Nearly 100 boats crowded the stretch of water between Strangford on the west side of the entrance to Strangford Lough and Portaferry on the east for Northern Ireland's Narrows Series held by three clubs on 11th, 12th and 13th July. Tricky strong tides in the Narrows tested the fleet, which was split into 12 classes. The Narrows Series is a busy three days of racing comprising three Regattas run by Portaferry Sailing Club, Portaferry Town and Strangford Sailing Club.
The tides, which can reach 7.5 knots, are produced by the three hundred and fifty million litres of water flowing in and out of Strangford Lough twice daily, making for tricky racing for the big fleet.
Self Expression, the Albin Express (John Findlay and Richard Ramsey) from East Down Yacht Club, who topped YTC 2 Photo: Tommy Brown
The results in some classes were evidence of tight racing. In YTC 1, three boats tied at the finish with 7 points each. The Findlay/Ramsey duo's Albin Express Self Expression from SLYC topped YTC 2 after a tie break with Scampalong and Mississippi on 7 points. And the same scenario happened in the Large Dinghy division with Adam Fernor's Pier Pressure, the ILCA 7 of Rory Pollard from Belfast Lough and Un Poco Loco (Patrick Hamilton) all on 7 points.
Mike Spence's Le Basculer at the Narrows Series Photo: Tommy Brown
The next regatta in the Lough will be at Killyleagh on 26th July.
