After the success of the New Years Day Cruise to Carrickfergus, our next cruising event for members is the Easter Cruise around Belfast Lough.

If you are interested please let the Sailing Secretary know by emailing sailingsecretary@ruyc.uk by Saint Patricks Day

From EuroSail News:

Ari and Mikey Celebrates First Finnish IMOCA 

Ari Huusela became the first Finn and Scandinavian in an IMOCA to finish the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre on Friday as he and Irish co-skipper, Michael Ferguson, forced Ariel IIacross the finish line in the Bay of All Saints. There was no mistaking that it was them, because you could see Salvador through their mainsail.

Objection to Planning Application

The Rear Commodore would like to draw the attention of Members to the lodgement by King’s Fellowship of an Amended Planning Application for their site at the junction of Seacliff Road and Ward Avenue.  Unfortunately very little has changed from their original proposal to make it anything like appropriate and acceptable not just for the Club but also for the area as a whole.

Members who sent in letters of objection to the original Application may be assuming that their objection is automatically carried forward and will apply to the Amended Application.  Unfortunately that is not the case and it is necessary to send in a further letter of objection to the Applicant’s new proposal even though little has changed.  It is also open to Members who may not have objected to the original Application to now do so in relation to the Amended Application and they are encouraged to make the effort and do this.  The more objections that are submitted then the greater are the prospects of preventing this completely inappropriate development for the area.  Click Here for suggested content of objection letters

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

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