partnership between the Port of Cork Company and Belfast Harbour Commissioners aims to strengthen trade, tourism and offshore renewable energy across Ireland. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed today, creates a strategic alliance between the two major ports…
The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club launched its annual GP14 Spring Series on 8 March in bright sunshine and a lively southerly breeze. Fifteen boats sailed out to the race area in winds of 12 to 17 knots, creating…
Bangor Regatta will host the Impala Championship as part of its 2026 sailing programme on Belfast Lough. The four-day regatta runs from 25 to 28 June at Royal Ulster Yacht Club and will feature racing for a wide range of…
Royal Ulster Yacht Club has unveiled a busy 2026 sailing programme on Belfast Lough, with racing, regattas and participation events planned throughout the year. Preparations are already underway with a call for volunteers to help run the season’s events on…
Carrickfergus Sailing Club will mark its 160th anniversary this spring, highlighting its long-standing role on Belfast Lough. Founded in 1866, the club has grown from informal local racing into a sailing institution serving generations across Northern Ireland and beyond. The…
Owners of Ruffian 23 yachts in Carrickfergus are awaiting a decision on whether their boats will be granted classic status. As Afloat previously reported, the move follows discussions with marina management aimed at easing rising mooring costs for the locally…
A new exhibition celebrating the boat-building heritage of Ballyholme will launch at North Down Museum in Bangor, Co. Down, in February. Running from 7 pm to 9 pm, the event will be officially opened by the Mayor of Ards and…
