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RYA Northern Ireland Gears Up for Third Women on Water Festival

28th June 2022
Participants in a previous RYANI Women on Water Festival
Participants do not need to have any sailing experience — just the ambition to try something new and meet some fantastic people Credit: RYANI

RYA Northern Ireland has announced this year’s Women on Water Festival, which is set to be an action-packed day at Donaghadee Sailing Club.

This event, which will take place on Saturday 23 July, will be the third festival to run since 2019.

The Women on Water programme in Northern Ireland has grown from strength to strength in recent years and the festival offers both experienced sailors and those who have never even stepped on a boat to come together to try some water activities, have fun and meet new people.

RYANI’s active clubs coordinator Lisa McCaffrey says: “We are delighted to be able to run the Women and Water Festival at Donaghadee Sailing Club this year. It’s always such a fun-filled day and the Festival really helps to support and grow female participation in boating.


“Last year the key motivator for coming along was to have some fun and everyone who attended certainly did that! We had participants from right across Northern Ireland attending Carrickfergus Sailing Club and some of our participants are now continuing on with their boating journey at their local club.


“It’s also a great opportunity for participants to develop skills and water awareness, as well as improving their health and wellbeing.”


There will be an opportunity to take part in dinghy sailing, keelboat sailing, powerboating, paddle boarding and snorkelling.



Spaces are limited so anyone interested is advised to book early. Participants do not need to have any sailing experience — just the ambition to try something new and meet some fantastic people.

To find out more about the festival, contact [email protected].

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland 

  • The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.
  • The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.
  • The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.
  • The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.
  • The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.
  • The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.
  • The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.
  • You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.
  • RYA NI is a company limited by guarantee – Registration number NI 51945
  • Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]