Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
![Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the island of Ireland Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the island of Ireland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003pd3DzunStQ/s/500/I00003pd3DzunStQ.jpg)
Broad Welcome for Lough Neagh Action Plan as Stormont Gives Seal of Approval
24th July 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
The long awaited action plan for Lough Neagh that was approved last week by the Northern Ireland Executive has been broadly welcomed, as BBC News reports. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said he would put his “shoulder to the wheel” to…
![A boat transporter delivers dinghies for the ILCA 6 European Championships on Belfast Lough at Ballyholme Yacht Club A boat transporter delivers dinghies for the ILCA 6 European Championships on Belfast Lough at Ballyholme Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000CqfSbuPfo6I/s/848/I0000CqfSbuPfo6I.jpg)
A Club Transformed as Ballyholme Yacht Club Hosts ILCA 6 European Championships on Belfast Lough
22nd July 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
Newbies to the Ballyholme suburb of Bangor on Belfast Lough tend to call the shops at a crossroads The Village, and now there is another village at Ballyholme – at the Yacht Club – the ILCA 6 Euros Competitors' Village…
![Newcastle RNLI D class lifeboat tows the catamaran in challenging conditions Newcastle RNLI D class lifeboat tows the catamaran in challenging conditions](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000FR0wu1i7r4Y/s/848/I0000FR0wu1i7r4Y.jpg)
Newcastle RNLI rescues two sailors after catamaran gets into difficulty
22nd July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Newcastle RNLI came to the aid of two sailors on Friday afternoon (19 July) after their catamaran got into difficulty in Newcastle Bay. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 4.21 pm and…
![Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club's Gavin Vaughan (right) with his brother Mike raise a glass at the Fastnet Rock off West Cork during their fundraising circumnavigation of Ireland in memory of their friend Neale McCullough Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club's Gavin Vaughan (right) with his brother Mike raise a glass at the Fastnet Rock off West Cork during their fundraising circumnavigation of Ireland in memory of their friend Neale McCullough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000m3UR55a6LSo/s/848/I0000m3UR55a6LSo.jpg)
Northern Ireland Sailor Embarks on Fundraising Circumnavigation of Ireland in Memory of Friend
21st July 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
Gavin Vaughan of Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough has always wanted to sail around Ireland but not in the famous race. So spurred on by the death of his longtime friend and crew Neale McCullough, who…
![Strangford Lough Yacht Club Strangford Lough Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000oMSQUYoP9nk/s/848/I0000oMSQUYoP9nk.jpg)
Five Races Planned at Strangford Lough Yacht Club Two Day Event in August
20th July 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough Yacht Club, on the western shore of the Lough, is looking forward to a big turnout for its two-day event on Saturday and Sunday, August 24th and 25th. The competition is open to IRC and YTC…
![](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.ynQg2Z1y04/s/848/I0000.ynQg2Z1y04.jpg)
The extensive Solway Firth, between Scotland and England in the northeast corner of the Irish Sea, has massive tides that are continually changing the nature of the place. In times past, this worked well for coastal raiders. And none more…
![File image of Larne RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat at sea File image of Larne RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat at sea](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ZkgrFp3Zckc/s/500/I0000ZkgrFp3Zckc.jpg)
Larne RNLI came to the aid of a man who was drifting out to sea on an inflatable dinghy on Monday afternoon (15 July). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat at 1.15pm at the…
![The Groomsport Lifeboat panel image pictures Christine Scholes (left) and Ann Blachford. The last coxswain of the Groomsport lifeboat, Robert Waterson, was Ann’s grandfather and Christine’s great uncle The Groomsport Lifeboat panel image pictures Christine Scholes (left) and Ann Blachford. The last coxswain of the Groomsport lifeboat, Robert Waterson, was Ann’s grandfather and Christine’s great uncle](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000MjUjp_iQan0/s/848/I0000MjUjp_iQan0.jpg)
An exhibition celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the RNLI is currently running in the Long Gallery at the North Down Museum in Bangor on Belfast Lough. Over the years, the charity’s volunteers have answered the call to rescue day or…
