June is a big month for RS Elite events in Northern Ireland, as both the Irish Championships and the UK National Championships will be held in the region.
On the 24th and 25th of June, it’s the turn of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough to host the Irish and then several of that fleet head for Strangford Lough Yacht Club at Whiterock for the UK Nationals on 28th of June till 1st July. Already seven Elites are making the cross-channel journey from England for the Championships.
It will be a busy time for sailors in Belfast Lough as an IRC/RC35 event will run alongside the Elite Championship on the very expansive stretch of water.
Colin Smith (left), Emma and Tom Hewitson, who won the RS Elite Southern Championship at Hayling Island Photo: Alasdair McLeod
Among those making the 18-mile trip from Bangor to Whiterock will be Jane Buchanan’s Belfast Lough based The Love Bug from Royal North, the 2022 Irish champion. The Love Bug also belongs to Strangford Lough YC. Stephen Polly’s Storm from Royal Ulster is a past Irish champion and counts many top-five finishes in the UK Nationals. Tom Hewitson from Hayling Island SC on the south coast of England is a past UK National Champion and recently won the UK Southern Area Championship, and his clubmate, Elliot Caldwell, racing Eclipse, will also compete at both events.
Russell Peters, who narrowly lost last year's UK Nationals to Ossie Stewart, is competing in the SLYC event, which the club hopes will make the 20-entrant mark. Currently, the entry is at 11.
The two-day Irish event is being held on Belfast Lough on the weekend before the UK National championship at nearby Strangford Lough and has nine entries to date. Visitors from outside Northern Ireland will be able to do both competitions by moving their boats to Strangford Lough Yacht Club between events. It has been suggested visitors stay in the Strangford Lough area and that a bus will be provided on Saturday and Sunday so that sailors can enjoy the Royal Ulster hospitality to the full.
The UK National Championship has a full programme of races with plenty for the non-sailor too. Accommodation is being arranged by Irish members, so it is important that visitors register their interest early by contacting the RS Elite Association secretary. Ferry discounts will be available for groups of six or more boats.
Three or four Elites in Northern Ireland are available to charter for both events. It is advised that competitors should bring their own sails, as the sails of these are well-used. But otherwise, they are available and can be towed to RUYC and SLYC, meaning that flying in and out for the events would be easy. Charter fees are advised at £1,000 for the week/both events.
