Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
![Andy Thompson on the wire and helm Tom Gillard after their convincing win in the Fireball Worlds 2024 in Australia Andy Thompson on the wire and helm Tom Gillard after their convincing win in the Fireball Worlds 2024 in Australia](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000c7TcmUBbLYY/s/767/I0000c7TcmUBbLYY.jpg)
Andy Thompson of East Antrim BC is “Sailor of the Month (Worlds)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
We’ve become accustomed to veteran dinghy racing superstar Andy Thompson of Larne suddenly emerging into the spotlight again at some world championship, and he has already made his annual mark for 2024 by brilliantly crewing for Tom Gillard at Geelong…
![Man in charge – in addition to long distance cruising, Ed Wheeler has given years of service to the Irish Cruising Club and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Man in charge – in addition to long distance cruising, Ed Wheeler has given years of service to the Irish Cruising Club and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000Bm_E7dA1L3c/s/767/I0000Bm_E7dA1L3c.jpg)
Ed Wheeler of County Down is Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month (Voyaging & Services to Sailing)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
Ed Wheeler’s extraordinary career in sailing has ranged from racing the first International Cadet dinghy to be seen on Belfast Lough in the early 1950s (he won Ballyholme YC’s famous Lufra Cup for the big-fleet end-of-season pursuit race) to solo…
![Double jobber…..Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme won Silver at the ILCA Masters in Australia in February, and also collected an Irish Cruising Club award Double jobber…..Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme won Silver at the ILCA Masters in Australia in February, and also collected an Irish Cruising Club award](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000nKBjHWSi5v0/s/767/I0000nKBjHWSi5v0.jpg)
Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme is “Sailor of the Month (International & Cruising)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
There seem to be two Colin Leonards prominent in the sailing scene in the north, but in fact, it’s one and the same man making the best of several possibilities. Colin Leonard of Ballyholme was tops in the medal stakes…
![Alison Young, seen here competing in Tokyo 2020 Alison Young, seen here competing in Tokyo 2020](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000lu5qd00RJ3g/s/500/I0000lu5qd00RJ3g.jpg)
Olympian Alison Young to Coach Northern Ireland Sailors at ‘Female-Focused Camp’
28th February 2024 RYA Northern Ireland
Three-time Olympian and 2016 ILCA World Champion Alison Young will provide coaching for Northern Ireland sailors at RYA Northern Ireland’s ‘Female Focused Camp’ at Ballyholme Yacht Club on the weekend of 27-28 April. The camp is specifically targeted for junior…
![Charlie McAllister’s newly acquired Jacques Fauroux Quarter Tonner, called SKB, will compete at Bangor Regatta in June Charlie McAllister’s newly acquired Jacques Fauroux Quarter Tonner, called SKB, will compete at Bangor Regatta 2024 in June](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000LQGN2yFkQY8/s/767/I0000LQGN2yFkQY8.jpg)
Royal Ulster Yacht Club has launched Bangor Regatta 2024 with the publication of the Notice of Race and Entry Form for the event, which will be run in Belfast Lough out of Bangor from 27th till 30th June. Sixty boats…
![RS Feva sailing on Strangford Lough RS Feva sailing on Strangford Lough](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000oNR0VotIRIc/s/635/I0000oNR0VotIRIc.jpg)
Ben Greenhalgh comes from a Bangor Co Down sailing family, and he races an RS Feva at Port Dinorwic SC near the Welsh Bangor on the Menai Straits. Ben is the joint winner with Topper sailor, Jess Powell, of the…
![Marine flares Marine flares](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ZKjQ.YjwVqo/s/500/I0000ZKjQ.YjwVqo.jpg)
RYANI Discussing Options for Safe Disposal of Out-of-Date Flares
25th February 2024 RYA Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland says it has been in discussions with British Marine and other stakeholders regarding the safe disposal of out-of-date flares. Marine flares have become increasingly difficult to dispose of in Northern Ireland in recent years, which RYANI recognises…
![DAERA Minister Andrew Muir pictured with members of the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority and local fishers during a visit to Portavogie Harbour on Wednesday 21 February DAERA Minister Andrew Muir pictured with members of the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority and local fishers during a visit to Portavogie Harbour on Wednesday 21 February](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000UTGTIThyqxU/s/500/I0000UTGTIThyqxU.jpg)
Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir met with members of the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority (NIFHA) and local fishers during a visit to Portavogie Harbour in Co Down this week. The visit on Wednesday…
![Ballyholme Bay looking southeast – it is ideally located between town and country, and used to be within handy bike free-wheel distance of Bangor Grammar School Ballyholme Bay looking southeast – it is ideally located between town and country, and used to be within handy bike free-wheel distance of Bangor Grammar School](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000Ay0gDFR9AkY/s/767/I0000Ay0gDFR9AkY.jpg)
Back in the day, Bangor Grammar School was seen by a small but significant sector of its pupils as a sailing school with a grammar problem. This was in a time when it was an establishment of friendly size, located…
![Satellite image of Lough Neagh Satellite image of Lough Neagh](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003pd3DzunStQ/s/500/I00003pd3DzunStQ.jpg)
Earl ‘Open to Options’ Regarding Future of Lough Neagh as Toxic Blue-Green Algae Returns
23rd February 2024 Environment
The owner of Lough Neagh’s lakebed has said he is “open to exploring options” amid reports of the return of toxic blue-green algae blooms. But as BBC News reports, the Earl of Shaftesbury has refused to budge on suggestions that…
![Waterways Ireland logo Waterways Ireland logo](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000DTYTkD7Uumo/s/500/I0000DTYTkD7Uumo.jpg)
Erne System: Closure of Enniskillen’s Henry Street Jetties for Angling Weekender
21st February 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Henry Street Jetties in Enniskillen will be closed this Friday 23 to Saturday 24 February. This is to accommodate the annual Fishing Tackle…
![Lough Foyle’s native oyster population is important locally and internationally, economically and environmentally Lough Foyle’s native oyster population is important locally and internationally, economically and environmentally](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000LE.NvTpiGm8/s/767/I0000LE.NvTpiGm8.jpg)
Suspension of the native oyster fishery in the Foyle area will continue for another month, with the closure extended until 6pm on Sunday 31 March. The Loughs Agency says it made the decision following an analysis of the latest stock…
![The Irish RS Feva Championships will be staged on Ballyholme Bay on the south coast of Belfast Lough from August 16th to 18th The Irish RS Feva Championships will be staged on Ballyholme Bay on the south coast of Belfast Lough from August 16th to 18th](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ipBDKp.Khjo/s/767/I0000ipBDKp.Khjo.jpg)
Ballyholme Prepares to Host Irish Championships as Northern Ireland RS Feva Class Grows Steadily
19th February 2024 RS Sailing
The RS Feva class has been growing steadily in Northern Ireland in recent years, and to the satisfaction of Northern Ireland's Ballyholme Yacht Club, the club will host the Irish Championships, designated a 'GP 1' event, on the weekend of…
![RNLI lifeguards Nick Doran and Dearbhaile McNeill at Portrush in 2021 RNLI lifeguards Nick Doran and Dearbhaile McNeill at Portrush in 2021](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ch46Ax.EaeE/s/500/I0000ch46Ax.EaeE.jpg)
RNLI On the Lookout for New Beach Lifesavers in Scotland and Northern Ireland
18th February 2024 Water Safety
The RNLI is on the lookout for budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of the most popular beaches in Scotland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in…
![Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern won a Silver medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Adelaide, Australia Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern won a Silver medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Adelaide, Australia](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.4kQRvTD7WI/s/767/I0000.4kQRvTD7WI.jpg)
Colin Leonard's Silver Medal from ILCA 7 Worlds in Australia is Applauded at Ballyholme
18th February 2024 Laser
Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland achieved a significant milestone in his 23-year journey in the Laser dinghy by winning a silver medal in the Apprentices at the ILCA 7 Worlds in Adelaide this month,…
![Fireball duo Tom Gillard from Sheffield and Andy Thompson from East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland are the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong, Australia Fireball duo Tom Gillard from Sheffield and Andy Thompson from East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland are the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong, Australia](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00009eYu9v_O8TA/s/767/I00009eYu9v_O8TA.jpg)
Fireball sailors Tom Gillard of England and Andy Thompson of East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland have been crowned World Champions at the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong, Australia. The duo sailed a near-perfect regatta, rarely falling outside the…