Topper Northerns Find Hidden Gem Of Quoile Yacht Club

29th August 2025

WM Nixon

Pre-start manoeuvres at the weekend's Topper Northerns with Quoile Yacht Club Credit: Peter Mullan

Hidden away in the southwest corner of Strangford Lough, Quoile Yacht Club in Northern Ireland is best known to exploring cruising people, who see it as a hidden but very hospitable gem. Yet last weekend (23-24 August) Topper dinghies
from Ireland north and south descended on this secret place, and had two days of excellent racing in the Unite Energy-sponsored Topper Northerns under the direction of Scott Rodgers.

The fact that volunteers from nearby Killyleagh YC turned up to strengthen the QYC Race Team and put on four good races gives a sense of the mutually supportive sailing community in the area.

In the end, Max Boyd had a clear win overall, finishing on 5 points to the 7 of Rafa Cobain Oriol. But it was tight thereafter with Daniel Long and Ollie Colvin tieing on 12 pts with the former getting the third on the tie break, while Lucy Reynolds and Kitty McAnlis likewise had a tie for fifth place, with Reynolds taking the fifth after the number-crunching.

The hidden gem of Quoile Yacht Club on Strangford Lough takes a bit of finding, whether by land or sea

Published in Topper, Youth Sailing, Northern Ireland Waters

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Published in Topper

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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