The RC35/IRC event at Royal Ulster on Belfast Lough last weekend came about because of a chance suggestion by a club member.
Although it attracted a small fleet of eight, it did include the very welcome visitors, Ben Shelley in Mocking J from Fairlie YC in Scotland, Pat Kelly’s J109 Storm from Howth and Rush and Hijacker, a Ker 32 raced by Alan Henry from Strangford Lough YC.
Ben Shelley in Mocking J from Fairlie YC in Scotland travelled to Royal Ulster for the RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Aquaventus
Rory Flannigan organised the event.
In the end, after five races, the ‘spoils’ as Pat Kelly said, were split between John Minnis in the Archambault 35 (with the glamourous spinnaker) Final Call II, who won the RC35 event and himself in the J109 Storm, who topped the IRC 2 fleet. Michael Eames Sunfast 3200 All or Nothing topped the IRC3 class.
Michael Eames All or Nothing (right) IRC 3 winner with Gareth Martel's Pippa VI at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club hosted RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Aquaventus
Race Officer was Michael Conway from Wexford Harbour Boat Club, setting windward–leeward courses in Belfast Lough. The first three races on Saturday enjoyed perfect Force 4 winds and sunshine. Final Call II was overzealous at the start and was OCS, which did count towards the total points, but the subsequent tally of a second and three firsts assured them of 11 points, tying with Storm with the tie split on the last race count back in their favour. The visiting Mocking J on 14 points was in the third slot, having to count a DSQ in the second race.
All eyes forward on Final Call II at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club hosted RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Aquaventus
Final Call's glamorous spinnaker for the RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Grant Stuart
The second two races put up with very different conditions. Rain and light winds greeted the fleet, but two races were completed despite the lack of any decent breeze.
In IRC 3, top of the two starters was Michael Eames Sunfast 3200, who tied on eight points with Aidan Pounder’s Beneteau 31 Caesium with the tie split on the last race count back.
RC35 and IRC prizewinners. Third left, RUYC Rory Flannigan, event organiser, and second right Gavin Watson, RUYC Sailing Secretary for the RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Fiona Hicks
Pat Kelly in Storm was enthusiastic about the event.”Another fantastic weekend in Bangor - absolutely superb conditions, brilliant race management and excellent competition. We love coming to Bangor as the Team is welcomed with open arms, and the craic is mighty. It was a really enjoyable weekend, and great to split the RC35 spoils with Final Call. Thanks to all the lads and other competitors for a great weekend.”
Pat Kelly, skipper of Storm, winners of IRC 2 and Runner Up in the RC35 Class at the RUYC RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Fiona Hicks
And from John Minnis “Last weekend’s combined RC35 and IRC Keelboat event was from start to finish one of the very best! Belfast Lough provides world-class racing and is blessed with Mediterranean weather and strong breeze Saturday saw some awesome yacht racing and tight competition. Sunday evened things up; conditions were more familiar with rain and less wind, something for everyone at RUYC".
John Minnis Final Call II Winners RC-35 Class and Runners Up in IRC 2 at the RUYC RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Fiona Hicks
Event organiser Rory Flannigan and his family was congratulated on staging the event. The event was Rory’s Uncle Jeff Flannigan’s idea in the first instance. Rory’s parents Robin and Sarah were mark laying and collating data on the committee boat whilst Jeff and Uncle Gareth were both racing on Final Call. A real family affair - well done to them all and of course the entire army of unsung heroes involved.
Ben Shelley’s Mocking Jay, third overall in IRC and RC35 at the RUYC RC35/IRC Weekend on Belfast Lough Photo: Fiona Hicks
Three of the fleet are heading to Dun Laoghaire for the Volvo Regatta in July. Mocking J, Final Call and Highjacker will race in Class 1. Another Belfast Lough boat, Shaun Douglas’s Beneteau 40.7 will also be there in Class 0. And RUYC Sailing Secretary Gavin Watson will crew on Jonathan Anderson’s J122e El Gran Senor.
