RYA Northern Ireland Annual Awards 2024/25: Celebrating the sailing and boating community
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The Northern Irish sailing community came together on 25 May for the RYA Northern Ireland Annual Awards, hosted at the Harbour Commissioners Office in Belfast.
This event is a landmark moment in the RYA Northern Ireland calendar as it celebrates the achievements and contributions of everyone involved in sailing and boating over the last 12 months.
At RYA Northern Ireland, our mission is to ensure that everyone can enjoy and achieve in sailing and boating. The RYA Northern Ireland Awards are a testament to the incredible positive impact our community continues to make in our sport across Northern Ireland.
These awards are our chance to celebrate the good news stories and the remarkable contributions of individuals, clubs, and groups who make sailing and boating better for everyone. Submitting nominations, helps shine a light on the people, clubs, and groups who embody the spirit of our community and bring us together in shared celebration.
The nominations reflect the pride we have in our community and highlight the values that guide us: Passionate and Proud, Visible, Approachable and Supportive, Brave and Adventurous, Transparent, and Embracing Equality.
Through these awards, RYA Northern Ireland has been looking for individuals, clubs, or groups who have delivered an activity, programme, or change that has made a real difference in the sport. Each nomination is remarkable, and every nominee is more than worthy of the thanks and recognition we offer tonight.
Nominees and Winners
Young Powerboater of the Year: Hunter Reddy – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Young Volunteer of the Year: Joseph Robinson – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Instructor of the Year: Emily Hill – County Antrim Yacht Club
Instructor Nominees: Hannah Archer – Ballyholme Yacht Club, Nadia Bell – Strangford Lough Yacht Club, Kaitlyn Eadie – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Race Coach of the Year: Dan McGaughey – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Coach of the Year Nominees: John Gunderson and Nick Cooke – Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Race Official of the Year: Ian Bogie – Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Race Official of the Year nominees: Aidan Pounder – Ballyholme Yacht Club, Dennis Todd – Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
Junior Female Sailor of the Year: Emily & Annabel Ridout – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Junior Female Sailor of the Year Nominee: Emily McAfee – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Junior Male Sailor of the Year: Adam Green – Lough Erne Yacht Club
Junior Male Sailor of the Year Nominee: Leo West-Hurst – Ballyholme Yacht Club
Youth Female Sailor of the Year: Zoe Whitford – East Antrim Boat Club
Youth Female Sailor of The Year Nominees: Ellen Barbour and Erin McIlwaine – County Antrim Yacht Club/Newcastle Yacht Club, Charlotte Eadie – Ballyholme Yacht Club/Donaghadee Sailing Club
Youth Male Sailor of the Year: Bobby Driscoll, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
Youth Male Sailor of The Year Nominees: Daniel Palmer – Ballyholme Yacht Club, Tom Coulter – East Antrim Yacht Club
Volunteer of the Year: Derek Stockdale – Belfast Lough Sailability.
Volunteer of the Year Nominees: Heather Foster-Sharpe – County Antrim Yacht Club, Colin Cushley – Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Club Project of the Year: Cancer Fund Day Out – Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
In 2023, a fundraiser at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club sparked a powerful partnership. In May 2024, RNIYC hosted over 100 guests—children with cancer, bereaved families, and charity staff—for a day filled with kindness, adventure, and joy. This event was the club’s largest volunteer turnout ever and showed just how far their spirit of giving can reach. It’s a shining example of how sailing can change lives—on and off the water.
Club Project of The Year Nominees: Gemma and Lex McCoubrey – Belfast Lough Sailability, Ballyholme Yacht Club (ILCA 6 Europeans), Paul Green and BLS Team – Belfast Lough Sailability
Chair’s Award Winner: Team BYC – EurILCA Youth Europeans 2024
The success of the 2024 ILCA 6 Youth Europeans was thanks to the outstanding efforts of the volunteer committee at Ballyholme Yacht Club. From planning and logistics to site management and delivery, the team handled a world-class event for 368 sailors from 38 nations. Their collaboration and professionalism ensured a safe, welcoming, and competitive championship—an incredible achievement and a proud moment for Northern Ireland sailing.
Chair's Award Nominees: Roger Chamberlain – Strangford Lough Yacht Club, Gerry Reilly – Strangford Sailing Club
If you would like to read about the achievements of the nominees in more detail, click here.
If you would like to tell the story of someone or something at your club, please contact peter.gilmore@rya.org.uk . At RYA Northern Ireland we are committed to celebrating the sport and the people which make it so special.