As ILCA Ireland celebrates 50 years of ILCA/Laser sailing in Ireland, the association kicked off the season with the Ulster Championships in East Antrim Boat Club. A large turnout of nearly 80 boats travelled from all parts of the country on the first weekend in April to compete for the ILCA Ireland Ulster Championships in Larne Lough.

Saturday was a sunny, light and shifty day and race one got away in 7 to 8 knots. The wind kept decreasing and race 2 ran the risk of being abandoned but there was just enough pressure to finish. Race three was not to be and after a short wait drifting, chatting and enjoying the sunshine on Larne Lough, racing was abandoned. As is always the way moments after the abandonment a fresh NE 10knot breeze filled in which gave the fleet the opportunity to work back to shore against an ever increasing current.

A prestart scene on Larne Lough for the Ulster Championships at EABC

Day two proved to be significantly windier with a steady 18 to 22 knot breeze blowing from the south. Racing got underway on schedule and three fleets worked their way around the inner and outer loops of the preferred trapezoid course. Racing throughout the fleets was incredibly competitive as sailors put their winter training to the test.

Tight racing on the final leg of the ILCA 6 course on Larne Lough for the Ulster Championships at EABC

In the ILCA 4 after 5 races Rory Brennan Hobbs won gold with Greystones Sebastien Wright in second and Max O'Hare in third. Abigail Murphy was first female, with Emily Macafee in second and Kate Kenny in third.

In the ILCA 6 Ballyholme's Daniel Palmer showed consistency with four first place finishes and a discarded third. Bobby Driscoll took second finishing every race in the top three and Lucy Ives took third place overall as well as top female. Autumn Halliday was second female with Emma Pierce in third. In the ILCA 6 Masters Sean Craig took gold, John Curran silver and local Gavin Doig took third.

Light wind ILCA racing on Larne Lough for the Ulster Championships at EABC

In the ILCA 7 Fiachra McDonnell dominated the weekend with four first place finishes and held off Tom Coulter to retain the Ulster ILCA Ireland title. Tom took second with Colin Leonard taking third overall and first master. Patrick Hamilton was second master with Darragh Kelleher in third.

A huge thanks to the 50 plus volunteers in East Antrim Boat Club who made the event possible, particularly event manager Gordon Kane, race officer Richard Doig, CSO Martin Agnew, race results Caroline Wilson, beach master George Gardiner, jury Dennis Todd and Lucy Whitford whose organisation and welcome were very much appreciated.

Full results below