Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Rivers Trust Offers Safety Advice as Storm Babet Moves Across Northern Ireland
18th October 2023 Weather
The Rivers Trust has issued advice to the public ahead of the potential flood impacts of Storm Babet on Northern Ireland waters over the next few days. Yellow weather warnings have been issued across the rest of the week for…
Native Oyster Fishery in Foyle Area Suspended to Prioritise Conservation
17th October 2023 Marine Wildlife
Loughs Agency, the regulatory body for fisheries in Northern Ireland, has announced the suspension of the Native Oyster Fishery in the Foyle area starting from 6 am on October 24th, 2023, until 6 pm on February 29th, 2024. The decision…
Northern Ireland Squib Champions in Action at Lough Derg Yacht Club's Freshwater Keelboat Regatta
13th October 2023 Inland Waterways
Squib National Champions Gordon Patterson and Ross Nolan from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough are among 33 class entries that will compete this weekend at Lough Derg Yacht Club's Freshwater Keelboat Regatta in County Tipperary. Other entries…
The Norwegian Star, the largest-ever cruise ship to drop anchor in Lough Foyle, arrived spectacularly at 7am, marking the end of the 2023 cruise season for Foyle Port. The ship has a gross tonnage of 91,740 and a length of…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Erne Pike Classic will take place this weekend from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October. Friday involves a shore-based angling competition. The Waterways Ireland jetties…
Lighthouse Tourism in Ireland Sees Significant Increase, Belfast Conference Hears
8th October 2023 Lighthouses
Lighthouse tourism in Ireland has significantly increased, with a 60% rise in overnight stays in such facilities throughout the country since 2019, according to the Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism initiative. Last year, over 622,000 people visited lighthouses and lighthouse…
Belfast Lough Harbour Town Of Donaghadee Secedes To Viking Faroe Islands
7th October 2023 Belfast Lough
When the Vikings first swept into Belfast Lough around 800 AD, the lack of harbours was no problem, as the gently shelving beach at the wide expanse of Ballyholme Bay was ideal for hauling their longships ashore. Thus Ballyholme –…
Six Wins for Kearney and Nelson at GP14 'Hot Toddy' at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
7th October 2023 GP14
Last weekend, 27 GP14s gathered at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough for the first of the Hot Toddy meetings of the 23/24 season. Dominating the competition were the home crew of…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann Navigation in Northern Ireland that Portna Lock east of Kilrea will be closed to navigation from Monday 9 October for a period of around six weeks. This is to facilitate…
XOcean Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) Visits Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough
5th October 2023 Belfast Lough
Many assorted vessels visit Bangor Marina, but the XOcean Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) may be the most unusual. Last week, Harbour Master Kevin Baird and his team, MCA staff and Belfast Coastguard welcomed the UK Maritime Minister Baroness Vere of…
Larne Lifeboats Called Out to Swimmer in Difficulty Outside Portmuck Harbour
4th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
Larne RNLI came to the aid of a swimmer who got into difficulty half a mile from Portmuck Harbour on Wednesday afternoon (4 October). The station’s volunteers were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats…
Feva 'Final Fling' Held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
4th October 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
The enticingly named RS Feva Final Fling and Social on Saturday afternoon (7th) is being held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on the south shore of Belfast Lough. Four of the nine boats entered were from Ballyholme…
UK Fined €32m by European Court of Justice Over Red Diesel Use by Pleasure Boats
2nd October 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
The UK has been fined €32m by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for allowing pleasure boats to use red diesel before Brexit came into effect. Under EU law, only commercial boats can use lower-tax dyed diesel, following a ruling…
The Loughs Agency recently welcomed a marine science delegation from Korea to the North West as part of a two-day workshop focusing on transboundary cooperation for sustainable ocean and coastal areas. The workshop was organised and sponsored by Queen’s University…
Andy Thompson is "Sailor of the Month (Dinghies)" for September
1st October 2023 Sailor of the Month
For the second year in a row, East Antrim Boat Club top crewman Andy Thompson hit the sailing headlines by winning a major Fireball dinghy title with ace UK helmsman Tom Gillard. In 2022, Gillard and Thompson scooped the world…
Olympic Catamaran Medalists Smash Cross-Channel Record Time Between Ireland and Scotland
29th September 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Taking off from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Northern Ireland a day ahead of Storm Agnes' arrival, Mixed Catamaran Olympic Medalists, John Gimson and Anna Burnett sailing a foiling Nacra 17 have beaten the previous record (subject to ratification) for a…
