Luckily for East Antrim Boat Club the weather for its Christmas Regatta in Larne Lough didn’t live up to the forecast and there was a lot less wind than expected. Despite the constantly shifting breeze the race officer Richard Doig and his team managed to run three races with a lot of mark moving. Windspeeds were up and down a lot keeping everyone sharp on what was a surprisingly mild day with a very high tide.
Ellen Barbour racing an ILCA 6 dinghy at the East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta on Larne Lough
The hotly contested single-handed handicap saw Ellen Barbour from County Antrim YC on Belfast Lough win in a Laser Radial. In the double-handed class, it was sisters Jocelyn and Emily Hill racing a RS 200 who topped the most diverse class made up of Flying Fifteens, RS200s, a GP14 and a RS 400.
Joycelyn and Emily Hill racing an RS200 dinghy at the East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta on Larne Lough
Runner up was the Club President, Curly Morris, crewed by Rachel Stewart in a GP14. In the Junior fleet, George Doig of the host club in an Optimist took the honours. Among the visiting sailors were three from Malahide YC in this fleet; Paidí and Tomas A Choistealbha, and Siun Ni Choistealbha.
Visiting sailors (from left to right) Paidí A Choistealbha, Tomás A Choistealbha, Siún Ní Choistealbha, Freddie Doig, George Doig, Fraser Doig, Mollie McKeown and Connie Wilson at the East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta on Larne Lough
The third-time Commodore, Lucy Whiteford, was delighted with the event's success: “Great racing in tricky conditions but our race officer Richard Doig did a fantastic job to get all three races in. We have been delighted with the support from McWilliam Sailbags, Sailingfast, and Squall Sailing for this event”. She added “ The end of January will see the start of a new initiative ‘Ladies that Launch, ’ which will introduce team racing in our Club. Female sailors of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up”.
Ellen Barbour first in single handed class with her prize of a McWilliam Sailmakers bag at the at the East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta on Larne Lough
