Betty Armstrong
Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down
IRC One Victory for Final Call II at Royal Ulster Yacht Club Autumn Series on Belfast Lough
2nd November 2022 Belfast Lough
Some would say that there were better racing conditions at the end of the 2022 season for the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Autumn Series than during the summer. A total of 13 boats in two classes competed over nine races…
'Ghost' Net Identified at Donaghadee Beach by Marine Conservation Charity Sea Shepherd NI
1st November 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost, or discarded in the ocean. They are a major environmental hazard to marine and other wildlife, contributing to an estimated 10% of all marine plastic as well as causing harm…
SUPhub NI is well known for its Santa SUP but this year the Halloween Social paddle in Bangor Harbour on Belfast Lough exceeded expectations as it was slotted in at short notice, taking advantage of a weather window on the…
Gavin Watson has recently been appointed Vice Chair of RYA Northern Ireland. He is the Honorary Sailing Secretary of Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, and it is believed that he is the first RUYC member to take on…
Strangford Lough Yacht Club Frostie Series Class One Tie Break in Favour of J109 'Going to Red'
25th October 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
The long-running popular Strangford Lough Yacht Club Frostie Series ended last weekend with the 42-boat fleet having enjoyed a complete ten-race programme in varying conditions over five weekends. Competitors came from clubs around the Lough and from Belfast Lough. The…
Northern Ireland Sailors Find it Better Not to Argue with Lough Derg Gusts at Freshwater One Design Regatta
19th October 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
The Lough Derg Freshwater One Design regatta last weekend was, for most, a two-day event reduced to one, and for the Northern Ireland sailors who made the long journey to Dromineer somewhat disappointing, especially for the Belfast Lough Flying Fifteen…
A year to the day after a successful inaugural windsurfing event last year, Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough is running, in association with the Irish Windsurfing Association, the Open Ulster Championships on 22nd October, and a Coastal windsurf or wing…
Northern Ireland Squibs and Flying Fifteen Head for Lough Derg's Freshwater One Design Regatta
9th October 2022 Squib
It is a long way to Tipperary and Lough Derg Yacht Club at Dromineer from the Squib strongholds on Belfast and Strangford Loughs in the North. Dromineer lies on the shores of Lough Derg, on the River Shannon and 10km…
It all came good at the end of the 22 season for John Minnis and his team on Final Call II from Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. Eight weeks after a serious hiccup in June during Bangor Town…
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club's Glenarm Race is Won by Vaughan's Jeanneau 349 Toucan
3rd October 2022 Belfast Lough
The Vaughan family in the Jeanneau 349 Toucan win the second Glenarm Race in Northern Ireland. The chance to end the season on a high rewarded those who took part in the Royal North of Ireland annual Glenarm event in…
SB20 'So-Brr!' Wins at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta
3rd October 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
The last big event of the cruiser racing calendar at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club took place on the last weekend in September and drew an entry of nine boats from all around the Lough. Carlingford Lough lies between the south…
Beneteau 25 Platu Supersonic Wins at Warrenpoint Regatta
12th September 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
So far in this late season, Carlingford has enjoyed mostly kind sunny weather for its open meetings on the Lough and Warrenpoint Regatta was no exception. Warrenpoint is a small County Down port town at the head of Carlingford Lough…
On the last Saturday in August, it was the turn of the Juniors of Carlingford Lough Yacht Club to race in their own regatta, along with visitors from across the Lough at Carlingford Sailing Club. Carlingford Lough YC is situated…
Big Fleet Expected at the RYANI Youth Championships at Ballyholme on Belfast Lough
6th September 2022 RYA Northern Ireland
Ballyholme Yacht Club near Bangor on Belfast Lough is gearing up for an influx of 120 boats taking part in the RYANI annual Youth Sailing Championships this weekend – Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September. And by the look of…
Browne is RS Elite Irish Champion and Squib McMillan Shield Goes to Eccles
31st August 2022 RS Sailing
The wind forecast didn't show much promise at one-knot max, but given the Lough’s reputation on a good sunny day, which it was last Saturday, a favourable sea breeze could be expected. So race officer, Sam Lynas put up a…
It’s a double bill this weekend at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough where the RS Elite Irish Nationals and the McMillan Shield for Squibs will be held. It has been a busy year for the local…
Thirty-one Junior Topper sailors descended on East Antrim Boat Club on Larne Lough last weekend for the Northern Championships. Callum Pollard from the nearby County Antrim BC at Whitehead was in top form again after his Gold at the Worlds…
Quoile Yacht Club Regatta Attracts 20 Entries for Strangford Lough Event
25th August 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
Quoile Yacht Club in the southwestern corner of Strangford Lough held its annual two-day cruiser-racer event over the weekend of 20th and 21st August with 20 entries in three classes. Sponsored by Ross Boyd Chartered Accountants and Mackey Opticians, the…
Successful Ballyholme RS Nationals Attracts Strong Young Sailor Element on Belfast Lough
23rd August 2022 RS Sailing
The RS event comprising the National Championship for RS200s and RS400s and the Northerns for RS Fevas, 2000s and Aeros at Ballyholme YC last weekend was judged an outstanding success, particularly in that it attracted many younger sailors and some…
It looked as if the RS fleets were in for a drenching on the second day (20th) of the Championship event at Ballyholme with torrential rain for the early part of the morning, then the clouds broke, and the sun…
