Pandemic-hit women’s sailing festival to return to Carrickfergus in 2021

Carrickfergus will play host to next year’s Women on Water festival after the 2020 event had to move online due to the lockdown.
Carrickfergus Sailing Club.Carrickfergus Sailing Club.
Carrickfergus Sailing Club.

The organisers have said they will return to Carrickfergus Sailing Club in 2021 for the celebration of the sport.

The second festival had been planned at the Co Antrim venue earlier this month. It brings together like-minded women who have been involved in sailing from a young age or as part of the recent Women on Water programmes. The low cost initiative runs each year in clubs right across Northern Ireland and is open to women of all abilities.

Lisa McCaffrey, RYA Northern Ireland’s active clubs co-ordinator, said: “Women on Water is a fantastic programme and this year was to be the second year of our festival. Our plans had to change but we were still able to hold a very enjoyable online festival and it was a lovely opportunity for everyone to catch up and share insights and information, as well as having a good chat in what has been difficult times for many.”

During the online festival, Mary Martin, RYA NI’s development officer, delivered an interactive workshop. This included a discussion on the Women on Water programme and how it could be developed going forward.

Information was also provided on RYA qualifications, including instructor and official qualifications.

The Women on Water Leadership Group hosted a quiz too with Jennifer Bryce, a graduate from the very first programme in 2016, winning a free ticket to next year’s festival at Carrickfergus Sailing Club.

Speaking after the festival, Jennifer said: “The talk was very informative and has encouraged me to work towards the Dinghy Instructor qualification. It would be wonderful to be able to teach other women, as I started with the Women on Water course a couple of years ago and have been slightly obsessed with sailing ever since!”

A £160,000 slipway widening project, supported by Mid and East Antrim Council, was announced earlier this year to enable a number of significant sailing events to take place at the Carrickfergus club.

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