Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

RBC Brewin Dolphin proudly supporting Afloat and Irish Boating

Bangor Town Regatta
Regatta Reward — Afloat.ie June Regatta Sailor of the Month Pat Kelly celebrates another successful Bangor Regatta campaign with the Storm crew after securing IRC Class 1 honours aboard the J/109.
It can take a bit of effort to find the intensely local Rush Sailing Club in its secluded location beside the small area of deep water at the entrance to Rogerstown Estuary in the heart of Fingal. And it would…
Title Despite Trouble — Storm skipper Pat Kelly's crew, with helm Robert O'Leary indicating the damaged spreader, prepare to stand down before the final race of Bangor Regatta 2026. Earlier victories gave the J/109 enough points to win IRC Class 1 on countback from Final Call II after the rivals finished level on 18.5 points. Photo: Con Murphy
A 15–20-knot southwesterly provided a fitting finale to Bangor Regatta 2026 as several championships went down to the final race on Belfast Lough. The four-day Royal Ulster Yacht Club regatta concluded on Sunday after a varied programme of windward-leeward and…
Championship Battle — The leading IRC Class 1 fleet powers through heavy-air conditions on Belfast Lough during Bangor Week. Pat Kelly's Storm leads the overall standings ahead of John Minnis' Final Call II, with Michael Browne's Victric 3 third. Photo: Con Murphy
Storm, Purple Haze, Mayrise, Game Changer and Playtime lead into Bangor Week's final day after demanding 30-knot racing. South to south-westerly winds of 20 to more than 30 knots, with gusts approaching 40 knots, produced the toughest racing of Bangor…
Duel Downwind — Rob O'Leary's Storm (left) and John Minnis' Final Call II battle under spinnaker in IRC Class 1 at Bangor Regatta. Storm held a three-point overall lead after day two. Photo: Con Murphy
Another day of light but tactical racing on Belfast Lough has left several Bangor Regatta titles finely balanced on Belfast Lough heading into Saturday's forecast stronger winds. Race Officer Con Murphy completed the full programme in sunshine and a shifty…
Day Leader — Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm (IRL 1141) races under spinnaker on Belfast Lough. Three consistent races gave Storm the overnight lead in IRC Class 1 at Bangor Regatta 2026. Photo: Con Murphy
A light and shifting north-easterly breeze of 5–10 knots provided a tactical test on the opening day of Bangor Regatta 2026, but race officials completed the scheduled programme across a combined fleet of almost 50 boats. Race Officer Con Murphy…
Spinnaker Show – Colourful yachts race on Belfast Lough during Bangor Regatta as Royal Ulster Yacht Club prepares to host the 2026 edition with strong early entries from across Ireland and Britain.
Bangor Regatta 2026 is shaping up for a strong return, with more than 40 yachts already entered one month before racing begins. Hosted by Royal Ulster Yacht Club, the regatta will run from 25 to 28 June on Belfast Lough…
“Impala
Bangor Regatta will host the Impala Championship as part of its 2026 sailing programme on Belfast Lough. The four-day regatta runs from 25 to 28 June at Royal Ulster Yacht Club and will feature racing for a wide range of…
Title Holder — J109 Blue Jay of John Stanley-Whyte. The IRC Northern Ireland Championship winner is among the early entries for Bangor Regatta 2026 at Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
Royal Ulster Yacht Club has unveiled a busy 2026 sailing programme on Belfast Lough, with racing, regattas and participation events planned throughout the year. Preparations are already underway with a call for volunteers to help run the season’s events on…
“Gavin
On Sunday, October 28th, following racing in the Autumn Series at Royal Ulster Yacht Club (RUYC), Gavin Watson, Chair of 'BR26', officially launched the Bangor Regatta 2026. The regatta, hosted by RUYC, will take place from Thursday 25 to Sunday…
Sailing camaraderie awaits at the Irish Sea Nations Cup 2025. Nations will compete across four key regattas, culminating in Bangor in July. Who will take home the prestigious cup?
The countdown is on for the Irish Sea Nations Cup 2025, the new sailing competition that promotes regional engagement. Organised by the founders of prominent events like the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the IRC Welsh Championships and the Scottish Series,…
Four regattas in 2025 will form the Irish Sea Nation’s Cup competition, promoting goodwill and participation among visiting yachts.
Organisers have formally announced details of the 2025 combined regatta initiative for teams from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Ireland. Following an inaugural meeting last December, four 2025 regattas in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales have combined to…
The inaugural meeting of Irish Sea Regatta organisers included (from left) Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Chairman Don O’Dowd, Brian Craig of Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Scottish Series Chairman Roddy Angus from the Clyde Cruising Club, Bangor Regatta's Rory Flannigan, ISORA's Peter Ryan and Paddy Boyd (VDLR Director). Stephen Tudor of the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre joined the meeting online with South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club Commodore Mark Thompson, Liverpool Yacht Club's Vice President Paul Hampson and Royal Dee YC's Catherine Hartley
A 2025 Nations Cup competition between six teams bordering the Irish Sea is just one of the positive outcomes of Wednesday's (December 2nd) high-level inaugural meeting of Irish Sea Regatta organisers at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.  In what is billed as…
Merryjack sea dogs (from left to right) Steven McKay, Brian Lawther, Gerry Bell, GP14 World Champion 1975, Bill Whisker and (back row) an under 80 crew member! Not pictured is Peter Duffy
The crew of Merryjack defied their age at last week's Bangor Regatta on Belfast Lough competing in Class six YTC and taking third overall. Crew man and poet Glen McMahon on the Oceanis 37 might never be Poet Laureate but…
The start of a competitive IRC Class Two at Bangor Regatta 2024 on Belfast Lough
In like a lion and out like a lamb is said to mean that the month of March should end with quiet weather compared to a lion. But this is June, and the Belfast Lough weather hasn't reached the lamb…
Stevie Andrews' Hanse 371 Dark and Scary from Strangfrod Lough with Kevin Byres' Sigma 33 Signet from Ballyholme Yacht Club competing at Bangor Regatta 2024
Patience is a virtue they say and that is what was needed this morning when Belfast Lough was like a mirror and the Bangor Regatta fleet was motionless in the Marina. However word was that this forced stoppage was very…
Ben and Jono Shelley's J109 Mocking J, from Fairlie YC in Scotland are lying third in IRC 2 at 2024 Bangor Regatta on Belfast Lough
Never mind what's going on elsewhere In Ireland this weekend; with Shania Twain in Belfast's Ormeau Park, Taylor Swift at the Aviva, the All-Ireland Quarter GAA Finals in Croke Park and the Foyle Maritime Festival in Derry, there was plenty…

