Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
John Minnis of Belfast Lough is July “Sailor of the Month (Regatta)”
3rd August 2023 Sailor of the Month
John Minnis of Royal Ulster YC and his longtime helm Gareth Flannigan will look on Dublin Bay as their Happy Hunting Ground. For although the previous Minnis boat, the First 31.7 Final Call, and her distinguished successor, the very optimised…
The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) is set to embark on a new adventure on August 11th as it heads to Strangford Lough for a Northern Ireland-based weekend. After a season of coastal and cross-channel fixtures between Dun Laoghaire…
Luke Simpson from County Antrim Yacht Club is Top Northern Ireland Sailor at Cork's Topper Worlds
1st August 2023 Topper
A famous Laser sailor in the Seventies, Ed Baird, is reputed to have said that spending time on the water was what counted. The 258 young sailors competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted Topper World Championships last week…
Carrickfergus Sailing Club's 'Hot Orange' Takes the Crown as Ruffian 23 National Champion
30th July 2023 Ruffian 23
Two second places in the final races of the 2023 Ruffian 23 National Championships at the National Yacht Club handed overall victory to Stephen Penney's Hot Orange from Carrickfergus Sailing Club on Belfast Lough. Royal St. George's Shannagh (S. Gill & P. MacDiarmada)…
Penney's 'Hot Orange' from Carrickfergus Leads Ruffian 23 Nationals at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
29th July 2023 Ruffian 23
After five races sailed at a breezy Ruffian 23 National Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Stephen Penney leads the fleet counting three race wins on his scoresheet. The Belfast Lough 'Hot Orange' crew are two points clear of Royal St.…
Newcastle RNLI’s lifeboat crew launched both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats yesterday (Wednesday, 26 July) at 3.08 pm following a request from HM Coastguard. A 36ft yacht with five people onboard, including two children, had reported that their equipment had…
Loughs Agency Hails New Projects Under Way in Northern Ireland Thanks to Angling Improvement Fund 2023
26th July 2023 Loughs Agency
A number of projects funded by the Loughs Agency’s Angling Improvement Fund 2023 — which aims to reinvest in angling-related initiatives that directly benefit the Foyle and Carlingford catchments — have officially commenced. Angling clubs, fisheries, charities and community organisations…
Consultation on Changes to RYA Northern Ireland’s Articles of Association
22nd July 2023 RYA Northern Ireland
Following the launch of its Navigating the Future strategic plan, RYA Northern Ireland has been looking at governance structures to ensure it is are set up in the best way possible to progress as a sport and organisation. This process…
The Seafarers’ Charity is the subject of a fundraising voyage by Mark Miller, who is on an around Britain and Ireland Harbour Master Sailing Challenge. Over the last three and a half years, Mark’s voyage has taken him around England,…
On Wednesday (12 July) Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew carried out a joint simulation exercise with RNLI lifeguards on the East Strand in Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The exercise was a simulation of a sea swimmer who had…
Final Call II's Win in IRC One is Top Northern Ireland Result at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023
15th July 2023 Volvo Regatta
Seven boats from Northern Ireland made the trip to Dun Laoghaire for the Volvo Regatta, one of which, FA 2, trailed from Antrim and craned in off the town's Carlisle Pier. John Minnis’s first place in the 22-strong Cruisers One…
Two Call-Outs in 24 Hours See Newcastle Lifeboats Bring Four to Safety
14th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
Newcastle RNLI in Northern Ireland has this week come to the aid of four people in separate call-outs over a 24-hour period. The volunteers pagers first sounded at 4.10pm on Wednesday (12 July) when Belfast Coastguard requested the crew to…
Insect Class Dinghy 'Tarantula' Turns Up in Larne, Co. Antrim and Seeks New Owner
14th July 2023 Historic Boats
The Ballyholme Yacht Club Insect class dinghy number 12 Tarantula has turned up in Larne in Co. Antrim. One of 17 built by French and McDermott in the early 1950s, this 14-foot clinker dinghy was owned by the late Mr…
Leisure 17s 50th Anniversary Celebrations Continue on Strangford Lough
12th July 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Celebrations of 50 years of Leisure 17s at East Down Yacht Club near Killyleagh on Strangford Lough continued on the first Saturday in July with the second of the series of day sails. This outing proved to be rather more…
Larne Lifeboat Volunteers Rescue Kayaker in Water Near Portmuck Harbour
10th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
Larne RNLI were requested to launch on Friday afternoon (7 July) to reports of a kayaker in the water at Portmuck. Both of Larne’s lifeboats launched after pagers sounded at 5.24pm and made their way towards the casualty’s last reported…
In line with the Irish Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland (IODAI) push to have a fun and inclusive fleet, a Team Racing Optimist Nationals will be held on the 16th of August, the day before the Fleet Racing Nationals starts…