Patience is a virtue they say and that is what was needed this morning when Belfast Lough was like a mirror and the Bangor Regatta fleet was motionless in the Marina. However word was that this forced stoppage was very much welcomed by some as after two days of hard racing and some revelling there were many tired bodies.

But with the sun in the early afternoon came the breeze, and they managed to get racing again.

Murray Findlay's X4.3. Xaviera competing in Class 5 IRC at Bangor Regatta 2024 Photo: Wavelength

In IRC 2, the J109 Blue Jay owned by John Stanley-Whyte from Royal Northern and Clyde took first today but Storm (P Kelly) from Howth and Rush SC still leads, well ahead by 10 points from Mocking J (Ben and Jono Shelley), who have the narrowest of margins - half a point over the Corby 33 Banshee (Charlie Frize).

The Sigma 33 Mayrise (James Miller) still leads in IRC 3 and in IRC 5 and YTC 5 Shaun Douglas has a dominant position at the front of this pack.

YTC 6 also has a Sigma 33 in the lead, with the local Kevin Byres Signet displacing Gerry Bell's Oceanis 36 Merry Jack from the top. Today, another Sigma Elandra (M Dews) was the winner of that class.

The enforced break this morning was fortunate for those - and there were at least four - who celebrated birthdays and enjoyed a lie-in. No ages were disclosed.

Birthday Boy - Stevie Andrew's (pictured centre with sunglasses) on board his Hanse 371 Dark and Scary

Betty Armstrong - afloat

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