Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Loughs Agency Launches Public Consultation for Angling and Fisheries Improvement in Foyle and Carlingford
15th March 2023 Loughs Agency
A public consultation on the Loughs Agency’s angling and fisheries improvement strategy and action plans for Foyle and Carlingford has been launched. The consultation, which will run for a period of eight weeks, will provide members of the public with…
Erne System Boaters Advised Over St Patrick’s Day Activities in Enniskillen
14th March 2023 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that water-based activities will take place at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum area of Broadmeadow, Enniskillen on St Patrick’s Day this Friday 17 March. Boat trips, canoeing, water…
Kearney and Nelson Lead RNIYC GP14 Spring Series After Round Three on Belfast Lough
14th March 2023 GP14
Race Officer Gerry Reid and the race team at RNIYC must be on good terms with the weather Gods as the snow melted away to leave a dry, almost balmy ten degrees and a steady(ish) force three building to a…
Swimmers ‘Getting Ill’ From Northern Ireland Beaches, Activists Claim
12th March 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Water quality activists have alleged that people are “getting ill” after swimming at beaches in Northern Ireland, as BelfastLive reports. Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage suggests that the public is being let down by NI’s water testing system, which currently…
The Antrim Boat Club Winter Series in north east Lough Neagh has been the premier event for the Club since 1969 and this year, with the blessing of the late Pat Kelly’s family, the club will award the Pat Kelly…
Insect Class Dinghy Mantis is Next of the Ballyholme Class for Restoration
8th March 2023 Historic Boats
The 14-foot clinker-built dinghy has XIV on the stern, and it was sold to Paddy Prunty, ex Manager of Kinnego Marina on Lough Neagh, as a Ballyholme Insect class dinghy. In 1953, Mantis was listed as number 14 in the…
Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat Gets Call Out for Broken Down Speedboat During Training Exercise
6th March 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
On Sunday, 05 March, Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat volunteers were called out on service during their training exercise. The crew were completing their Sunday morning training exercise onboard the recently received relief lifeboat Macquarie when they were contacted by His Majesty's…
The Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal prompted Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland to engage in a fund-raising effort by organising a raffle. The ticket holders proved very generous, and Harbour Master Kevin Baird was delighted with the response. "We're…
Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System that the Erne Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 4 March. The event will start upstream of the Killyhevlin Hotel and will race…
GP14s Gather at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club for Belfast Lough Spring Series
1st March 2023 GP14
The 12-strong GP14 fleet managed four races last Sunday (26th) in the Royal North of Ireland Spring Series, sailed on Belfast Lough, after missing the previous weekend due to adverse weather. After a fourth in the first race, Ruan and…
RNLI Calls on New Volunteers to Join its Fundraising Crew in Co Down and Help Save Lives at Sea
27th February 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
The RNLI is looking for new volunteers to join its lifesaving crew across Co Down at its branches in Kilkeel, Downpatrick, Newcastle, Portaferry, Donaghadee and Bangor. Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s fundraising team need a dedicated volunteer crew.…
Belfast Lough Yachting Conference Replaces NHC with YTC Rating System
27th February 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Handicap systems are sometimes the stuff of controversy. So what will transpire when Belfast Lough Yachting Conference replaces the NHC system with the Royal Ocean Racing Club YTC (Yacht Time Correction) system remains to be seen. Cockle Island Boat Club…
1000 Years of the Strangford Ferry, Just One of Eleven Lectures at Bangor Maritime Heritage Conference
23rd February 2023 Historic Boats
A full turnout of Maritime Heritage enthusiasts from around Co. Down gathered last weekend in the Bangor City Hall Chamber for a Conference to hear eleven illustrated presentations on subjects ranging from 1000 years of the Strangford Ferry to new…
A specialist houseboat manufacturer in Northern Ireland has trebled its manufacturing capacity and created three new jobs following a major investment in a new production facility with support from Ulster Bank. Launched in 2016, Bluefield Houseboats specialises in the design…
Just a Few Northern Ireland Boats Heading for West Highland Week and the Scottish Series
16th February 2023 Scottish Series
For many years, Northern Ireland has had several entries in West Highland Week, and hopefully, that will be the case this year. But so far (though the event isn’t till the end of July), of the fifteen listed entries, there…
Strangford Lough's Juliette Kennedy Fourth in UK Women's Match Racing Championship
15th February 2023 Match Racing
The sell-out RYA Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championship finale saw two Scottish skippers battling for the title, with Alison Morrish's team taking the crown and Irish Flying Fifteen champion Juliette Kennedy of Strangford Lough finishing fourth. The latest edition…