The traditional ‘Opening Day’ for the sailing season at Royal Ulster Yacht Club (RUYC) and Ballyholme Yacht Club (BYC) took place on Saturday.
In a first for RUYC, the race started from an RIB, where sailors raced to a windward mark, before making their way to the newly refurbished Battery, where a course around the club’s racing marks was displayed.
Thankfully, the wind stayed solidly from the south and the Battery team was able to send sailors on a couple of laps of a mile-long windward leeward.
There was a real showdown in Class 1, between Adrian Allen’s Archambault A35, Succession, and Mike Browne’s Dubois 33, Victric 3, with one or the other ahead at each mark rounding, but it was Shaun Douglas’ Beneteau 40.7, Game Changer, which won overall.
In Class 2, Paul and Emma Prentice’s Sigma 33, Squawk, soared to victory. A real highlight for the race officer was getting to see his old mentor, Robin Gray, helm Nigel Hamilton and David Milne’s Beneteau 31.7, Endeavour.
Class 3 saw two new yachts, Michael Wilson’s Sunflower and Andrew Kennedy’s Jacada II, take on an RUYC stalwart Impulz, owned and helmed by Chris Johnston.
The next three classes saw a great fleet of dinghies race across Bangor Bay. Max Boyd, in his Topper, showed the rest of the fleet how to tack, winning his fleet.
The Ridout duo continued their roll of wins, claiming first place in the Fast Dinghy class in their 29er. Ballyholme Yacht Club’s rear commodore, James Moore, won the ILCA class.
A huge thank you to RUYC’s honorary sailing secretary, Rory Flannigan, for officiating, and to all of the volunteers, who made this race happen.
Upcoming RUYC races: Thursday Night Racing (May 7), May Peel Race (May 9), Copeland Islands Race (May 30), 160th Anniversary Regatta (June 13) and Bangor Regatta (June 25-28). Check out ruyc.uk/sailing for more information.
