Eight unsung heroes of sailing and boating have been recognised by RYA Northern Ireland at its annual awards.

The awards, which were hosted by Denise Watson, took place at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast with more than 80 guests.

This was the first year the sailing governing body could hold the awards since 2019 due to covid.

Young Sailor of the Year, Bobby Driscoll of Ballyholme Yacht Club & Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club with his parents at the RYA Northern Ireland annual awards in Belfast

With more than 19 nominations for the eight categories, the standard of nominations was very high, say the RYANI.

This year a new ‘Race Official of the Year’ category was also introduced.

RYA Northern Ireland’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Yarnall commented: “I was very proud to welcome all the nominees, their nominators and other people from the sport to the Annual awards. It is a fantastic privilege to be recognising some of the great and good of the sport at the 2023 Annual Awards.

The East Antrim Boat Club Team from Larne at the RYA Northern Ireland annual awards in Belfast

“We recently launched the ‘Navigating the Future’ strategy for RYA Northern Ireland. One of its Strategic Foundations is ‘Celebrating the Sport’ and the Annual Awards provided a perfect launch pad to enable us to do this. Congratulations to all of the very deserving nominees and winners.”

Lough Neagh Yacht Club. Pictured left to right are: Kevin Cushnahan, Instructor of the Year Nominee, Paul Matthews, Commodore and Chris Walsh, Race Official of the Year nominee at the at the RYA Northern Ireland annual awards in Belfast

Chair of RYA Northern Ireland, Susan McKnight, said: “I am delighted that we were once again able to host the RYANI annual awards. It was great to be able to recognise and celebrate the achievements and commitment of all our nominees, who have all made such a contribution to our sport.

“One of the awards is the RYANI Chair’s Award, the Patton Trophy. This award is for a person or persons who are not covered in our other categories but who have gone above and beyond for their dedication to boating.

Graham Chambers, Killyleagh Yacht Club winner of chairs award, with RYANI chair, Susan McKnight at the RYA Northern Ireland annual awards in Belfast

“This year I was delighted to announce the award winner, Graham Chambers from Killyleagh Yacht Club (KYC). Graham has been a member of KYC for over 50 years; throughout this time he has been an active volunteer in the club, not only encouraging new members into the club but also being active in the ongoing development of KYC, as treasurer, senior instructor and RTC principal.

“He has always given freely of his time to give help and advice and his influence, without doubt, has been instrumental in the success of KYC. We congratulate and celebrate all that Graham has achieved.”

The full list of winners and categories is listed below:

• Chair’s Award nomination – Graham Chambers, Killyleagh Yacht Club
• Race Official of the year - Sheela Lewis, County Antrim Yacht Club
• Volunteer of the Year - Sam Rutherford, Holywood Yacht Club
• Instructor of the Year - Sarah Cushley, Strangford Lough Yacht Club
• Club Race Coach of the year - Cody Halliday, Strangford Lough Yacht Club
• Young Powerboater of the Year - Dan Cooke, Strangford Lough Yacht Club
• Young Volunteer of the Year - Max Robinson, Strangford Lough Yacht Club
• Young Sailor of the year - Bobby Driscoll, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

Four sailors have been inducted into RYA Northern Ireland’s Hall of Fame at a special gathering in Belfast.

Sailors, club members, and sports representatives from right across NI joined together in Belfast for its first-ever Hall of Fame and the launch of RYA Northern Ireland’s new five-year strategic plan.

The event, which took place at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast, has numerous speakers, including RYA CEO Sara Sutcliffe MBE, RYA Chair Chris Preston, RYA Northern Ireland’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Yarnall and RYA Northern Ireland’s Chair Susan McKnight.

RYA CEO Sara Sutcliffe MBE at the RYA Northern Ireland gathering in Belfast Photo: Simon McIlwaine

Guests included representatives from affiliated clubs, Sport NI, Disability Sport NI, Mary Peters Trust and the NI Sports Forum.

RYA Northern Ireland’s inaugural Hall of Fame awards Photo: Simon McIlwaine

This included Irish Olympian and Race Officer Bill O’Hara OBE, Fireball sailor and former RYANI chair Maeve Bell OBE, GP14 sailor Curly Morris OBE and sailing historian James Nixon who recently published a history of the 100-Year-Old River Class.

Greg Yarnall said: “I am delighted that we were able to recognise four very special people in our sailing community tonight. We welcomed the first inductees to our newly established Hall of Fame. People are at the heart of our sport, and it is fantastic to be able to celebrate some of those who have made such a hugely positive impact over many years.”

