Girls' Night In

The showing of Mama Mia was very popular, as were the Prosecco and boxes of popcorn.  The Front Bar was filled with happy chattering ladies, indeed, as can be seen from the photograph, there was scarcely room for our two fantastic barmen, AJ and Daniel, to weave their way amongst the tables.  The donation for the ticket for the event included an entry in the raffle and all monies raised (nearly £600) went to the charity CancerFocus NI.  There were numerous requests for a repeat of the format which we hope to do early in the New Year.  Many thanks to all who supported the event.

RUYC member Lori McAleer follows on the Club tradition of long distance sailing. she has just completed Leg 2 of the Clipper Round the World Race. Click on her photo for more details.

Photo: Clipper Race web site

It is hard to believe that we are almost reaching the end of another Club year with the AGM taking place next month on Saturday 23rd November.  As usual, in accordance with Club Rules, a number of vacancies will occur on General Committee and the various Sub-Committees, these need to be filled.  If you have, or you know of another Member who has the time and skills to contribute to the running of the Club, then please speak to one of the Officers.

The Club is heavily dependent for its smooth operation and the organisation of its activities on all those Members who so generously and willingly volunteer their services.  Our sincere thanks are due to them, but the more Members who are involved then obviously the burden is more evenly shared.

Rule 16 (b) of the Club Rules permits any Member, other than a Junior, Outport, or Temporary Associate, to be elected as a member of the General Committee.

Maurice Butler - Rear Commodore

Best of Luck to Ari and Mikey in the Transat Jacques Vabre which starts on Sunday.  Loads of details on the race on the official web site: Transat Jacques Vabre

Our hard-working Battery and Safety Boat crews had a get together over dinner at the Club this week and used the occasion to present their awards.  We couldn't run our racing without these hard working members so a Big Thank You from all of us who race on Thursdays and other events throughout the year.

Wendy McKelvey won the Cannon for Battery Crew and Rory Flannigan won the new Safety Boat Crew award which was presented by Grandpa Roy who was celebrating his 19th year on battery crew.

Click on the pic for more winners!

Following the discovery of a long lost newspaper article, the revival of the Royal lLster versus Royal North Cricket Match took place last Sunday at Holywood Cricket Club.

A great day for the RUYC Golf Society OUting last Friday with many members and guessts plahying 18 holes at Bangor GC and then wimding down at the Club in the evening.

Congratulations to the crew of Upfront the 2019 RS Elite Irish Champions. Jeff Ralston, John Patterson and Robin Flannigan (RUYC & RNIYC).  Pictured with Ruth Kimberley of Charles Hurst Jaguar Land Rover sponsors of the event.  Full results under Results Central section of this web site.

Details of autumn and early winter entertainment are now on the Social section of the web site including three more quiz nights and three Club Night talks.  Please note the Club Nights are now on the first Wednesday of each month.

Club member Mikey Ferguson is heading for another adventure on the high seas.  He will be co-skippering the IMOCA 60 Ariel 2 with Ari Huusela.

Follow the project here: Ari Huusela

Transat Jacques Vabre link

Fantastic achievement by Club member and former Honorary Secretary Tony Weston in partnership with fellow "Donaghadee Chunky Dunker" Martin Strain.

Bangor Town Regatta

Bangor Town Regatta is Northern Ireland’s premier keel boat regatta, set on the shores of Belfast Lough the event offers excellent yacht racing for numerous classes of yacht. Following on from the successful event in 2018, the Bangor Town Regatta events team has begun the process of building upon the previous event.

Click on the photo for more info

A few snippets gleaned from Ed Wheeler's Pictorial History of the Club.

1919 - The Club was attempting to resume a semblance of pre-war activities.  The Minutes show good co-operation with the Ballyholme Sailing Club (not yet Ballyholme Yacht Club) in the matter of starting guns, co-ordination of fixtures etc.  This is Ballyholme YC's Centenary Year - long may the good co-operation contiunue!

Congratulations to Carol Graham who was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours

Congratulations to RUYC & BYC member Aidan Pounder for the award of Volunteer of the Year

Sport NI recently presented Aidan Pounder with the Sport Northern Ireland #SportMaker Award for Volunteer of the Year 2018. 
Aidan commits a huge amount of time voluntarily within sailing in many roles at both Ballyholme Yacht Club and Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Congratulations Aidan! ⛵⛵⛵#SportMaker RYA Northern Ireland

Well done to Barbara and Jim for another full on fun series of quizes.  So good we had to commandeer the Dining Room as the numbers had out grown the Gloucestere Room.  The overall honours came down to a close fight between the Gigglers and The So Wrong We Are Rights with The Almost Young Ones not far behind.  Thanks Jim and Barbara - we are looking forward to the Spring Series.

Click Here for Results

Congratulations to RUYC member Hal Sisk on wining the Concours d'Authenticite - condition and originality with Peggy Bawn his 1896 G.L. Watson designed Gaff Cutter.  The honour was awarded at The third Hamble Classics Regatta hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, over the weekend of 15-16 September.  The Regatta, another stunning success with 75 classic and spirit of tradition yachts entered for two days of racing in sunshine and breeze. Building on the success of the two previous regattas, there were entries from as far afield as Falmouth and Ipswich, with some boats returning for the intense but well-spirited racing and others simply to enjoy the fun. (Source: Scuttlebutt Europe)