Excitement is growing on Belfast Lough with the prospect of next week’s Bangor Town Regatta bringing over 600 sailors to that seaside town, now designated ‘City’, for the resurrected event which has been on hold during the pandemic.
Chairman Gavin Watson says he is 'delighted' with the entry which currently stands at 60 with the prospect of more last-minute joiners. “Aside from the usual stresses and strains of running a major regatta, we are all ready to go for kick-off on the 23rd. The infrastructure is now being set up this week to welcome some 650 competitors to Bangor and Royal Ulster Yacht Club”.
The Bangor Town Regatta will take place from 23rd till 26th and will be welcoming competitors from Scotland, England, Dublin Bay and the Isle of Man as well as from other parts of Northern Ireland.
On the water keeping the fleets in order on the three race courses on the superb sailing waters of Belfast Lough, will be Principal Race Officer Con Murphy from Dun Laoghaire with local Colin Loughead and Michael Tyrell from Co. Dublin making up the team. The fleet will race out of Bangor Marina.
Nine classes will take part, the smallest being the Linton Hope-designed Fairy class from Royal North on Belfast Lough, well over 100 years old, and the much newer RS Elites, some of whom took part in the recent RS Elite Nationals in Cowes, such as Kelso/Gunning/Polly in Storm who finished ninth in the 40 strong fleet. The farthest travelled Elite will be John McRobert’s Swallow from Ballyronan BC on the western shore of Lough Neagh.
Chairman Gavin Watson is pleased with the entry list: “We wish to use this return to sailing as a foundation to build Bangor Town Regatta for the future. It is important to support all sailing events as we have seen this year how a lack of support, volunteers and entries can leave events exposed. We are so thankful for the support and that of our volunteers”.
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