Bill O'Hara (left) with Dame Mary Peters and RYA Chair Chris Preston at the first ever RYA Northern Ireland Hall of Fame awards at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast Photo: Simon McIlwaine

Maeve Bell (left) with Dame Mary Peters and RYA Chair Chris Preston at the first ever RYA Northern Ireland Hall of Fame awards at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast Photo: Simon McIlwaine

James Nixon (left) with Dame Mary Peters and RYA Chair Chris Preston at the first ever RYA Northern Ireland Hall of Fame awards at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast Photo: Simon McIlwaine

Curly Morris (left) with Dame Mary Peters and RYA Chair Chris Preston at the first ever RYA Northern Ireland Hall of Fame awards at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast Photo: Simon McIlwaine

RYA NI is 'Navigating the Future'

MC for the event was Denise Watson who interviewed a panel of sailors about each of the new Strategy’s aims.

At the heart of the strategy, which is entitled ‘Navigating the Future’, is being proud of and celebrating the sport, the people and the places within it.

RYA Northern Ireland’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Yarnall comments: “It is fantastic to see so many people coming together to launch our new strategy and to see the first four people inducted into our Hall of Fame.

“Our new strategy has been months in the making, and we want to thank everyone that has helped shape the direction of travel for the next five years. Many people have helped through completing online surveys, to taking part in in person and online workshops, to checking and challenging our thinking as we have moved through various iterations.

“As a sport there is much to celebrate, and we will ensure that those that play a part in making the sport happen at all levels and those that commit to achieving on the world stage, feel valued and are recognised for the roles they play.

“The strategy has been built from the ground up, starting with what volunteers, participants, coaches, instructors and officials talked about being the key issues holding back the development of the sport, and where the biggest opportunities lie.

We look forward to continuing our work over the next five years to improve our sport.”

The RYA Northern Ireland Cruising Conference will take place on Saturday, 28 January at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough.

The event is set to provide an opportunity for the cruising community to come together, learn about the latest issues and opportunities and hear from experts on a wide range of informative and enjoyable topics. 

With a packed agenda, the Conference will have plenty of networking opportunities with other sailors, RYA staff, volunteers and speakers.

Registration will begin at 9.30 am, with the conference running from 10 am until 4.30 pm.

Speakers for the day include Carol Paddison and Mel Hyde from RYA. They will also be joined by Paul Magee from PGM Training, discussing Sea Survival and Margie Crawford from East Down Yacht Club, telling of her experiences cruising Antarctica.

Tickets for the event, which includes a two-course lunch, cost £35, and there is a reduced fee of £30 for RYA Personal Members.

Gavin Watson has recently been appointed Vice Chair of RYA Northern Ireland.

He is the Honorary Sailing Secretary of Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, and it is believed that he is the first RUYC member to take on this role. The Chair is Susan McKnight.

Gavin is an experienced yachtsman and was the mainsheet trimmer on the successful First 40, Forty Licks, previously owned by Jay Colville of East Down Yacht Club and recently sold.

Gavin was also instrumental in reviving the popular Bangor Town Regatta and has represented his club at the Belfast Lough Yacht Conference.

Heralding a new era for RYA Racing, today sees the announcement that Nick Scott will be taking up the Director of Racing position this autumn and Mark Robinson MBE is assuming a new role as Performance Director following the British Sailing Team’s success at Tokyo 2020.

As Director of Racing, Nick will oversee the development of sail racing within the UK, including determining and developing the strategy of youth, junior, keelboat and coach development programmes. Formerly the RYA Olympic Manager, Mark will focus on leading the team responsible for executing the Paris 2024 strategy and building towards LA 2028.

Nick Scott

Nick has been involved in performance sport since his time on the Sailing World Class Programme as an athlete. The former Olympic Development Squad sailor and RYA Scotland High Performance Manager returns to the RYA following two Olympic cycles with the English Institute of Sport, first at British Triathlon and latterly at British Rowing.

A former sailing coach and civil engineer by training, Nick brings to the RYA a wealth of experience in leading performance planning, sports science, and innovation strategies in the pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic medals – and as the brother of Giles Scott MBE, four-time Finn Gold Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Nick knows what it takes to reach the top!

Commenting on his appointment, Nick said: “I can’t wait to get started in this role. It’s an exciting time for sailing in the UK and I look forward to bringing my experiences from other sports and working with the sailing community to continue to create great experiences of racing and develop the sailing superstars of the future.”

Newly promoted Mark Robinson MBE, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the sport as a competitor, coach, and National Team Manager led Australia's Paralympic sailors to the top of the medal table at Rio 2016, and at Tokyo 2020 delivered the most successful Olympics for our British sailors since Beijing 2008.

