On water

Sailing & Cruising

Overview

Boats “under sail” are powered through using the force of the wind. Sailboats occur in many sizes, shapes and configurations of masts, sails and rigging. They are also referred to as yachts or sailing dinghies depending on their size. The smallest of lightweight dinghies like the Optimist dinghy would be as small as under 8 feet, at the other extreme the “superyachts” can be in excess of 100 feet long. The length is often abbreviated as LOA (length overall), which differentiates that dimension from LWL (length on the waterline). Especially on older style boats, these two lengths can be quite different.

There are many different types of boats for sailing, they can be differentiated by certain characteristics based on :

Hull Type which could be monohull, catamaran or trimaran

Keel Type which could be fin keel, wing keel, bilge keel, daggerboard, or centerboard

Mast configuration and Sail Type which could be sloop, fractional rig sloop, ketch, schooner, yawl, cutter, cat et al

In our modern day sailboats are almost exclusively used for recreation. Both cruising and racing have been popular pastimes with a long history in our area. The activities associated with sailing are largely seasonal This relates to the weather and sea states which are generally more amenable through the Spring until early Autumn. As a general practice the cruising and racing yachts are put out on moorings or held safe in Marinas during this period. Dinghy sailing is much more flexible regarding ease of access and exit to and from the sea and would also have a longer season of activity with some being actively used throughout the year.

Specifics

The main areas for sailing are associated with the more sheltered sea loughs especially in Strangford Lough. The outer coastal area is important sail-cruising territory and hosts both dinghy and yacht sailing out of harbours such as Bangor, and Newcastle.

There are many sailing clubs within our area and they are listed under opportunities.

Additional Information

Good Practice & Safety

Good practices and safety considerations

Part of having Good Practice at sea is to have a plan before you go to sea.

Be prepared; think ‘what if?’ and don’t ruin a good day out on the water with insufficient planning.

An element of planning is required for even the simplest and shortest of journeys. Passage planning is an obligation for all seafarers under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS V)

However, a passage plan needn’t be complicated. The type of boat you have and the trip you are intending to take will determine how much planning you need to do.

Essential elements to your plan are thinking about the obvious: tides, current , weather , currents ; abilities of boat, you and crew; communications, equipment; backups for when things go wrong.

For most useful and relevant advice, hints and tips for safe motor boatingcrafting this RYA site is a – Must Go To!!

http://www.rya.org.uk/KNOWLEDGE-ADVICE/SAFE-BOATING/Pages/hub.aspx

Protecting Biodiversity – Preventing contamination by Invasive Alien Species It’s not always easy to identify these species, but there are some guides available to help:

MBA non-native species guides
GB NNSS guides and maps

For more information on how non-native species can affect biodiversity, human health and the economy, read this informative article by the European Environment Agency.

Further information on non-native invasive species can be found on the GB Non Native Species Secretariat website. Advice on boating best practice can be found on The Green Blue website.

What can you do?
For information on how to enjoy the wildlife you see whilst out boating and steps you can take to minimise your impact on it, see The Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters, or look on The Green Blue Website. WISE guidance on wildlife at sea http://www.wisescheme.org/?page_id=1128

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have also written guidance about marine wildlife disturbance.

In addition, by following The Green Blue guidance on related topics such as waste management, oil spill management and boat cleaning and maintenance, boat users can further reduce their impact on wildlife.GOOD PRACTICES and SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

For most useful and relevant advice, hints and tips for safe motor boatingcrafting this RYA site is a — Must Go To!!

http://www.rya.org.uk/KNOWLEDGE-ADVICE/SAFE-BOATING/Pages/hub.aspx

Invasive Alien Species x contamination. How do you identify them?
It’s not always easy to identify these species, but there are some guides available to help:

MBA non-native species guides
GB NNSS guides and maps

For more information on how non-native species can affect biodiversity, human health and the economy, read this informative article by the European Environment Agency.

Further information on non-native invasive species can be found on the GB Non Native Species Secretariat website. Advice on boating best practice can be found on The Green Blue website.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have also written guidance about marine wildlife disturbance.

Clubs, Opportunities, Disability Access

Care for our Coast

SAILING CRAFT AND WILDLIFE

Accepting that all vessels have a right to navigate at sea, all vessels with their operators and crew are asked to be considerate with regard to the wildlife and natural habitats of our area. For example there is a widespread use by many marine based animals associated with islands, reefs[pladdies], coastal shore, intertidal shores, on and within the seas. The more iconic and noticeable include the cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoise; basking shark; grey and harbour seals. There are very significant populations and concentrations of bird life throughout the year with great seasonal variation. These include huge flocks of geese. ducks, waders and auks especially in the autumn-winter; with very important breeding colonies of terns and gulls in the summer.

Good and sensitive practice is about looking out for these wildlife, being aware that the noise, speed, direction, wake and proximity of a boat can cause disturbance to animals that will be feeding, resting, breeding with young.

Recommended are the principles of the RYA Green-Blue Scheme and the WiSE scheme

Anyone using the water has a duty to protect wildlife and enhance the environment. We share the waters we use for our recreation with a wide range of birds, fish and cetaceans but the presence of boats should not necessarily have to mean disturbance to the local wildlife. If craft are handled with sensitivity there can be minimal or zero disturbance.

Zoning of sensitive areas, speed restrictions, awareness of seasonal and geographical sensitivities, taking care when landing and anchoring on islands with sensitive habitats and species and education can all been used to mitigate the impact of boat use on wildlife.

For information on how to enjoy the wildlife you see whilst out boating and steps you can take to minimise your impact on it, see The Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters, or look on The Green Blue Website.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have also written guidance about marine wildlife disturbance.

So make a WiSe choice when enjoying the marine wildlife this summer – if hiring choose a WiSe accredited operator and follow our code of conduct http://www.wisescheme.org/?page_id=1128