John Minnis' Final Call II returns to Belfast Lough fresh from victory at last weekend's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta that saw a three-way tie for first place in IRC Zero. The Final Call campaign will be looking for more silverware next weekend (July 19) on home waters when Minnis plays host at the inaugural IRC Northern Ireland Championships at Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
One of the stalwart visitors to IRC racing in Belfast Lough has been the Kelly family’s J109 Storm from Howth and Rush in Dublin Bay. But this year Storm is late back from the Sovereign’s Cup at Kinsale and as well they have a crew problem and an unforeseen incident, both of which affect inclusion in the IRC Northern Ireland Championships. However, Storm is keen to maintain its good record at Bangor, having won the Bangor Regatta 2024, so every effort will be made to attend the event.
The Kelly family’s J109 Storm from Howth and Rush pictured above competing at the Sovereign's Cup 2025 in June Photo: Bob Bateman
The championships will be held in Bangor on the south coast of Belfast Lough and hosted by the Royal Ulster Yacht Club on 19th and 20th July. The Belfast Lough event will be the final leg of the new Irish Sea Nations Cup, established in December last year following a groundbreaking meeting at Dun Laoghaire.
With just over a week to go, there are twenty entries with, at the time of writing, only four making the passage to Belfast Lough. The Nations Cup was designed to add extra spice to the 2025 season and beyond by encouraging more boats to travel outside their home port areas. (First 'Irish Sea Nations Cup' Set for 2025 After Groundbreaking Meeting at Dun Laoghaire). The four are Craig Corson’s J109 Salamander XXII, Judgement Day from Fairlie YC, the J109 Blue Jay (J Stanley-Whyte from Royal Northern and Clyde), Daydream Believer (Beneteau 34.7) owned by I McMullan (Liverpool and Caernarfon) and Martin Mahon’s Quarter Tonner Snoopy from Courtown in Co. Wexford.
The event will be the final leg of the new Nations Cup. The others were the Welsh Championships in April, the Scottish Series in May and just finished, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. England leads the inaugural Irish Sea Nations Cup after the first two events - the Welsh IRC Championships and the Scottish Series. (England Clear Leader of Irish Sea Nation's Cup after Scottish Series). The VDLR results may change all that.
Royal Ulster is delighted to be bringing the Championships to Bangor. Sailing Secretary Fiona Hicks says, “The sailing season is very busy and it was difficult to pick the best dates with so much going on in Ireland and other venues around the Irish Sea. The founding of the Irish Sea Nations Cup adds an extra element to this year’s IRC NI, as it is the final event of the overall series. We are looking forward to welcoming old friends and new visitors to Bangor for excellent racing with RUYC member Bill O’Hara as Race Officer, and a warm welcome to the Club for our always welcoming post-race atmosphere".