"Topping the Tokyo sailing medal table, with three golds, one silver and one bronze, confirmed the British sailing Team as the most successful national Olympic sailing team of all time. It’s a true privilege to be given the opportunity to lead the team into Paris 2024 and beyond," Mark said.

Sara Sutcliffe MBE, Chief Executive of the RYA, said: “We’re delighted to be announcing these key appointments. Success breeds success and the RYA has been able to establish one of the best sport development programmes in the world, with a clear and direct link between Olympic success and the clubs and schools at the grassroots of sailing.

“I’m confident that Nick’s appointment, alongside Mark Robinson’s new role as Performance Director, will see our sport go from strength to strength, while at the same time inspiring future participants, volunteers, coaches and champions to ensure a thriving UK club racing scene.”

An entry of thirteen on Saturday 23rd October was certainly not an unlucky number for Ballyholme Yacht Club's first windsurfing event, the Open Ulster Championship, as the Irish Windsurfing Association intends to include this as a ranked event in the calendar next October.

Racing for four classes was scheduled Gold, Silver, Bronze and Youth. The overall winner was Hannes Louet-Feisser who had made the long haul from Limerick (one of several who travelled considerable distances to be there).

He counted six first places and two seconds with Martin Pelican runner up with one first, four seconds and a third. First in the Silver fleet was Barry Murphy with local Andrew Gallagher second.

Barry Murphy (right) first in the Silver Fleet of the Ulster Windsurfing Championships with BYC Commodore Aidan Pounder Photo: Catherine Gunning

Winds were offshore, with strong gusts and a flat sea and the fleet launched from Ballymacormick Beach on the east side of Ballyholme Bay. The club had the use of some of the car parks for the event where there was the registration gazebo and an RYA NI information tent as well as the regular coffee trailer.

Andrew Gallagher runner up in the Silver Fleet of the Ulster Windsurfing Championships

Commodore Aidan Pounder who organised the Championships was delighted with the event. "Ballyholme had about 30 people in the support team covering two Committee Boats, safety boats, overseeing the car park, and back at the Clubhouse - a mid-afternoon Barbecue. We are pleased with the compliments from the Irish Windsurfing Association and from the competitors and are delighted that this will be a ranked championship event next year".

Martin Pelican runner up in the Gold fleet of the Ulster Windsurfing Championships

And Richard Honeyford, Chief Operating Officer of RYANI was one of the Competitors; "Ballyholme Yacht Club provided a great welcome for competitors for the Ulster Windsurf Championships. Despite some shifty conditions, well laid (and adjusted) courses allowed for eight races. Thank you to Aidan Pounder and the whole BYC team for putting it together, from set up, shore support, racing and safety. Thanks also to Ards and North Down Borough Council for their support. Everyone appreciated the effort to get good racing in."

A group of enthusiastic young sailors have come together for the first meeting of RYA Northern Ireland's Youth Forum at Ballyholme Yacht Club.

RYA Northern Ireland identified youth engagement as a key area for the organisation, and this strand of work was carried forward by former Chair of RYA Northern Ireland, Jackie Patton. The Forum began in 2019 as a pilot project, and following its success, it has now been officially launched.

The first of its kind within RYA, youth representatives from clubs across Northern Ireland will work together as part of the organisation to help drive the sport forward whilst developing their leadership and personal skills.

At the meeting, the new participants and junior leaders were confirmed, and the group took part in ice breakers, as well as discussing their goals for the year ahead. Olympians Ryan Seaton and his wife Jena Mai Seaton also joined the group online for a Q&A session about their career and future plans.

RYA Northern Ireland Youth Forum Co-ordinator Jackie Patton is leading the Youth Forum. She said: "It is a delight to work with such an enthusiastic and dedicated group of young people on the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Forum. They are our future leaders and will ensure our sport carries on for many years, and I am confident we are in safe hands. It is fantastic to hear all of their ideas and plans, and I look forward to seeing these come to fruition over the course of the next year."

Susan McKnight, Chair of RYA Northern Ireland, said: "The RYA Northern Ireland Board was delighted to continue the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Forum this year.

"The voice of young people in our sport is paramount alongside the current committees, clubs and participants to help develop and progress the organisation."

