The racing season ended at Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough at the end of October with the RUYC Autumn Series, after eight races on a variety of windward/leeward and round the lough courses.
John Minnis's Archambault A35 Final Call II dominated IRC 1 with virtually consistent top places in the six boat fleet and winning IRC 1 YTC was another Archambault A35, Adrian Allen's Succession. In IRC 2 the Coffey, Thompson and Bell trio took first place with the Impala 28 Menace and the largest class, the eleven strong Whitesail division, was won by the Mitchell's Rustler 33 Whisper.
Racing in the 2024 RUYC Autumn Series on Belfast Lough Photo: Fiona Hicks
At the annual Prizegiving last weekend the season's outstanding achievements were acknowledged. Among them was Paul Prentice's Sigma 33, Squawk, who won the John Thompson Memorial Salver and Victoria Dews in another Sigma 33, Elandra, was awarded the Sharman Crawford Trophy for the All Round All Woman Crew in the Rollins Insurance Coastal Series and Healthodontic Ladies races. And the Young Sailor of the Year prize, the Robin Fielden Memorial Cup, went to Josh Conway.
Paul Prentice, winner of the John Thompson Memorial Salver at the annual RUYC prizegiving is pictured with Barbara Coffey Photo: Fiona Hicks
Victoria Dews (right) with the Sharman Crawford Trophy for the All Round All Woman Crew pictured with Barbara Coffey Photo: Fiona Hicks
