Hundreds visit city in biggest ever sporting event in borough
By Julie Waters
THERE was a warm Bangor city welcome at the weekend for the hundreds of young visitors from as far afield as France and Hong Kong who are taking part in the prestigious Youth European Sailing Championships.
Local well-wishers lined the Seacliff Road and clapped the 370 young sailors aged from 15 to 18 years old, during last Sunday’s opening ceremony parade.
Throughout this week the world’s best youth sailors have been battling it out on Belfast Lough for the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans 2024 competition.
With hundreds of boats taking to the water this week, the competitors hail from 30 European and 14 non-European countries, with 112 girls and 255 boys taking part.
Hailed as the largest and most internationally diverse sailing competition in Northern Ireland’s history, there are 11 sailors from Northern Ireland and six sailors from the hosts, Ballyhome Yacht club.
On Sunday evening Piper Shaun Townsley, from the Cleland Memorial Pipe Band, led the ILCA 6 sailors as they carried their country’s flags from Luke’s Point along the coastal road to Ballyholme Yacht Club.
North Down MP Alex Easton, Mayor Alistair Cathcart Ballyholme Commodore Rob Milligan and Zlatko Jakelic, EurIlca vice-chairman, were amongst the dignitaries to greet the sailors.
Visitors and residents have been enjoying the nautical spectacle of hundreds of sailing dinghies racing on Belfast Lough from vantage points along the Seacliff Road and the coastal path.
Competition is expected to be fierce, as success in these championships can be an important stepping stone for the competitors towards representing their countries on the global stage such as the Olympics.
Bangor Grammar School pupil Joseph Robinson is one of the Ballyholme Yacht Club sailors who was looking forward to showing his skills in the water.
“I enjoy competing and like the thrill of being in the water with lots of boats, you have to work hard,” said the 16 year old.
Talented Bloomfield Collegiate pupil Isabel Nixon, who has been sailing for the past eight years at both Ballyholme and Donaghadee Yacht clubs, was also taking part. “This is my first big European event,” said Isabel. “I feel excited but I am also a bit nervous.”
Sixteen year olds Emily Cantrell and Glenda Gallagher, from Dublin, were making a welcome return to Ballyholme to compete. “We competed in regional youth events here two years ago, but this is our first major ILCA 6 competition,” said Emily. “It is definitely going to be a step up, it is going to be a challenge,” said Glenda.
Eighteen year old Italian sailors Pietro Porta and Lorenzo Bogni, who have both been sailing since childhood, were adjusting to the ‘quite cold’ temperatures ahead of some ‘quite tough competition’.
Seventeen year old Semen Khashchyna, was one of the competitors representing Ukraine, and had travelled to Ballyholme with his father and coach Denis who praised the warm welcome they had received.
“There is such a warm atmosphere,” said Denis. “All the people want to help. There has been support from sailors from every country.”
Welcoming the sailors to the competition, commodore Rob Milligan said it was ‘fantastic’ to see so many young sailors, their coaches, families and supporters travel to Bangor for the European championships.
He also praised the team of volunteers for helping to bring the championships to life.
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped,” he said. “Everyone has done a great job to bring this event to fruition.”
North Down MP Alex Easton was pleased to welcome the competitors to his constituency.
“It is amazing to see so many young people from so many different countries building relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime,” he said.
“I also welcome what this event is delivering for the local economy and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who organised the event.”
Mayor Alistair Cathcart said it is ‘absolutely wonderful’ to see over 300 competitors from 38 nations come to a very sunny Bangor.
“They’ll enjoy great racing out in Ballyholme Bay which is terrific sailing waters,” he said.
“We’d struggle to get a bigger sporting event here in Bangor and North Down, and our waters are ideally suited for bringing these events to our borough.
“We want to do that in the future and we’re looking at an investment to this club to boost our sailing offering that we have here in North Down. This will be an example of a really well organised event and Ballyholme Yacht Club is a terrific club.
“I’ve been speaking to people who run B&B’s, restaurants and hotels. Our hospitality sector will really welcome this boost to have so many visitors come to this borough.”
As well as plenty of action on the water Ballyholme Yacht Club hosted a Sustainable Seashore Explorer afternoon of seashore fun in association with Ulster Wildlife to support the event’s clean regatta goals.
The event included a sandcastle building competition, a beach clean challenge, a rock pool ramble and a talk by Ulster Wildlife.
