June at Antrim Boat Club on the north shore of Lough Neagh has been a busy month with the conclusion of the Rolo's Summer Series, the annual regatta and the Interclub event The Cat's Cradle. Unfortunately, the scheduled Races 5 and 6 of the Summer Series were blown out.
For the last two races the pressure was on to see who would be on the podium. Final Fling was unable to finish the series as Skipper Alfie Mayrs couldn't sail so this left a fight back for second and third overall with FA2, the Limbo 6.6 owned by Charlie McAllister and Jeff Harrison almost guaranteed the overall win.
Antrim Boat Club Summer Series Prizegiving, pictured left to right are Ronnie Walker; Elan, Katie Ryles FA2, Gordon Rowan Sponsor, and Dave Collier Bandersnatch
Race 7 was held in strong winds from the west with the start a broad reach to Kettlebottom. It was Bandersnatch, Jena Collier's Beneteau 211, nipping at the heels of FA2, while the two MG Springs of Elan (Ronnie Walker) and Jamie Jess (Willy McIlvenna) were drawn together for the whole race. The long beat to Main Mark played well into FA2's hands as they extended their lead over the rest of the fleet.
Bandersnatch had maintained their advantage of the MG Springs going into the reach home from Main Mark. FA2 enjoyed the windy spinnaker reach to the finish to take line honours, with Bandersnatch second on the water and on elapsed time. There was a surprise with Tommy Warwick's Shoestring (Micro-pup) sneaking into third place on time.
Race 8 saw four seasons in one short race – squalls, sunshine, drifting. Four boats where fighting for second overall such had been the tight racing over the series. After the initial squall before the race, the wind had all but eased with the sun coming out. It was a one-sided beat to Kettlebottom with FA2 gaining a strong lead with Elan following behind. The wind had shifted slightly with the next leg turning into a beat to Middle Mark. FA2 rounded first, popping their spinnaker for the run to Firing Head mar. By the time the rest of the fleet rounded, the wind had increased very quickly to 25 kts which made an exhilarating run, with FA2 enjoying using their spinnaker. A gybe at the Firing Head mark and a short reach to the finish and FA2 once again took line honours and the win on corrected time to confirm their overall win of the series. Elan where conformably in second place but an aggressive gybe and a round up after, costing them enough time for Bandersnatch to beat them into second on time by eight seconds. The consistent results from Bandersnatch meant they claimed second overall with Elan third overall.
The annual Regatta sponsored again by PGM Training was a great success on and off the water. Regatta Breakfast was served prior to the briefing by the social team of Bruce and Bev Ashton. The westerly wind was strong, with the Race Committee and Sailing Secretary discussing the best option for the day, whilst noting that racing throughout the country had been cancelled. The decision was made to run a longer race than two short races.
A downwind start in the strong breeze made for tight battle going to Kettlebottomark with Elan getting a short lead with FA2 tight on their heels. As the boats turned upwind Elan left enough room for FA2 to nip inside. Corinthian Andy Speedy's MG Spring), back on the water for the first time since the Winter Series, had made a conservative start, but the long beat to Main Mark helped her get ahead of the other MG Springs and the Beneteau.
FA2 covered Corinthian tack for tack to maintain their lead. The red spinnaker of FA2 popped up for the long reach to Firing Head mark with a nicely executed gybe before the line to start their second lap, continuing with the spinnaker to Kettlebottom, extending their lead on the water and time, which they would not give up. The real battle was for third place between Jamie Jess and Elan with the former having been slightly ahead but after having spinnaker issues Elan nipped into third overall with the results finishing the same way.
Whilst the racing on the water had been settled Social Secretary Katie Ryles had set out lawn games for families which was a great success, it wasn't long before the adults had taken over the welly wangling!
To cap off this busy month of sailing Antrim BC hosted the Inter Club event – The Cat's Cradle. Dating back to 1907 when the trophy was presented by Lord O'Neill to promote sailing throughout the Lough – the trophy which is still presented to this day for the event which has morphed into a Inter Club battle between Antrim Boat Club, Lough Neagh Sailing Club on the southern shore and Ballyronan Boat Club on the western side. It was reportedly named the Cat's Cradle when it was first raced by fishermen as the course was likened to the string game Cat's Cradle.
Normally the event is a passage race from one club to another taking the three best results from each club to determine the winner but this year the format had to be altered due to the light winds. Lough Neagh SC elected not to bring any boats due to the conditions and Ballyronan had turned up with two boats, an RS Elite Skaddy and Cecilia (Friendship 22) to race against four from the host club.
Two laps of Antrim Bay were set and the flukey wind was up and down, shifting left and right, as spinnakers went up they quickly came back due to the shifting nature of the light winds. The lead changed many times on the water between FA2, Skaddy, Corinthian and Ivan Myles debuting Gem (Micro Gem). FA2 had sailed into a small hole at the end of the first lap allowing the other three boats to gain a significant advantage which they battled out to the finish. It was Gem who gained line honours, a significant win on handicap. Skaddy was second on the water but due to their high rating were fourth on time with Corinthian second and FA2 third. As the best two results of each club counted, Antrim BC dominated the podium, winning for the second year. The Cats Cradle in 2025 will be hosted by Lough Neagh SC.
Antrim Boat Club 2024 Cats Cradle results
Antrim Boat Club 2024 Summer Series results
Antrim Boat Club 2024 Regatta results
