Days Out NI
Water sports Bangor

Ballyholme Yacht Club

RYA sailing courses, junior summer weeks and try-a-sail taster days on Ballyholme Bay.

4 photos
SeasonalJunior weeks run July-August; courses and…
£200Per person
BangorWater sports
Get directionsOfficial website
£200Cost
July-AugustSeason
Junior courses…Best for
The beach at Ba…Launches
NearbyParking

Ballyholme Yacht Club — RYA sailing courses, junior summer weeks and try-a-sail taster days on Ballyholme Bay.

  • What you can do: Junior RYA sailing weeks (ages 8-16), adult beginner sailing courses, try-a-sail taster sessions, Discover Sailing open days; members also race, cruise and paddle.
  • Public access: Courses and taster/open days open to non-members; wider sailing is members-only.
  • Booking: Essential — courses open early and sell out.
  • Age / ability: Junior courses ages 8-16 (beginner to improver); adult beginner courses for no-experience sailors. Swimming-ability minimums not published online — confirm with the club.
  • Kit provided: Boat hire and equipment included on courses; club can provide sailing kit if you don't have your own.
  • Season: Junior weeks run July-August; courses and racing run through the year, all weather-dependent.
Plan your visit

Learn to sail — juniors, adults and total beginners

The club is an RYA-recognised centre running courses for all ages and abilities. Junior RYA weeks suit children aged 8-16, from complete beginners working through Stages 1-4 to youngsters building toward racing, run Monday to Friday across the summer. Adults can book a beginner sailing course designed for people with no previous experience, taught in small groups. Boat hire and equipment are included, and the club can provide kit if you don't have your own wetsuit and buoyancy aid. If you're not ready to commit to a full course, look out for try-a-sail taster sessions and the annual Discover Sailing open day, both open to the public.

RYA training centre Junior weeks 8-16 Adult beginner courses Try-a-sail days Kit & boat included Ballyholme Bay
Good to know before you go:

Operators like this run kids' summer sailing weeks, try-a-sail taster days, Discover Sailing open days and RYA courses through the season. Sessions are weather- and tide-dependent, so check their own pages for current dates, bookings and prices.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🩱Swimwear & a warm layerWear your togs under easy clothes; most places provide wetsuits.
  • 🧺A change of clothes & a towelYou WILL get wet — dry clothes for after are a must.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will be hungry after all that paddling and splashing.
  • 🎫Your bookingLessons and hire usually need booking ahead — have it ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
Membership dinghy sailing and watersports club, and RYA-recognised training centre
What you can do
Junior RYA sailing weeks (ages 8-16), adult beginner sailing courses, try-a-sail taster sessions, Discover Sailing open days; members also race, cruise and paddle
Public access
Courses and taster/open days open to non-members; wider sailing is members-only
Booking
Essential — courses open early and sell out
Age / ability
Junior courses ages 8-16 (beginner to improver); adult beginner courses for no-experience sailors. Swimming-ability minimums not published online — confirm with the club
Kit provided
Boat hire and equipment included on courses; club can provide sailing kit if you don't have your own
Season
Junior weeks run July-August; courses and racing run through the year, all weather-dependent
Cost
2026 junior summer week roughly £200 members / £225 non-members; adult course prices vary — check current prices
Launches from
The beach at Ballyholme Bay, Belfast Lough
Parking
Not confirmed — check with the operator
Address
Ballyholme Yacht Club, Seacliff Road, Bangor BT20 5HT
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Essential — courses open early and sell out
How much is it?
2026 junior summer week roughly £200 members / £225 non-members; adult course prices vary — check current prices
When does it run?
Junior weeks run July-August; courses and racing run through the year, all weather-dependent
Getting there

Ballyholme Yacht Club launches from The beach at Ballyholme Bay, Belfast Lough. Not confirmed — check with the operator. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around BangorSee what else is close by More water sports across NISurf, sail, kayak, SUP and more
The story

About the operator

Ballyholme Yacht Club traces back to 1900 as Ballyholme Sailing Club and was re-established as Ballyholme Yacht Club in 1920, growing alongside the town of Bangor. It is a volunteer-driven sailing and watersports community that has welcomed everyone from Olympic athletes and world champions to cadets taking their first tacks.

Today it is an RYA-recognised training centre offering courses and coaching in sailing, powerboating and race management, alongside windsurfing, paddleboarding and sea swimming for members. Junior and youth training runs through a cadet community of Dolphins, Sharks and Junior Icebreakers.