A ‘Town’ Regatta at Bangor was first held on Belfast Lough over a century ago and saw reincarnation in 2018. Subsequent regattas fell foul of Covid 19 but on 23rd June it was all systems go for the 49 boats entered in this ‘new look’ four-day event.

In the light of the predicted strong gusts forecast for Sunday, the Fairy class from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club decided not to race.

That saying ‘In like a lion and out like a lamb’ could be reversed in this instance as the first day of the four-day event began with glassy seas in Belfast Lough but according to the forecast will be anything but glassy by Sunday. The Lough was so patchily calm that Principal Race Officer Con Murphy chose to send home classes 3,4 and 5 after only one race.

So patience was of the essence and that paid off for the local John Minnis in the Archambault 35 Final Call II who laid down a marker with two first places. Class 3 had only one race and here it was the Corby 29 of Brian and Ryan Wilson from Carrickfergus who topped that class. Garth Lindsay’s Quarter Tonner Jonathan Star from the host club won both IRC and NHS unrestricted in Class 4.

The Byers/Russell Sigma 33, Signet was first in the six-strong Class 5 Restricted while in the depleted eight-strong Sigma 33 One Design fleet the Howth-based Insider (Stephen Mullaney) won Race 1 and Race 2 went to James Miller’s Mayrise from Helensburgh.

The coastal race started at the club line and took the fleet across the Lough to Cloghan Jetty, and back on a mile-long beat to the RUYC No1 mark and a fetch to the finish. Murray Findlay of the Clyde Cruising Club took first place.

Racing continues on Friday with the earlier warning gun at 09.55 am

Article by Betty Armstrong, Afloat.ie