Betty Armstrong
Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down
Once the International Wayfarer rally ended at East Down Yacht Club on Strangford Lough last weekend, five boats with 13 crew headed west to another, albeit smaller but memorable gathering at Lough Erne Yacht Club in County Fermanagh. They were…
The final four races in the Antrim Boat Club Summer series saw Jeff Harrison and Charlie McAllister’s Limbo 6.6 FA2 dominating the score sheet as they had done in the previous four races, to take the overall prize by nine…
At what proved to be the end of a three-week spell of light weather, Royal Ulster Yacht Club’s Rollins Insurance supported traditional offshore Ailsa Craig race started at 8 pm on Friday, 16th June. The fleet of seven wound its…
Last week, the International Wayfarer gathering in Strangford Lough attracted over 40 visitors from as far away as the USA and from mainland Europe. The event was hosted by East Down Yacht Club on the west side of the Lough.…
The number of cruise ships expected to dock in Belfast Harbour this season represents a 20% increase on the previous record set in 2019. In 2019, Cruise Belfast opened the first dedicated cruise terminal on the island of Ireland, and…
The Wayfarer dinghy was designed by Ian Proctor in 1957 and since then has proved to be a tough and seaworthy cruising dinghy, yet at the same time being responsive and rewarding to race. At nearly 16 feet long and…
Mixed Fortunes for Northern Ireland Boats in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race
12th June 2023 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
Fortunes were mixed for the two boats from the North of Ireland taking part in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. Michael Eames Sunfast 3200 from Royal Ulster YC and Strangford Lough YC finished sixth overall and top of…
It is 36 years since the father of Ben Greenhalgh, winner of the RS Feva UK Nationals at Pwllheli, raced in the same waters in the Cadet Worlds in a team from Ireland. Simon Greenhalgh from Ballyholme YC was part…
Two Northern Ireland Yachts Racing to Kerry in Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race Fleet
4th June 2023 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
The Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race starts from the National Yacht Club on Wednesday, 7th June at 2 pm, and this year, the 43-strong fleet will include two entries from the North of Ireland. Fresh from his second place…
Impalas and Sonatas Enjoy Successful Outing at East Down Yacht Club on Strangford Lough
2nd June 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Hot on the heels of the very successful Leisure 17 50th Anniversary event at East Down Yacht Club on Strangford Lough, a fleet of 12 Impalas and Sonatas gathered for a two-day Open Event last weekend (27th/28th May. The club…
Northern Ireland Yachts Post 'Pleasing Results' at 2023 Scottish Series
31st May 2023 Scottish Series
For some of the Northern Ireland boats which competed in the Scottish Series at Tarbert, the results were very pleasing. Of the nine who made the trip north, the best results were from Ballyholme-based Kevin Byers and Michael Russell’s Sigma…
Martel's Pippa IV from Royal Ulster Takes Second in the Scottish Islands Peak Race
27th May 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Gareth Martel from Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, and his crew and runners on the Beneteau 40.7 Pippa VI had a very successful Scottish Islands Peaks Race finishing second overall. Gareth was delighted with the result “It was…
North Channel Wind to Consult With Local Communities on Offshore Wind Farm Proposals
27th May 2023 Power From the Sea
Communities along the coast of East Antrim and North Down in Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to learn about proposals for the installation of floating wind turbines in that part of the Irish Sea, commonly known as the North…
Shipbuilding was a major industry in Portaferry on Strangford Lough in the 1800s. Jump forward until 1973 when the Ruffian 23 was designed by the late William P Brown in 1972/73 and primarily built by his brother, the late Dickie…
Antrim Boat Club’s Summer Series is halfway through and enjoying good turnouts in a variety of conditions, with the courses being set using the club marks. Charlie McAllister and Jeff Harrison’s Limbo 6.6 F A 2 lead after four races.…
Leisure 17s to Celebrate Fifty Years of Sailing at East Down Yacht Club on Strangford Lough
10th May 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Leisure 17s form a sizeable fleet at East Down Yacht Club, which is tucked away on a nine-acre site on the western shore of Strangford Lough, with an anchorage in Holm Bay between Island Taggart and the coast. It is…
Pat Kelly’s family crewed J109 Storm from Howth and Rush began this year’s Celtic Cup RC 35 series with a win at Kip Regatta, the first big event of the season. Dad Pat Kelly skippered the very competitive Storm with…
Local Ace Luke Simpson is Topper 5.3 Traveller Winner at County Antrim Yacht Club
18th May 2023 Topper
Twenty-one Topper dinghy sailors from as far away as Dun Laoghaire and Sligo Yacht Club turned out for last weekend’s Topper Traveller hosted by County Antrim Yacht Club on the north shore of Belfast Lough. The sailors raced in two…
Ballyholme Sailors Enjoy Excellent Results at Royal Irish Hosted RS Feva Easterns
14th May 2023 Royal Irish Yacht Club
The long trail from Ballyholme to the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire for the RS Feva East Coast Championships was worthwhile for the three crews from the North who dominated the result sheet, with the Ridout family taking…
North Channel Wind are Meeting with Key Stakeholders Over Floating Windfarms
1st May 2023 Power From the Sea
North Channel Wind which has Headquarters in Belfast, is a co-development agreement between SBM Offshore, based in the Netherlands, and Irish-based developer NMK Renewables, for a pair of floating wind farms in the North Channel. Although North Channel Wind has…