The full list of new participants and junior leaders is included below:

New participants:

• Louise Leonard (Carrickfergus Sailing Club)
• George Turkington (Coleraine Yacht Club)
• Emily Dickson (Donaghadee Sailing Club)
• Lara Killen (East Down Yacht Club)
• Matthew Loughlin (Coleraine Yacht Club)
• Rose Kelly (East Down Yacht Club)

Junior Leaders

• Charlie O'Malley (Donaghadee Sailing Club)
• Cody Halliday (Strangford Lough Yacht Club)
• Autumn Halliday (Strangford Lough Yacht Club)
• Charlotte Eadie (Donaghadee Sailing Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club)
• Caitlyn Eadie (Donaghadee Sailing Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club)
• Holly McConnell (County Antrim Yacht Club)

A huge fleet of 121 dinghies took to the waters of Belfast Lough from Carrickfergus Sailing Club on the north shore on Saturday and Sunday (11th and 12th) for the Royal Yachting Association NI Youth Championships. The 137 youth sailors came from all over Ireland, racing in seven categories over two courses. The Championships was an Open event with RYANI special performance prizes.

The weather was kind, albeit perhaps not enough wind for some and competitors who had three races in light and variable conditions on Day 1 with four races for the ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 fleets. Wind shifts were plentiful, and some sailors were alert enough to see them coming. On Sunday, with the wind dropping, there was a delayed start and Race Officers Robin Gray and Sheela Lewis then managed to complete a single race for each class.

The massive dinghy fleet prepares to go afloat on Saturday morning

There were six regatta fleet races over the weekend with coaches Dave Nelson, Chris and Jessica Penney delivering training as part of the event. The fleet was a mix of Topper 4.2s and ILCA 4s but it was the Toppers from Lough Erne YC who dominated the score sheet with Charlie Valentine 1st, Emily Torrens 2nd and Ben McCaldin third.

In the seven-strong Optimist fleet at the end of the first day, Matthew Holden from Ballyholme YC on Belfast Lough and Freddie Doig from East Antrim BC on Larne Lough were tied on 5 points, but Doig's first and second on the Sunday gave him first overall by one point.

The largest turnout came in the Topper 5.3 group with 34 on the line. Here Bobby Driscoll of Royal North started with three bullets, stamping his domination right away. In second was Luke Simpson from the County Antrim YC, a few miles east of Carrickfergus, eight points behind on 11. Another first for Driscoll in Race 4 gave him a clean run which couldn't be beaten and Simpson had to be satisfied with second place.

The smaller Topper 4.2 fleet at 10 strong, provided closer racing with another CAYC sailor, Calum Pollard scoring two seconds and sixth to lead overnight narrowly from Hugo Boyd of Ballyholme. In the end Boyd tied with Pollard with the tie split in Boyd's favour.

Daniel Palmer of BYC, Male Youth champion

Daniel Palmer from Ballyholme began emphatically, scoring three firsts in the 18 strong ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) fleet. After the second day, Palmer had the title sewn up with another two bullets. Lucy Ives of Carlingford Lough YC who counted two seconds, a third and a fourth finished runner up.

Ellen Barbour of County Antrim YC and East Antrim BC, Female Youth champion

Of the 23 competitors in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial ) after four races, Tom Coulter of East Antrim came away with a winning score of 5 points. Ellen Barbour of County Antrim YC and East Antrim discarded a 20th but held onto the runner up slot with Hannah Dadley-Young from Ballyholme in third.

Katie Brow of Ballyholme YC, Female Junior Champion

In the only two-handed fleet, the 29ers, most of the competitors came from Southern clubs and it was three of these who finished top three overall. And it was this fleet who prove to be too eager to cross the line at the start of the fourth race – so much so that ten of the 16 were Black Flagged. Timothy Norwood and Nathan van Steenberge of Royal Irish in Dun Laoghaire were able to discard the Black Flag score of 17 and finished comfortably ahead of Emily and Jessica Riordan of the neighbouring club, Royal St. George.

Lauren McDowell and Erin McIlwaine of Newcastle YC and Royal North in the 29er skiff

Larne Grammar were winners of the Schools Trophy

RYA Northern Ireland's High Performance Manager, Andrew Baker, commented: "It was fantastic to be at Carrickfergus Sailing Club for the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Championships. The venue was excellent, and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone at the Club for their hard work and enthusiasm to ensure the weekend was such a success. It has been another challenging year for sport and I am delighted that we were able to run this event and I thank everyone for adhering to all COVID guidelines that were set in place". He added: "All of the sailors have done themselves proud this weekend and we are looking forward to seeing their progression as they continue to train throughout the year."

Tom Coulter of East Antrim BC, winner of the ILCA 6 prize

The championship prizes were, of course, all awarded to Northern Ireland boats.

