For the first time, Northern Ireland joins the other UK Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland in hosting its own IRC Championship. Royal Ulster Yacht Club will run the event under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) on the 19th and 20th of July.
The Belfast Lough event will be the final leg of the new Irish Sea Nations Cup set up in December last year after a groundbreaking meeting at Dun Laoghaire.
Shortly after the entries were open, several local boats entered, the first being Michael Browne's custom Dubois 33 Victric from Royal North of Ireland YC and Strangford Lough YC, followed by the O'Tiarnaigh/Harrington/Mulholland IMX 38 'eXcession', Del and Gill and Gill Fairley's beautifully restored Swan 36 Lofna and John Ritchie's Sigma 400 Sigmantra, all from the host club.
Del and Gill Fairley's restored Swan 36 Lofna Photo: Wavelength Images
The event is in the diaries of Pat Kelly's family, who sailed J 109 Storm from Howth and Rush, and Belfast Lough's John Minnis's Archambault A35 Final Call.
Ronan Kelly from Storm says, "The plan is Storm is to travel north after the Sovereign's Cup in late June in Kinsale. We just haven't finalised all the events as yet with the crew, etc, but all intentions are to be in Bangor". Storm won Class 2 in Bangor Regatta last year.
Storm II from Rush and Howth is returning to Belfast Lough for the Northern Ireland IRCs Photo: Afloat
The Nations Cup aims to revive the once vibrant Irish Sea racing scene with more yachts travelling to away events.
The other events will be hosted in Pwllheli (Wales) and Tarbert, Loch Fyne (Scotland) both in May and Dun Laoghaire (Ireland) in early July.
Royal Ulster Yacht Club's Sailing Secretary Fiona Hicks says, "The Club is delighted to be organising this event as it aligns with our aim of hosting at least one prestigious sailing event each year". She noticed that "Northern Ireland was the only UK Home Nation not currently hosting an IRC Championship". So, she contacted the RORC, who gave her the necessary go-ahead to set up the event. Fiona added, "It is particularly exciting for Royal Ulster to be hosting this event as it will be the final leg of the new Nations Cup, which we hope will attract many visitors from the wider Irish Sea area. We very much look forward to welcoming all our old friends and many new ones to Bangor for some excellent racing, safe berthing in the award-winning Bangor Marina and, of course, the warmest hospitality and entertainment at the Club".
John Minnis's A35 Final Call II Photo: Afloat
The principal race officer for the championship will be local man International Race Officer Bill O'Hara, who aims to ensure the organisation on the water will be of the highest standard.
