Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Kinsale Yacht Club’s Ian Travers and Keith O’Riordan have won the Mash Direct-sponsored Squib Irish National Championship at Killyleagh Yacht Club on Strangford Lough. The *Atomic* pairing emerged seven points clear after six races sailed from Friday, 14 August to…
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew pagers sounded at 4.11pm on Saturday afternoon (15 August) after Belfast Coastguard received a mayday call from a yacht with two people onboard, which had run aground on Rock Angus at the mouth of Strangford Lough.…
Wicklow Sailing Club's Ger Owens and Mel Morris have been crowned 2026 GP14 World Champions after Ireland completed a remarkable one-two at the 90-boat championship on Belfast Lough. Owens and Morris finished the eight-race series at the Royal North of…
We all know that drink was invented to stop the Irish ruling the world. But on the same theme, the Irish sailing community has always quietly nurtured the thought that if our usual weather could just be somehow modified to…
Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds Returns Across Northern Ireland
11th August 2026 Northern Ireland Waters
Live Here Love Here's Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign has returned for a sixth year, with a month-long programme of events encouraging people across Northern Ireland to connect with the region's coastline, rivers and waterways. Sponsored by Belfast Harbour and…
Final Call II delivered a near-perfect performance to claim the 2026 GBR IRC Northern Ireland Championship at Carrickfergus Sailing Club, winning five of six races to secure the overall IRC title in emphatic fashion. Eighteen boats contested the championship as…
Blessington's Street and Lloyd Lead Irish Charge at GP14 World Championships in Belfast
11th August 2026 GP14
Blessington Sailing Club's Sam Street and Josh Lloyd have taken the lead at the GP14 World Championships on Belfast Lough after scoring back-to-back victories in Monday's two races. Reigning Irish champions Ger Owens and Mel Morris of Wicklow Sailing Club…
NI 49erFX Duo McElwaine and Barbour Launch Crowdfunding Drive for LA 2028 Olympic Campaign
9th August 2026 LA 2028
Northern Ireland youth sailing duo Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour have launched a crowdfunding drive for their campaign to compete in the 49erFX class at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The pair were added to Irish Sailing’s senior squad…
Plans to redevelop Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough into a major watersports centre have entered the formal planning process. The application, LA06/2026/0450/F, has been lodged with Ards and North Down Borough Council following the project’s public unveiling in October…
Sailing clubs around Ireland looking to grow participation may find valuable lessons in a major new UK watersports survey. While the research focuses on Britain, its findings on recruitment, affordability, safety and social participation are likely to resonate with clubs…
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…
The countdown is on to the 2026 GP14 World Championships, with one of the strongest fleets in recent years preparing to race on Belfast Lough. Hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club from 8-14 August, the championship has…
Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Assist Lone Sailor During Station’s Open Day
5th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Portaferry RNLI crew pagers sounded shortly before noon on Saturday (1 August) after a pan-pan signal was received from a lone sailor onboard a 6m yacht in the Irish Sea off Portavogie, on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The Atlantic…
Larne RNLI came to the aid of two people onboard two jet skis that had broken down at Browns Bay on Saturday (1 August). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat Terry at 2.24pm at…
Northern Ireland civil engineering contractor Charles Brand has begun work on a new marina slipway at Tarbert Harbour after being awarded the £1.6 million construction contract for the £2.2 million redevelopment project. The project that aims to strengthen marine tourism,…
Royal St George Yacht Club's Johnny Flynn's Saturday Sweep Sets Up Waszp Irish Title
29th July 2026 Waszp
Royal St George Yacht Club's Johnny Flynn laid the foundations for victory with a flawless opening day before sealing the Waszp Irish National Championship after eight races at Ballyholme Yacht Club. A fleet of 10 foiling dinghies raced over the…
