Sunshine and wind and the start of the Scottish Series to get everyone in the mood again for the new season. And not long to go until Howth host their inaugural Wave Regatta followed by the return to Belfast Lough in early July for the renamed Bangor Town Regatta.

The event is being hosted by the town’s two yacht clubs – Ballyholme Yacht Club (ballyholme.com) and Royal Ulster Yacht Club (ruyc.co.uk).

More than a dozen classes of yachts and dinghies, and hundreds of sailors, will compete on four courses during the four days of the regatta, with both the RS200 & RS400 classes using the event to hold their Irish National Championships. With so much activity on the water, this will be a wonderful event for participants and spectators alike, and, with a full programme of shore-side activities, this will be a real family attraction.

Entry is open at ballyholme.com/events/bangor-town-regatta-2018. There are a number of heavy hitters enrolled in Class 1 including Jamie McWilliam’s Ker 40 Signal 8 (Hong Kong YC) and Jay Colville’s Forty Licks (East Down YC) as well as good number of RC35’s and Quarter Tonners entered. The Sigma 33 class are expected to come out in force after competing at their Class Championship in Dun Laoghaire.

And our oldest fleet in the Lough – the Waverley Class which has blossomed again in recent years with 12 on the water last summer – hope to attract other classic fleets such as the Fairies, Glens, Rivers and even some of the Howth 17’s that made the journey up for RUYC’s 150th celebrations.

Bangor Town Regatta 2018 © Bangor Town Regatta

Early entry discount is still available but ends next Friday so don’t miss out!

You can view most local accommodation through the Ards & North Down tourism website at visitardsandnorthdown.com/where-to-stay. More information about accommodation can be viewed on the event website page.

You can also keep up to date with the event at www.facebook.com/bangortownregatta2018.

Event Chairman, Jim Coffey of RUYC, said:
In Ballyholme Bay and Belfast Lough we have a wonderful sailing area that is internationally renowned, and in recent years our clubs have hosted a number of international events. Even so, this will be the largest sailing event ever to be hosted in Bangor.

Bangor Town Regatta © Bangor Town Regatta

Bangor is a popular tourist destination for day-trippers and holiday makers, and its five-star marina welcomes sailors from all over the world. We are keen to ensure that this is an event that will become a regular feature in the sailing calendar.”

Classes:

• Class 1 – IRC with TCC 1.041 and above
• Class 2 – IRC with TCC from 1.015 to 1.040 (RC35 Class)
• Class 3 – IRC with TCC 1.014 or less
• Class 4 – Quarter Ton Class – see NOR Attachment 1 for eligibility
• Class 5 – NHC with Base Number 0.901 or above
• Class 6 – NHC with Base Number 0.900 or below
• Class 7 – Sigma 33 OOD
• Class 8 – Restricted Sail Class NHC
• RS Elite
• Waverley
• Multihull Dinghies
• International Laser
• RS400 & RS200 Irish National Championship

We will offer a start to any other class which can promise six boats. A separate Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and Paper Entry Form will be issued for the RS400 and RS200 Classes.

by Mark Mackley