Please select your home edition
Edition

RYA Northern Ireland host Women on Water Festival 2025 at Ballyholme Yacht Club

by RYA Northern Ireland 5 Jun 09:12 PDT 31 May 2025
RYA Northern Ireland host Women on Water Festival at Ballyholme YC © Leela Anderson

This past weekend, RYA Northern Ireland hosted its Women on Water Festival at Ballyholme Yacht Club, giving attendees with little or no experience in sailing the opportunity to explore a variety of water-based activities under the guidance of local experts.

The Festival is part of RYA Northern Ireland's Women On Water programme - an initiative established over 10 years ago to help introduce more women and girls into sailing and boating. Research shows that when confidence-building activities are provided, women and girls are more likely to enter and stay in the sport.

Following the event, one of the participants, Ruth Farr, said, "It's been a brilliant day. It was great to get out on the water to try different things - I felt more confident in a group. You can take it at your own pace, which is amazing, but I've also found the experience very sociable and when you're doing an activity, you bond with people quickly. I'm coming up to retirement age and definitely feel like this would be something I would love to do more of."

Throughout the day, those involved had the opportunity to try yachting, dinghy sailing, powerboating, stand-up-paddleboarding and windsurfing, highlighting the fact that there is often a water-based activity to suit everyone.

Another participant, Elena Samuel, said, "There's been a good mix of different activities, and everyone has been really friendly because most people have come on their own. I actually met somebody who lives five minutes from my house that I had never talked to before."

In 2023, RYA Northern Ireland launched a five-year strategy, Navigating the Future, to improve diversity across the sport. This year, Belfast-based chartered accountancy, RBCA, became the first-ever sponsor of the Women on Water programme, signalling positive momentum. The partnership will provide support for an initial three years, with investment helping to build awareness of events such as the Festival and enhance WOW-related programming at local sailing clubs across the region.

Founder and director of RBCA, Ross Boyd, concluded, "We are confident that with our support and influence, RYA Northern Ireland will see more women and girls taking to the water at clubs right across the region.

"This partnership aligns perfectly to our broader vision. Since we opened our doors in 2010, we have made it our mission to set a leading example in gender diversity and have achieved and maintained a 50:50 male to female split for the past decade. This commitment is also reflected at senior level with 50 per cent of our senior roles held by women, compared to an average of 20 per cent industry wide."

For more information on RYA Northern Ireland and ways to get involved, visit www.rya.org.uk/gbni/ryani

Related Articles

Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022. Posted today at 5:39 pm
Emirates GBR looking to bounce back
At the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said the team was "looking to bounce back" at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend, following a "tough time" at the back-to-back US events in LA and San Francisco in March. Posted today at 5:30 pm
BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival 2026 dates
The event has moved forward a week from previously published dates For 2026, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has moved the event forward a week from previously published dates to March 23-29. Posted today at 5:07 pm
Rooster Sailing's 2025 Collection Just Dropped
From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers, the 2025 collection has been developed with real sailors, for real conditions. Posted today at 4:00 pm
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race. Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools. Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet." Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better. Posted on 5 Jun