'Incredible' Carrickfergus-hosted festival encourages over 30 women and girls to take up water-based activities
Over 30 women and girls have been given an opportunity to learn more about the sport of sailing following a weekend initiative in Carrickfergus.
Carrickfergus Sailing Club successfully hosted the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland’s ‘Women on Water’ programme.
With supportive instructors, participants tried a wide range of water-based activities such as dinghy sailing, yachting and power boating.
Established just over 10 years ago, the WoW initiative has played a crucial role in the growth of female sailing in the last decade across the province and the rest of the UK.
Recent research carried out on behalf of RYA revealed that when spaces are created exclusively for women and girls, they are more likely to enter the sport. It also demonstrated that when skills and confidence building activities are provided, women and girls are more likely to stay in the sport.
Lisa McCaffrey, Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland’s development officer, said: “We hope attendees walk away feeling inspired, energised, and connected - not just to the water, but to the community around it.
"Trying something new can be intimidating, but we like to think that everybody has to start somewhere and that is why the WOW Festival concept works so well.”
Belfast-based chartered accountancy, RBCA, has continued its sponsorship of WoW and 2026 marks the second of a three-year commitment to RYANI.
Ross Boyd, the founder and director of RBCA, commented: “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.
“Many workplaces, certainly the accounting environment, can result in hours sitting at a desk, pressure to meet deadlines, and demand from clients. We encourage a healthy work-life balance and believe that both spending time in the great outdoors, and learning new skills, can contribute positively to our mental resilience.
”We are confident that with our support and influence, RYA Northern Ireland will see more women and girls taking to the water.”
RBCA’s Gemma Boyd attended the Carrickfergus event. She said: “Women on Water allowed me much needed time out to enjoy the great outdoors whilst connecting with other women as we together experience something new.
"This is an incredible initiative. It’s the perfect opportunity to grow in confidence on the water in a safe, fun and beginner-friendly environment.”
Greg Yarnall, CEO of RYA Northern Ireland, concluded: “In 2023 we launched our five-year strategy, Navigating the Future, to improve diversity across the sport. To have welcomed a dedicated commercial partner shows just how far the programme has come and the momentum we have built.
"RBCA recognises the potential of this platform and is as passionate as we are about engaging more women and girls. We’re delighted that this past weekend’s event at Carrickfergus Sailing Club was another success.”