![Pickie to Pier Swim winner for a third time, Jessika Robson from Hillsborough Pickie to Pier Swim winner for a third time, Jessika Robson from Hillsborough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000y9zS23.9W2k/s/848/I0000y9zS23.9W2k.jpg)
Jessika Robson from Hillsborough has won the annual Open House Festival Pickie to Pier Swim in Bangor on Belfast Lough for the third time. Previously winning in 2022 and 2021, Jessika was pipped to the post at last year's event…
![Ballyholme Yacht Club - virtually tide and hazard-free sailing within a short distance from the club on Belfast Lough Ballyholme Yacht Club - virtually tide and hazard-free sailing within a short distance from the club on Belfast Lough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000nFHzm_EUhDY/s/848/I0000nFHzm_EUhDY.jpg)
This week, the football Euros—in two weeks, it will be the ILCA 6 Euros at Ballyholme on Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland on July 27th. The Club on the east side of Bangor on Belfast Lough has hosted many successful…
![A Parade of Sail brought some magic to the river at Foyle Maritime Festival as dusk set in and a flotilla of tall ships bedecked in lighting A Parade of Sail brought some magic to the river at Foyle Maritime Festival as dusk set in and a flotilla of tall ships bedecked in lighting](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xAZAcW4R0ow/s/848/I0000xAZAcW4R0ow.jpg)
It's been two years since the River Foyle in Ireland's northwest hosted one of the country's biggest nautical celebrations. Traditionally held in July, the Derry festival was brought forward a month to coincide perfectly with the start of the school…
![Robert Parton takes on a new role as President of the British Marine Industry Robert Parton takes on a new role as President of the British Marine Industry](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003SKI87co2sA/s/848/I00003SKI87co2sA.jpg)
British Marine, the trade association for the UK leisure, superyacht, and small commercial marine industry, has appointed Robert Parton as its new President, effective from 18 July 2024. Having served as President-Elect for the past two years, Robert Parton is…
![The year 2023 also witnessed major developments within the Belfast Harbour Estate, including the construction of a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled warehousing facility and the expansion of Belfast Harbour’s film studio offering The year 2023 also witnessed major developments within the Belfast Harbour Estate, including the construction of a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled warehousing facility and the expansion of Belfast Harbour’s film studio offering](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I000079nAE0y_E.o/s/848/I000079nAE0y_E.o.jpg)
Belfast Harbour has announced strong financial results for 2023, showing an increase in annual turnover and operating profits despite a challenging global trading environment. The Harbour's annual turnover reached £82.9 million, marking a 7% increase from the previous year, while…
![Nip and tuck racing at the 2024 GP14 Championships of Ireland at Newtownards Sailing Club Nip and tuck racing at the 2024 GP14 Championships of Ireland at Newtownards Sailing Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000fvU8piLiRak/s/848/I0000fvU8piLiRak.jpg)
Ross Kearney and Daniel Nelson (RNIYC) won the 2024 GP14 Championship of Ireland which concluded on Sunday after eight races sailed at Newtownards Sailing Club. Eight races across 3 days and a variety of conditions tested the 45-boat fleet. Friday…
![The start of a competitive IRC Class Two at Bangor Regatta 2024 on Belfast Lough The start of a competitive IRC Class Two at Bangor Regatta 2024 on Belfast Lough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000nszBAOaKLOM/s/848/I0000nszBAOaKLOM.jpg)
Three in a Row for J109 Storm as Bangor Regatta 2024 Sees Thrilling Finish in Unpredictable Weather
30th June 2024 Bangor Town Regatta
In like a lion and out like a lamb is said to mean that the month of March should end with quiet weather compared to a lion. But this is June, and the Belfast Lough weather hasn't reached the lamb…
![Stevie Andrews' Hanse 371 Dark and Scary from Strangfrod Lough with Kevin Byres' Sigma 33 Signet from Ballyholme Yacht Club competing at Bangor Regatta 2024 Stevie Andrews' Hanse 371 Dark and Scary from Strangfrod Lough with Kevin Byres' Sigma 33 Signet from Ballyholme Yacht Club competing at Bangor Regatta 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000SlXC88UgA9Q/s/848/I0000SlXC88UgA9Q.jpg)
Exciting Finale In Prospect at Bangor Regatta 2024 on Belfast Lough
29th June 2024 Bangor Town Regatta
Patience is a virtue they say and that is what was needed this morning when Belfast Lough was like a mirror and the Bangor Regatta fleet was motionless in the Marina. However word was that this forced stoppage was very…