Bangor Town Regatta 2021

It’s expected that the fleet will number upwards of 60 with several hundred crew and supporting visitors for the 2021 Regatta.

Among the classes expected are IRC, Sigma 33, RS Elite, and day boats such as Waverleys and Fairies.

The Regatta Chairman is Gavin Watson and Royal Ulster Yacht Club is the organising club for what is Northern Ireland's biggest inshore yacht racing event.

Feeder races from Dun Laoghaire and Scotland are planned.

The Bangor Town Regatta fleet will race out of the Bangor Marina, on what is Belfast Lough’s enviable area of virtually tide and hazard free waters.

Two round-the-buoys courses within a manageable distance from the marina will provide testing but enjoyable racing and in addition, coastal races every day will give those who prefer
somewhat more leisurely competition, the opportunity to use the whole of the Lough.

Racing will be in the capable hands of International Race Officer and National Judge, local man Robin Gray.

The Race Office will be located at the Marina close to where the après sailing will be well catered for.

At A Glance - Bangor Town Regatta 2026

Belfast Lough's Bangor Regatta runs from 25th to 28th June and is hosted by the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.

 

Featured Sailing School

INSS sidebutton

Featured Clubs

dbsc mainbutton
Howth Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club
National Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Irish Yacht club

Featured Brokers

leinster sidebutton

Featured Webcams

Featured Associations

ISA sidebutton
ICRA
isora sidebutton

Featured Marinas

dlmarina sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Please show your support for Afloat by donating