The Autumn Series at Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough had been plagued by bad weather from the start at the beginning of September.
The final two races were, however, slotted in between bands of strong winds on a grey, drizzly Sunday morning. Only eleven of the original eighteen entries at the start of the season had held on and were not disappointed when the shore race team managed to get the two races in to complete the series.
With the wind in the west to southwest, a downwind start was inevitable, but the beat back to the number 1 mark off Bangor Harbour was good. Boats were racing in Class 1 and 2 under IRC and YTC and Class 3 Whitesail under YTC alone. As each class finished their first are the battery team had them turned round and restarted with hardly time to draw breath. With the wind increasing and the rain and chill becoming worse the second ace was a short one.
The prize giving took place back at RUYC after racing, when everyone was able to get warmed up again with food and refreshment.
Michael Browne’s Dubois 33 Victric-3 took overall honours in both IRC and YTC divisions Photo: Wesley Crawford
Michael Browne’s Dubois 33 Victric-3 counted 6 first places in win Class 1 overall ahead of Adrian Allen’s Archambault 35 Succession.
In Class 2, the Quinn father and son team on Impala 28 Bonanza had a similar line of firsts to win Class 2 just ahead of Aiden Pounder’s 31.7 Caesium.
Davy and Nick Quinn’s Impala 28 Bonanza was overall winner in both YTC and IRC divisions Photo: Wesley Crawford
Class 3 Whitesail was also closer with the Johnstons’ Impulz winning ahead of the Mitchells’ Rustler 33 Whisper.
Chris and Michael Johnston’s Sigma 33 Impulz was overall winner in Class 3 Whitesail Wesley Crawford
