Enjoy four days of classic yacht racing, steamboats, vintage and classic car displays, from Friday 27 August to Monday 30 August at the National Trust’s magnificent Crom Estate, Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh on Ireland's inland waterways.

Supported by Waterways Ireland and organised by the Lough Erne Classic Yacht Association(www.classicsailireland.com), the Waterways Ireland Classic Yacht Regatta promises to be a great weekend for yachting enthusiasts and families alike, with yachts visiting from all over Ireland and the UK.  Not since 1913 when Crom was the social hub, and centre of the inland yachting world will there been such an gathering of classic craft.

Up to 100 classic sail and steam yachts are expected to fill the bays around Crom, and likely to be joined by many other visitors on cruisers converging from across the Shannon-Erne system. While classic yachts will take pride of place at this event the whole of Crom estate will be alive with activity as music, vintage cars and live demonstrations of steam powered Edwardian vessels add to the range of attractions on offer.

Commenting on the yachting extravaganza Paul Louden-Brown, Chairman, Lough Erne Classic Yacht Association said “We have had an amazing uptake in the number and quality of historic yachts booking to race at Crom.  One of the many highlights of the bank holiday weekend activity is a series of races between two of Linton Hope’s one-designs. The Broad’s Brown Boats and Fairy Class Yachts from Lough Erne Yacht Club and the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, will compete for a special challenge trophy.  This will be the first time these fleets have raced against each other.

Lough Erne Yacht Club was founded in 1837 at Crom, and the waters surrounding the castle and nearby estates are where some of the most technically innovative and historically important yachts were built and raced, many of them by the leading designers of the day like Fife, Watson, Mylne and Payne. For 80 years the leading families of the Upper Lough raced their yachts in fierce competition for magnificent silver trophy cups but all this ended with the beginning of the world war. Once again, in August 2010, yachts will race on these historic waters.”

Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing & Communications, Waterways Ireland added “We are delighted to sponsor this magnificent event combining both water and land based activities. This event will highlight the beauty of Lough Erne and the Crom Estate and encourage more people to visit this beautiful spot. For the first time ever these historic crafts will race against each other and I am sure this event will be a wonderful family event, so Crom Estate is the place to be from 27th to the 30th August.”

Jim Chestnutt, National Trust Property Manager for Fermanagh concluded “This unique event combines four days of activities around Lough Erne and the magnificent Crom Estate.  Visitors will have the opportunity to walk along the banks of the Lough and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the magnificent classic sail and steam yachts. Combined with an array of other activities including vintage car displays and an opportunity for children and young persons to try sailing with Lough Erne Yacht Club, free of charge, the four day event is guaranteed to draw in crowds of visitors.”