#BELFAST LOUGH NEWS - Belfast Lough Sailability was selected to host the Irish Paralympic Sailing Team for their pre-event training last weekend from 28 June to 1 July.
According to a spokesperson, the move "definitely puts Carrickfergus Marina and the Borough of Carrickfergus on an international platform with regard to elite sailing" - and comes after a call to the public to vote for the disabled sailing charity in the UK's National Lottery Awards.
It also provided a much-needed boost to the area after the recent fire that destroyed Carrickfergus Sailing Club.
The combination of state-of-the-art facilities at Carrickfergus Marina and the expertise of staff at Belfast Lough Sailability ensured that the Irish athletes had an exciting and challenging training camp ahead of the Paralympic Games, which take place after the London Olympics later this summer.
Belfast Lough Sailability said their hosting of the team "acknowledges that Carrickfergus is capable of offering access for training at the highest level of sailing competition for the disabled".
The paralympians were also wished great success in their campaign by Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien, who happens to be an Olympic Class sailor and ambassador for Belfast Lough Sailability.
Jim Boyd, chair of Belfast Lough Sailability, said: “I believe that this is only the start, and potentially teams from further afield will be using our combined expertise to train in the best sailing waters in the UK, at a five-anchor marina already strongly committed to supporting disabled sailing.
"In partnership with Carrickfergus Borough Council, Belfast Lough Sailability are now recognised as leaders in sailing for people with disability and together we can go from strength to strength.”
