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 Week so far as competitors completed the penultimate day on Belfast Lough.
Heavy-Air Charge — The Class 1 and Class 2 fleets beat into 30-knot-plus southerly winds on Belfast Lough during Bangor Week's penultimate day. Storm and Purple Haze strengthened their overall leads after a punishing day of windward-leeward and coastal racing. Photo: Con Murphy
Despite the strength of the breeze, the relatively flat water allowed racing to proceed, with Classes 1 and 2 completing a windward-leeward race before a demanding 20-nautical-mile coastal contest. The Sigma 33 fleet completed two windward-leeward races.
Coastal Challenge — The 20-nautical-mile coastal course for Bangor Week's penultimate day sent competitors from the Royal Ulster Yacht Club start to Bangor Marina, Cloghan Jetty and Rockport Outfall before a close-reaching finish at the Battery. Strong southerly winds of up to 40 knots tested crews throughout the demanding Belfast Lough circuit.
Race Officer Con Murphy set a testing coastal course from the start off Bangor towards a mark off Bangor Marina before a long run to Cloghan Jetty, a beat across to Rockport Outfall, another run and beat back, and finally a close reach along the southern shore to the finish at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Battery.
"It was a testing course for all, in particular the mainsheet trimmers," Murphy said.
Storm Maintains Overall Control
Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm continues to lead IRC Class 1 after another outstanding day, extending her consistent series with race wins in both the windward-leeward and coastal contests. John Minnis' Archambault 35 Final Call II remains second overall, while Michael Browne's Dubois 33 Victric 3 holds third.
Series Leader — Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm powers to another race win during Bangor Week on Belfast Lough. The HYC/RSC crew strengthened its overall lead to retain first place in IRC Class 1 heading into Sunday's finale. Photo: Con Murphy
In the YTC division, Peter Holden's Going to Red leads from Sam Dryden's Infinite Improbability, with Des Balmforth's Tangaroa third.
The closest racing came between Storm and Final Call II.
Title Pursuit — John Minnis' Archambault A35 Final Call II races hard during Bangor Week's demanding coastal contest. The RUYC/RNIYC crew remains second overall in IRC Class 1 after eight races. Photo: Con Murphy
Jeremy Tomalin, headsail and kite trimmer aboard Final Call II, described the day afterwards.
"Tough day, fingers and shoulder shot. Forty-knot breeze, just shy of 17 knots boat speed. Sleep well tonight! Great windward-leeward, then no messing around and quickly into the coastal. Challenging conditions for everyone.
"Good battle with Storm all the way round."
Storm skipper Rob O'Leary added:
"Challenging conditions with up to 40 knots, the bay offers flat water with long legs for the coastal race. It was great to see what all the boats could do in champagne conditions."
Purple Haze Tightens Grip
Rockside Duel — Stuart Cranston's Quarter Tonner Purple Haze (right) races past a rival along the rocky County Down shoreline during Bangor Week's demanding coastal race. Purple Haze extended her overall lead in IRC and YTC Class 2 with one day remaining. Photo: Con Murphy
Stuart Cranston's Quarter Tonner Purple Haze strengthened her grip on IRC Class 2 after another excellent day, counting first and second places to maintain a six-point advantage over Martin Mahon's Snoopy's J. James Waugh's Hellaby Puffin remains third.
The YTC standings mirror the IRC podium, with Purple Haze leading Hellaby Puffin and Snoopy's J.
Mayrise Moves Ahead in Sigma Battle
The Sigma 33 championship remains finely balanced after two races.
Sigma Sprint — Ruairidh Campbell's Sigma 33 Sonic powers through heavy conditions on Belfast Lough during Bangor Week. The TSC crew lies seventh overall in the tightly contested Sigma 33 Championship with one day remaining. Photo: Con Murphy
James Miller's Mayrise now tops the leaderboard on 14 points after a race win and consistent scoring displaced overnight leader White Lightning, skippered by Sam Bourne, into second. Paul Prentice's Squawk is third after another solid day.
With only six points separating the leading three boats, Sunday's final races promise an open finish.
Game Changer Extends Coastal Advantage
Shaun Douglas's Beneteau 40.7 Game Changer continued her domination of the Coastal IRC fleet, winning both races to stretch her overall lead.
Richard Catchpole's Minnie the Minx sits second in IRC, while Michael Eames' Blacksmith occupies third.
In Coastal YTC, Game Changer also leads comfortably ahead of Blacksmith and Gareth Martel's Pippa VI.
Game Changer skipper John Simms said:
"We saw 37 knots. Great race, full on, lots of broaches. The only damage was a broken spinnaker pole sustained upwind hitting a wave."
Blacksmith mainsheet trimmer Garth Maxwell added:
"Today's race was sailed in great breeze. Challenging but exhilarating. Good legs of upwind, offwind and testing reaches which caused many debates about spinnakers or not. Another brilliant day. Hard work but excellent racing."
Playtime Still Perfect
Johnnie Phillips' Playtime remains unbeaten in the Coastal YTC Restricted Sail division after completing a perfect three-race scoreline.
David Greer's Vivid continues in second, while Michael Wilson's Sunflower occupies third.
Phillips praised both the race management and conditions.
"The near gale conditions were both challenging and exhilarating but the course was well set, keeping the race in manageable sea conditions. Even though we had a reef in the main and the headsail partly furled, Playtime managed to stay with the larger boats in the fleet. It was fantastic to get a real gun from the RUYC Battery as we crossed the line."
With one day remaining, several classes remain open, although Storm, Purple Haze, Game Changer and Playtime all carry useful advantages into Sunday's finale.