Royal Yachting Association NI Youth Championships Overall Awards

Female Junior Champion
Katie Brow - Ballyholme Yacht Club

Male Junior Champion
Bobby Driscoll – Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

Female Youth Champion
Ellen Barbour – County Antrim Yacht Club

Male Youth Champion
Daniel Palmer – Ballyholme Yacht Club

Northern Ireland Schools Cup
Larne

Northern Ireland Club Trophy
Ballyholme Yacht Club

Junior Champion
Bobby Driscoll – Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

Youth Champion
Daniel Palmer – Ballyholme Yacht Club

For full results here

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) in the UK has responded to a consultation, launched by the Department of Transport (DfT), on the disposal of pyrotechnic flares.

The consultation sought views on the safe disposal of marine pyrotechnics, looking for a practical alternative to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s temporary ‘last-resort’ service.

The RYA says that the compulsory carriage of flares by recreational boaters is an outdated and ineffective approach to maritime safety.

Having to carry flares, the RYA says, directly creates the problem of their disposal.

The RYA’s main case for the removal of the compulsory carriage is both the technological advances in alternative equipment, and the inherent lack of reliability and effectiveness that the flares provide.

“Modern technology such as radios, phones and other satellite-connected technologies provide safer, affordable and significantly more reliable alternatives to pyrotechnic flares,” says Phil Horton, RYA environment and sustainability manager. “It is disappointing that this consultation does not consider removing mandatory carriage requirements as part of the solution as, in our opinion, that is the only viable way ahead.

“However, should the MCA continue to require the carriage of flares, then the RYA’s view is that extended producer responsibility is the only reasonable solution for their safe disposal. A levy on the purchase of new flares, and a requirement for vendors to recover out-of-date product, would ensure that industry addresses the issue.”

The Royal Yachting Association of Northern Ireland (RYA Northern Ireland), together with British Marine and the Cruising Association, met yesterday with representatives from HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury to discuss the difficulties for private pleasure craft in Northern Ireland resulting from the decision to withdraw the use of red diesel.

Recreational boaters and the marine industry urgently need clarity surrounding the Government's plans for implementation and how it intends to address the practical difficulties before June.

As Afloat reported earlier, the Cruising Association has said no white diesel supply exists in Northern Ireland leaving boaters without options later this summer

The discussions took place against the background of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and in particular Article 8 concerning Union VAT and excise law that applies to Northern Ireland.

To achieve consistency with the 2018 judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union and to ensure that the UK meets its international obligations under the Protocol, private pleasure craft users in Northern Ireland will no longer be able to use red diesel for propelling their craft.

It is proposed that this change will take effect by June this year. The RYA has stressed the difficulties presented by this short timescale and requested a longer period to address the white diesel supply issues that the decision presents. Once implemented, private pleasure craft users in Northern Ireland will have to use white diesel for propulsion instead of red diesel.

Private pleasure craft users in Northern Ireland with only one fuel tank on board for propulsion and non-propulsion will not have to pay a higher rate of duty on their non-propulsion use of diesel than they would otherwise have to pay. The Government are intending to introduce a new relief scheme in Northern Ireland which will become effective from the date that users become obliged to use white diesel.

The RYA is concerned that the volume of sales of diesel to private pleasure craft is not great enough for suppliers to justify the expense of providing a second pump at the waterside, which is going to cause significant supply problems.

HMRC have confirmed that once the change does take effect, it would be illegal to buy red diesel for private pleasure craft propulsion in Northern Ireland, but fuel already present in tanks could be used without penalty. Private pleasure craft from Northern Ireland that fill up in Great Britain (GB) in future could do so under the Istanbul Convention which will allow red diesel legitimately purchased in GB to be taken back to Northern Ireland in the main fuel tanks of a boat.

The RYA recommends that recreational boaters with marked 'red' diesel purchased in GB:

• Keep receipts for diesel purchased in GB, to prove that it was bought in the GB, and request that your retailer marks them "duty paid."
• Log the date of refuelling and engine hours to reinforce these records; and
• Do not carry marked diesel anywhere other than in their craft's main fuel storage tanks.

Chief Operating Officer of RYA Northern Ireland, Richard Honeyford, commented: "RYA Northern Ireland welcomes that there will be a new duty relief scheme in place to help avoid disproportionately penalising Northern Ireland boaters and details of this scheme are to follow.

"We also welcome a number of clarifications from HMRC and look forward to continuing to work closely with RYA, HM Treasury and HMRC to ensure that boaters in Northern Ireland are clear on all guidance. RYA Northern Ireland will continue to update its members as and when further information is available."

Howard Pridding, RYA Director of External Affairs, commented: "The meeting with Government was productive and both sides now have a clear idea of the issues ahead. We will continue to work with our colleagues in RYA Northern Ireland to talk to Government about the practical difficulties that these issues present and work constructively with HM Treasury and HMRC officials to develop guidance that will inform boaters about the new fuel situation in Northern Ireland."