Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
![Donaghadee RNLI Volunteers Philip McNamara, Coxswain. John Petrie, Crew Member of over 30 years. Michael Field, Crew Member of over 30 years. Mark Nelson, Crew Member of over 20 years](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000At1q3zRWEBc/s/500/I0000At1q3zRWEBc.jpg)
Three Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat volunteer crew members in Northern Ireland have had their long term service to the institution recognised by RNLI headquarters in Poole in the form of long service medals. The three crew members have together accrued over…
![iQFOiL After windfoiling was chosen to replace the RS:X windsurfer for the two Olympic cycles following Tokyo 2020, the iQFOiL class was named as the equipment of choice](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000qks7dykrX38/s/500/I0000qks7dykrX38.jpg)
The iQFOiL youth windfoiling class has become a British Youth Sailing Recognised Class in recognition of the exciting new discipline's inclusion at the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. After windfoiling was chosen to replace the RS:X windsurfer for…
![Kilkeel RNLI’s inshore lifeboat taking the stricken yacht under tow](/media/k2/items/cache/b7afe2018950db5d22c02fd2a2a08df1_L.jpg)
Kilkeel Lifeboat Assists Five on Yacht in Difficulty on Carlingford Lough
19th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats
Kilkeel RNLI came to the aid of five people on Saturday (17 April) when their 10m yacht became stranded at Narrow Water Castle on the Northern Ireland side of Carlingford Lough. The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 4.05pm…
![Ballygally Ballygally, a village and holiday resort on the Antrim coast where a paddleboarder got into difficulty](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000KYsP3oUldXE/s/500/I0000KYsP3oUldXE.jpg)
Paddleboarder in Difficulty at Ballygally Leads to RNLI Lifeboats Callout
18th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats
Yesterday's strong southerly wind resulted in a spate of paddleboarding incidents involving lifeboat call outs at Larne and Bangor. Larne RNLI launched both of their lifeboats today to reports of a paddleboarder in difficulty at Ballygally, a village and holiday…
![Millisle beach The Agency asks that people avoid Millisle beach and do not attempt to clear any diesel spilt in or around the beach](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000_mWa1rWldRg/s/500/I0000_mWa1rWldRg.jpg)
Yesterday evening (17th April), Ards and North Down Council notified the public about a diesel spill and pollution risk on the beach at Millisle. Millisle is about three miles south of Donaghadee on the North Down Coast and is a…
![Lagan Search & Rescue Lagan S&R is an independent Lifeboat covering the seaward River Lagan and Belfast Lough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000HkRKUvUZv5Y/s/500/I0000HkRKUvUZv5Y.jpg)
Lagan Search & Rescue Aim To Build Floating Boat House at Belfast Harbour Marina
18th April 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
The Sunday Life recently highlighted the decision by Downtown Radio Star Neil McClelland to support Lagan Search & Rescue. Lagan S&R is an independent Lifeboat covering the seaward River Lagan and Belfast Lough; It relies on the generosity and support…
![Kilkeel RNLI’s LOM John Fisher receives the cheque from Craig Boucher](/media/k2/items/cache/7ad089b57a22b6b4366da4c9c915423d_L.jpg)
Craig Boucher of Hybrid Health and Performance in Kilkeel recently completed a 4x4x48 challenge to raise funds for his local RNLI lifeboat station in the Co Down town. Craig ran four miles every four hours for 48 hours and was…
![Carrickcraft Set To Resume Operations on Lough Erne from 30 April](/media/k2/items/cache/679dc57c6206b7f580bfdc68d2b132b7_L.jpg)
Carrickcraft has announced that with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland, it will start operating for the 2021 cruising season on Lough Erne from Friday 30 April. The cruising firm’s website features a sample itinerary of the attractive…
![Harland and Wolff’s newly acquired Methil facilities The eight WTG jacket foundations will principally be conducted at Harland and Wolff’s newly acquired Methil facilities in Scotland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bZtQ3zD.SdY/s/500/I0000bZtQ3zD.SdY.jpg)
Harland & Wolff Awarded of Major Wind Turbine Generator Fabrication Contract
16th April 2021 Shipyards
Harland & Wolff, the iconic shipyard with over 160 years of maritime and offshore engineering pedigree has announced it has been awarded a contract by Saipem Limited for the fabrication and load-out of eight wind turbine generator (WTG) jacket foundations.…
![Foyle Search and Rescue Foyle Search and Rescue receives £39000 donation for drones](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000IgtbGhU3.A0/s/500/I0000IgtbGhU3.A0.jpg)
Foyle Search & Rescue Upgrades Drone Programme to Include Thermal Imaging Device
14th April 2021 Rescue
Last month Foyle Search and Rescue announced the refresh and upgrade of its drone programme following a £39,000 donation from supporters in the local video games industry. It operates on the River Foyle, which flows through the City of Derry…
![Oisin McClelland Ireland's Oisin McClelland on Day two of the Finn European Championships in Portugal](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000gspNC37gKow/s/500/I0000gspNC37gKow.jpg)
Donaghadee's Olympic campaigner Oisin McClelland has had a difficult start to the opening four races of the 2021 Open and U23 Finn European Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal and is currently placed in the bottom quarter of his 49-boat fleet. The…
![Bill O'Hara Bill O'Hara represented Ireland in the Finn class in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the '88 games in Seoul](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xN9s9r67.uU/s/500/I0000xN9s9r67.uU.jpg)
Royal Ulster Yacht Club Racing Rules Refresh with Bill O'Hara
13th April 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
In anticipation of an eagerly awaited easing of the Lockdown in Northern Ireland, and looking forward to a return to racing, the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Sailing Committee has arranged for Bill O'Hara, OBE, to lead a Zoom session to…
![Bloodhound racing in Cowes Week Bloodhound racing in Cowes Week, Duke of Edinburgh on helm. In theory she was the Royal Yacht, in reality she was the People's Boat](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000KitrB0Pc9X4/s/767/I0000KitrB0Pc9X4.jpg)
When the Duke of Edinburgh died aged 99 on Friday, it took a while before the hundreds of public appreciations of his remarkable life began to mention the fact that sailing played a very important role in it. Yet although…
![dog The dog entered the water to chase seagulls](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ZpcPhE2AH.8/s/500/I0000ZpcPhE2AH.8.jpg)
Dog Chasing Seagulls Ends Up With Coastguard Call Out at Portaferry
12th April 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
Yesterday afternoon (11th April) Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team had what turned out to be an Accident Prevention call out. At Cloughey on the east coast of the Ards Peninsula in Co Down, a dog had entered the water to chase…
![lone yachtsman A lone yachtsman was rescued just outside Kinnego Bay on the southern shore of Lough Neagh](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xuPhsdfH2wI/s/500/I0000xuPhsdfH2wI.jpg)
Lough Neagh Solo Sailor Brought Back to Harbour at Kinnego Bay
12th April 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
Lough Neagh Rescue was paged on the 9th April to the aid of a lone yachtsman whose vessel had engine difficulties just outside Kinnego Bay on the southern shore of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. On scene, the lifeboats found…
![File image of Portora Lock on the Erne System](/media/k2/items/cache/4c2bf3e3b7d61add379e108ffbe98d9a_L.jpg)
Update on Access to Waterways Ireland Navigations in Northern Ireland
9th April 2021 Inland Waterways
Following yesterday’s update on the upcoming easing of Level 5 restrictions on waterways in the Republic, Waterways Ireland has issued an advisory on access to navigations and availability of services in Northern Ireland. As in the rest of the island…