At what proved to be the end of a three-week spell of light weather, Royal Ulster Yacht Club’s Rollins Insurance supported traditional offshore Ailsa Craig race started at 8 pm on Friday, 16th June.
The fleet of seven wound its way 40 miles north to the Craig off the coast of the Mull of Galloway and back to the finish line at the Club.
The diverse fleet ranged from Alan Hannon’s new French-designed JPK 1030 Coquine to the more modest Elandra, Vicky and Martin Dews’ Sigma 33.
And it was Elandra that managed to stay in touch with the bigger boats all night and finished as the sun set on Belfast Lough with the IMX38 Excession (O’Tiarnaigh, Mullholland and Harrington).
Elandra (right) and Excession finish Ailsa Craig race. Photo courtesy RUYC via Facebook
On handicap, it was Elandra top and the distinctive Coquine second. The defending winner Gareth Martel’s Beneteau 40.7 Pippa VI was third. Three retired.
As boats in Class 1 finished within the 22.00 Time Limit, there was an extension of one hour for other boats in the class. It seemed that the wind delivered a cruel twist as the boats appeared to have been headed away from the finish as they crossed the Lough.
Results below
