Last Saturday (18th), thirty turned out in six classes at Killyleagh Yacht Club on the western shore of Strangford Lough for the Keelboat event, which incorporates the Crooks Cup and Westward Trophy.

A steady Northerly breeze and sunshine made for ideal conditions, and Sharon Bolton was the Race Officer.

The first class away was the over-eager six-strong YTC 1, resulting in an individual recall with a few boats having to dip the line. Mike Spence’s A35 Le Basceleur from the host club dominated the racing, taking the win, closely followed by Peter Holden’s J109, Going to Red and visitor Ryan Wilson from Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough and Quoile YC taking third in his MAT 1010 Elixir. YTC 1 also included a good showing from the Impalas, with six out. This event was the last weekend before the Impala and Sonata European Championships at the neighbouring East Down Yacht Club next weekend.

After a tricky beat to Mark 9 at Taggart Island in the second start, YTC1RS got underway, and it was Stevie Andrews in the Hanse 375 Dark and Scary taking a well-deserved bullet, followed by the host club Commodore Gary Shields in second and Kyle Bolton’s Kilcuan in third. Scott Hagan took a well-deserved first in his Albin Express, Midnight Express, followed by Don Bridges second in the Hunter Delta Mississippi and George Cromie taking a solid third in his Achilles 24 Widgeon.

Mike Spence’s A35 Le Basceleur was the winner of YTC1 at the Killyleagh Open Event on strangfron Lough Photo: Tommy Brown

YTC2RS had a disappointing turnout of only two entries. Paddy Graham’s Intro 22 Screwball and Adam Morrison's Achilles 24 Kili were the only two entries. Adam Morrison took the win, with Screwball in second.

The last start in the sequence saw the Squibs and Flying Fifteens. In the Squibs, local Simon Watson in Volante took the lead over his clubmate Robert Marshall and took first place. The Fifteens were strongly supported, and Killyleagh Yacht Club wish the fleet all the best ahead of their Northern Championships at that Club in June and the British Championships at Strangford Lough YC nearby, also in June. First overall was the McCarthy/Rodgers duo from Portaferry, SC, and the runner-up was Brian Bailie in Flapping Eagle from the club opposite the Narrows, Strangford, SC.

Race 2 got underway with a steady Northerly breeze, and it was again Mike Spence dominating the start on starboard in YTC 1, soon tacking onto port and crossing the whole fleet to win the second race and win overall. Stuart Cranston’s Melges 24 was second, and the consistent Ryan Wilson was third in Elixir. YTC1RS saw the consistent Stevie Andrews take the race win and overall winner of YTC1RS. It was the local boats, Trevor Hooks Nik Nak, a Bavaria 38 in second and Gary Shields Yabadabadoo (Sigma 33) in third.

Scott Hagan dominated the start of YTC 2 in his Albin Express, Midnight Express, to take another bullet and win that class overall, with George Cromie runner-up in the Hunter Delta Widgeon. In YTC2RS, Adam Morrison took another first, with Paddy Graham in second overall.

The Squib results remained unchanged, with Simon Watsons Volante being first overall and Robert Marshall second in Slipstream.

The Crooks Cups was awarded to Stevie Andrews’ Dark and Scary for first place in YTC1RS, and the Westward trophy went to Simon Watson for the first Squib.

Killyleagh Yacht Club on the western shore of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland was pleased to be able to run its annual keelboat event, which incorporates the Bennett and Crooks Cups last weekend after a forced Covid break for two seasons.

So on Saturday 6th August 22, boats across four classes from several clubs crossed the line for two races in tricky conditions for race officer Nicky McNamara and her team with an offshore breeze in the west.

Spinnaker start for IRC at Killyleagh Photo: Jaime Bennett

The first race got underway with Peter Holden’s J109 Going to Red from Strangford Lough YC winning IRC, closely followed by the Impala Maverick, (John Patterson East Down YC) and in third slot Dermot ‘s Hinds’ Eland 37 Hindsight from Portaferry. The NHC class was well supported, and it was James Regan’s Jeanneau 421 Lizante from East Down taking the bullet. The largest class of the day was the NHCRS, with ten boats competing. It was a visiting boat from Royal North of Ireland YC on Belfast Lough, David Eccles’ Sigma 33 Mungojerrie, who showed great consistency to take the win.

David Eccles winner IRC at Killyleagh Photo: Jaime Bennett

The final class saw the Squibs out for their last race before the Eastern Championships in Howth Yacht Club on the first weekend in September. Simon Watson was first, followed by David Hanna’s Blue and Slipstream in third.

David Hanna's Blue was the Squib class winner at Killyleagh Photo: Jaime Bennett

After a short delay, Race 2 got underway with the IRC boats under a spinnaker start. Maverick won on handicap to take the Bennett cup, closely followed by Going to Red and Grant McCullough’s Impals Imp in third. In the NHC class, it was the consistent James Regan in Lizante who took two firsts on the day to win the Crooks cup, with the First 31.7 Flashpoint (James Murray East Down) in second and Colin Earney’s Club 19 Club Coffee from East Down in third.

In NHCRS, it was David Eccles Mungojerrie who took two firsts to win his class, with D McGookin’s Gibsea 92 Sloe Gin Second. In the Squibs, It was all change, the local David Hanna taking a well-deserved first in race 2, enough for him to win the class on the day.

The Bennett Cup was dedicated in memory of James Bennett in 1988 and his Granddaughter and namesake Jaime Bennett is Killyleagh Yacht Club’s current Commodore.

Results are below