The short blast of summer that had provided long sunny days didn’t last until the weekend 30/31 May 2026; however, the predicted rain didn’t materialise, so the fleet of 18 Flying Fifteens enjoyed shifty, tactical, cloudy conditions over two days at the McAdam Design-sponsored event, hosted by Strangford Sailing Club, who are celebrating its 80th Anniversary this year.
The southern end of Strangford Lough is considered to be an event for the locals as only they can understand the vagaries of the swirling, confusing and fierce tides of the area, but that is unfair; tucked up near Skate rock, the tide is much less important than the 15-degree shifts that regularly passed through on the 10-15kt southerly breeze on Saturday. It was the new pairing of Niall O’Brien and Dermot Flaherty from Rossaveel in Connemara… who clearly showed that their sometimes extreme high-wind practice over the winter paid off in light to medium breezes as well; they had the best starts and were also the best at picking their way through the shifts from the first to the last race, ending with a commanding overall points victory.
Colour Run — Flying Fifteens fly colourful spinnakers on Strangford Lough as crews navigate shifting breezes and tactical conditions during the Northern Championships. Photo: Adrian Breen/ Strangford Sailing Club
For the first race, it was local team Andy McCleary and Colin Dougan who pushed them, and for the second, it was Trevor Darcy and Alan McClernon, but ultimately, in both races, the Connemara team ended with a clear lead.
The third race on Saturday was closer with Dublin father-son combo, Niall and Hugh Meagher, gybing early into a nice lead down the first run; but then O’Brien/Flaherty and Peter Kennedy/Stephen Kane caught and passed the family team and together raced the next 2 laps of the course never more than 2 lengths apart; a well timed surge down the final 70 metres of the last run broke the overlap so O’Brien/Flaherty were able to take the inside line at the last mark and make it 3 bullets, leaving little doubt that they would take the gold fleet prize the next day.
The forecast of a fading 6-10kt westerly breeze for Sunday was correct; only one race could be sailed before the lough became glassy calm, and the fleet was sent home. Bryan Willis and John McPeake correctly picked the right-hand side of the first beat and took a lift and breeze to a massive lead for the first lap; nevertheless, they were reeled in by both O’Brien/Flaherty and Roger Chamberlain, who was sailing with his son-in-law, Phil Anderson. However, a brave decision to gybe early onto the last run was rewarded, and Willis/McPeake became the only other race winner.
Gold Standard — Overall champions Niall O’Brien and Dermot Flaherty receive the Flying Fifteen Northern Championship trophy after a dominant performance at Strangford Sailing Club. Photo: Adrian Breen/ Strangford Sailing Club
This event marked the return of an Irish fleet ranking ladder with sailors allocated into gold/silver/bronze fleets based on the results from 2025. The silver fleet was won by Alastair Court and Conor O’Leary, and the bronze by Dylan Moore and Keiran Devlin.
Overall gold fleet results: 1st O’Brien/Flaherty; 2nd Kennedy/Kane; 3rd Darcy/McClernon
