Well that’s a wrap folks !!

BR26 came to a close with a fantastic prize giving in the marquee in front of the Yacht Club on Sunday afternoon.  We had four days of fantastic sailing and lots of fun and laughter in the club each evening.

Rory Flannigan along side our Principle Race Officer Con Murphy battled each day on the water with heat, light airs and shifty wind on Thursday and Friday, followed by testing high wind conditions on Saturday and Sunday with gusts in excess of 40 knots, making for some very testing racing and extremely tired and damaged crews.  Thankfully all survived to enjoy each evening’s entertainment.

Our Yacht club thrived as the seams creaked with the number of people in all rooms of the building, from Drinks reception and evening meal in Gloucester Room for the Sigma fleet, the main bar and dining room booked solid every night, the stretch tent full with the laughs around the Tiki Bar, and lastly with some hardy sailors in full song in the back bar.

The RUYC staff worked extremely hard, led by Nicole Smith and Shaun Townsley.  A big thanks from Wendy Rice and the BR26 Organising team for all the hard work they and the staff put in.

These events don’t happen without all the volunteers who give their time and experience to help not only during the event but before and after.  From making the club grounds look good to helping on the committee boat and battery it is all very much appreciated.

Thank you also to our generous sponsors Feedwell Ltd, Terry Bradley, Cosimac, John Minnis Estate Agents, Beggs & Partners and Bangor Marina, without whose support we would not have been able to run this event.

“So after my third time of organising this great event and with the feeling it is now well established on the sailing calendar within the UK and Ireland, I and the great team of people who pull this off every time can reflect and ponder as to how we can grow the numbers and make it an even bigger attraction for sailors to come and visit the shores of Belfast Lough and Royal Ulster Yacht Club”

Gavin Watson, Chair Bangor Regatta 26

Well Done RUYC !!