Ballyholme Cadets Embrace Rainy Flotilla Adventure

21st June 2025

Betty Armstrong

Ballyholme Yacht Club cadets and volunteers at Ballymacrmick Beach

It rained nonstop in Bangor on Belfast Lough on Saturday, June 14. But that didn’t deter the 38 young Ballyholme Yacht Club Cadets from enjoying and even revelling in the very wet conditions during their annual flotilla outing – this time across Ballyholme Bay to Ballymacormick Beach instead of the usual Helen’s Bay to the west up Belfast Lough.

At ten o’clock, the 18-strong fleet, made up of a Bahia, two Quests, two Fevas, a Laser 2000 and numerous Toppers, set off East in some unsettled seas to land on the beach. The Cadets were accompanied by safety boats.

Despite the torrential rain, everyone had lots of fun digging, making dams, playing beach cricket, tug of war and water frisbee.

Rear Commodore Barbara Polly said afterwards, “Thanks to everyone who made it happen”.

Published in Belfast Lough

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Ballyholme

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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