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 all fleets.
Race Officer Con Murphy said the conditions challenged both competitors and the race management team, with the changing breeze demanding constant attention throughout the day.
Despite the difficult conditions, three races were completed for the IRC Class 1, IRC Class 2 and Sigma 33 fleets, while the Coastal IRC and Coastal Restricted Sail fleets completed their opening coastal race.
Course Setter — The opening day's race area at Bangor Regatta 2026 on Belfast Lough, where a light and shifting 5–10-knot north-easterly allowed Race Officer Con Murphy to complete the full programme across all fleets
In IRC Class 1, Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm from Rush and Howth Yacht Clubs with Robert O'Lesry on the helm, leads after three races with seven points. John Minnis's Archambault A35 Final Call II from the host club is second on eight points, while Charlie Frize's Corby 33 Banshee sits third on nine.
White Duel — Pat Kelly's Storm (IRL 1141) and Charlie Frize's Banshee (GBR 9470R) run side by side beneath white spinnakers during IRC Class 1 racing at Bangor Regatta 2026. Storm finished the day first overall, with Banshee third. Photo: Con Murphy
Fleet Beat — IRC Class 1 boats spread across Belfast Lough under asymmetric spinnakers during the opening day of Bangor Regatta 2026, sailed in light and shifting north-easterly winds. Photo: Con Murphy
The Class 1 YTC standings are headed by Peter Holden's J/109 Going to Red, ahead of Sam Dryden's Infinite Improbability and Des Balmforth's Tangaroa.
IRC Class 2 is led by Stuart Cranston's Quarter Tonner Purple Haze, whose opening scores of 1, 1 and 2 give her a one-point advantage over James Waugh's Hellaby Puffin. Martin Mahon's J/24 Snoopy's J is third.
Black Beauty — Stuart Cranston's Quarter Tonner Purple Haze (GBR 7070) races under spinnaker on the opening day of Bangor Regatta 2026. Purple Haze finished the day leading both the IRC and YTC standings in Class 2. Photo: Con Murphy
Silver Flight — James Waugh's Quarter Tonner Hellaby Puffin (NZL 4320) powers along under white spinnaker during Bangor Regatta 2026. Hellaby Puffin ended the opening day second in IRC Class 2. Photo: Con Murphy
The Sigma 33 Class Championship is finely poised after three races, with local Squawk, sailed by Paul Prentice, and White Lightning, skippered by Sam Bourne, tied on six points. Squawk holds the overall lead on countback after winning the final two races of the day. Excelle is third on 14 points.
The Coastal IRC fleet completed a single coastal race, won by Nigel Hamilton's Beneteau 31.7 Endeavour, ahead of Shaun Douglas's Beneteau 40.7 Game Changer and Gareth Martel's Pippa VI.
Coastal Charge — Nigel Hamilton's Beneteau 31.7 Endeavour (GBR 967) leads the Coastal IRC fleet during Thursday's opening coastal race at Bangor Regatta 2026 on Belfast Lough. Endeavour won both the IRC and Coastal YTC divisions. Photo: Con Murphy
Endeavour also heads the Coastal YTC standings after the opening race, while Johnnie Phillips's Elan 333 Playtime from the National Yacht Club leads the Coastal YTC Restricted Sail class from Robin Moran's Just 1 More and David Greer's Vivid.
Racing continues through the weekend at Royal Ulster Yacht Club, with the regatta incorporating both the Sigma 33 Class Championship and the Feedwell Impala Championship.
