Sailing for everyone
Congratulations to David Mitchell and his crew for the success at West Highland Yachting Week . He placed 1st in Class 2, it was a large class this year with over 30 boats. Well done guys!
https://whyw.co.uk/west-highland-yachting-week-series-2023/
Pack a picnic and join us for the Copeland Island Cruise & Picnic
Sunday 6th August
Weather permitting we will sail to Copeland Island and anchor in Chapel Bay for lunch.
Distance – approximately 10 nautical miles.
We leave Carrickfergus Marina at 10.30
Great weekend sailing at the Strangford Narrows Series for Trevor D’Arcy and Alan McClernon on the VX, bit too much wind for them on Friday and Saturday but things improved for a great breeze on Sunday and Monday. 1st in IRC 1 Sunday with a max speed of 18.5 knots and an unconfirmed 1st on Monday. Great racing in the tidal waters of Strangford Lough never disappoints ! Thanks to Strangford Sailing Club for allowing them to base themselves there for the weekend, very hospitable with awesome surroundings.
Team Elixir returned home after 3 weeks away from CSC competing at a windy Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta and then the Strangford Narrows series.
At Dun Laoghaire, they competed in seven races with wind speeds of between 20-38 Knots and big seas from the South. They finished joint 7th in a highly competitive fleet including Olympic gold medallists.
On the way home they stopped at Strangford Lough for this year’s Narrows Series to defend their Bar Buoy race win from last year. Unfortunately, the Bar Buoy race was cancelled due to the weather, the standing waves at the bar were observed to be 4-5 meters!
Over the following 3 days, the winds eased slightly each day to allow 3 good days of racing.
Elixir managed 2nd overall. Trevor D’Arcy and Alan McClernon finished 3rd in their class with 2 firsts under their belt. David McFarlane (VX1) and Liam Donnelly also from CSC were doing well until Liam decided to go swimming with the resident dolphins in the lough. 🙈
Best of luck to CSC and Irish squad member Chloe Craig who is off to the Topper Worlds being held at Royal Cork Yacht Club.
An Amendment has been published for the 2nd part of the Sumer Series.
This applies only to the Keelboat series on Tuesday and Thursday.
The start sequence has been brought forward by 10 minutes.
Sun, Sea and Sizzle.
Calling all skippers, crews and friends.
Fancy a sail, food and a free overnight stay?
Then don’t miss out on our Glenarm BBQ 21-22 July 2023.
BBQ will be held on Friday evening 21st July.
The Helen’s Bay Picnic has been Postponed to a later date due to the weather forecast.
2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the Ruffian 23, a one-design class developed and manufactured originally in Portaferry from 1973 by the famous Brown brothers, Billy and Dickie. Over the years the Ruffian fleet extended to Dun Laoghaire, Baltimore and Galway, with many crossing the Irish Sea to England and also further afield to Hong Kong where a strong fleet continue to race competitively.
To celebrate this Golden Jubilee, the entire Carrickfergus fleet of 9 Ruffians headed off to Portaferry on Thursday 15th June to meet up with Ruffian friends sailing up from Dun Laoghaire and resident in Portaferry. In total, 17 boats participated in the weekend programme of events.
Continue reading “50th Anniversary of the Ruffian 23”Trevor D’Arcy and Alan McClernon had a (mostly) successful weekend over at the VX One UK National Championship at the Royal Forth Yacht Club.