Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland is recruiting for three new board director positions — two independent directors and one nominated director — to help deliver its Navigating the Future strategy. The board is particularly keen to hear from people with skills or…
Sailing Clubs Urged to Review DBS Supervision Changes for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
20th September 2026 Youth Sailing
Following a recent change in UK Government legislation, the rules on regulated activity changed from 1 September 2026, such that supervision no longer automatically excludes an individual from being considered to be undertaking regulated activity. As a result, anyone who…
Ballyholme Yacht Club’s Cormac Byrne has been crowned RYANI Youth Champion 2026 after winning the ILCA 6 fleet at the RYA Youth Championships. Byrne also collected the Male Youth Champion title, while clubmates Emily and Annabel Ridout were named Female…
Ballyholme Yacht Club celebrated one of its strongest-ever performances at the Topper World Championships after six young sailors competed against an international fleet in Quiberon, France. The championship, hosted by La Société des Régates de Saint-Pierre Quiberon, attracted 176 competitors…
RYANI Training Day Brings Together Instructors From Across Northern Ireland to Learn, Share and Develop
15th April 2026 RYA Northern Ireland
Instructors from across Northern Ireland came together recently for a day of learning, sharing and development, hosted by RYA Northern Ireland at Carrickfergus Sailing Club ahead of the 2026 boating season. The gathered instructors, coaches and volunteers were encouraged by…
Long-serving Cramond Boat Club volunteer Andrew “Drew” Pratt has been recognised with an RYA Scotland Impact Award. The honour celebrates more than 40 years of service to sailing, training and community development on the Firth of Forth. Pratt has also…
UK water safety agencies have launched a new campaign urging recreational boaters to prepare thoroughly before the start of the boating season. HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) are jointly promoting the…
RYA Northern Ireland Refreshes It Strategic Plan ’Navigating the Future’
10th February 2026 RYA Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland has refreshed its five-year strategic plan, Navigating the Future, which is intended to guide the development of sailing, windsurfing and boating across Northern Ireland. Originally launched in March 2023 following extensive consultation with stakeholders across the region,…
The Northern Ireland Sailing Team have successfully defended their Celtic Cup title, claiming back-to-back victories at Port Edgar, Scotland. The regatta, held under the shadow of the Firth of Forth bridges, featured junior and youth sailors from across the home…
A former Sea Cadet from Scarborough has been crowned Officer Trainee of the Year 2025 by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Alfie Allen, 20, received the award from Maritime Minister Keir Mather on 2 February at the UK Chamber…
The Royal Yachting Association has announced a number of changes to its leadership as 2026 gets under way. Nick Scott, previously the RYA’s director of racing, has been appointed director of sport to oversee the newly formed sport department, which…
RYA Northern Ireland Welcomes Three New Directors to Its Board
31st December 2025 RYA Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland recently welcomed three new directors to its board. Ballyholme Yacht Club Commodore Rob Milligan joins private equity executive Jeremy Westhead and Shirley McKay, Ireland country director for the UK’s Department of Business and Trade among the RYANI…
Margaret Tait has been named the ‘Pioneer in Sport’ at the 2025 Scottish Women in Sport Awards in Glasgow. The 77-year-old was recognised for more than 40 years of commitment to Scottish sailing and her long service at Port Edgar…
RYA Northern Ireland Aims to Inspire New Volunteers Across Clubs With ‘We’re All In’ Initiative
18th November 2025 RYA Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland has launched a new next round of its volunteering initiative, We’re All In, designed to help sailing and boating clubs across Northern Ireland attract and inspire new volunteers ahead of the 2026 season. The previous round in…
RYA Survey on Falling UK Participation Sparks Storm of Criticism Over Cost and Culture
14th November 2025 RYA Northern Ireland
Sailing and boating in the UK are “at a crossroads”, according to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), which this month launched its largest open study to date in a bid to understand why fewer people are getting afloat. The Reflections…
RYA Northern Ireland invites members to attend its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2025, which will be held at Newforge Sports Complex in Belfast on Thursday evening 20 November. The AGM provides an important opportunity for members to hear updates…
















































