Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News

Virtual RYA Dinghy Show This Weekend Includes Irish Interest
26th February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
A full agenda of expert talks and coaching sessions is promised this weekend at the RYA Virtual RYA Dinghy Show, plus two exhibition halls hosting just over 100 exhibitors. The RYA has brought together world-class dinghy sailors and leading experts who'll…

RNLI are Recruiting Lifeguards for the Causeways Coast & County Down Beaches
25th February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
RNLI Portrush has posted that RNLI Lifeguards are recruiting and applications are open for 2021. If you have a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard qualification and are interested in joining a dynamic, well-trained team responsible for keeping beach users safe around…

The Seabin Project is providing funding for a Seabin and its installation in the UK, ideally in the London area to support cleaning up the capital’s waterways. This funding package is worth over £5,000. An award-winning piece of technology, the…

Strangford Lough Crime Thriller 'Bloodlands' Airs on BBC1
21st February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
Bloodlands is a new crime thriller following DCI Tom Brannick, played by Co Antrim born actor James Nesbitt and filmed in Northern Ireland, principally in Strangford Lough. It's a classic Jed Mercurio executive produced thriller written by Chris Brandon who…

Donaghadee Harbour Recreation Area Proposals Receive Mixed Response
21st February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
The opinion is divided in Donaghadee about the Ards and North Down Borough Council plans to create within the harbour a 'recreational area' outside of the inner portion but still within harbour limits. The recreational area would be a safe…

Northern Ireland's biggest sailing event, Bangor Town Regatta, scheduled for June has been cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The Belfast Lough biennial event has sadly joined the queue of cancelled sailing events this year. Chairman of the BTR Organising…

Ireland-Scotland Rail & Road Link Across North Channel is on the Agenda Again
15th February 2021 Dublin Port
The notion of a rail and possibly road tunnel linking Northern Ireland and Scotland is once again a matter of speculation, and a Discussion Paper will be published by the British Government “within weeks”. Eleven months ago, before Brexit had…

Canada Consults with NI Museum Records in Mission to Clean Oil Leak from Wreck of Belfast-Built Ship
15th February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
An operation to clean up an oil leak from a shipwreck in Canadian waters has consulted archives in Northern Ireland where the vessel was built in the late 1940s. As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the MV Schiedyk sank in January…

If you're on the North Coast of Ireland today keep an eye out for the RRS Sir David Attenborough says RSPB Rathlin Island Reserve. This ship is the UK's brand new polar research vessel, and it will be off the…

As part of the Northern Ireland Science Festival this year, the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) is offering two Virtual Dives which will take you on an underwater journey above the seabed in Strangford Lough. The dates are…

Belfast Coastguard Rescue Team responded yesterday (8th February) to reports of a car which had left the road near Newtownards Sailing Club, just a few miles outside the town on the loughshore road to Portaferry There were three people inside.…

Easterly Storm Damage at Annalong Harbour, Ulster's Last Schooner Port
7th February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
Annalong Harbour lies on the South Down coast with the Mourne Mountains' stunning backdrop and was famous as a centre of the herring industry. As reported by BBC News, it was also an export point for the famous Mourne Granite…

UK Boaters Sailing EU Waters In for Strange Year, RYA Warns
7th February 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
“All sorts of strange things” will emerge this year for UK sailors in EU waters as post-Brexit issues remain to be ironed out. As Sailing Today reports, RYA cruising manager Stuart Carruthers has outlined some harsh truths for British boat…

As well as Ireland’s role at the top of World Sailing with Cork's Marcus Spillane elected as Vice President and Baltimore Sailing Club's Fiona Bolger on its council, six Irish sailors have been appointed to World Sailing Committees today and…

Tommy Watson was a popular senior member of the Down Cruising Club, known to many sailors in its hospitable home on the Lightship Petrel, which is permanently moored alongside – complete with pontoons – in the hidden anchorage of Ballydorn…

Portrush RNLI’s volunteers rescued two surfers who got into difficulty while surfing at Co Antrim’s East Strand earlier today (Monday 1 February). The inshore lifeboat launched before 1.30pm following a number of 999 calls to both the coastguard and the…