We are delighted to announce that the times for dining in the club will be extended from Wednesday 5th August, to not only re-introduce our ever-popular Saturday Brunch and Lunch service but opening on a Wednesday to allow our members to take advantage of the "Eat Out to Help Out Scheme"

With the ever changing Government Covid-19 guidelines we appreciate that it has been difficult to keep up with the rules as we continue to relax them where possible.

To help members stay informed please find a simple list of the current Club guidelines.

The Back to Business Committee is continuing to meet regularly in an effort to get the club running as normally, but also as safely as possible.

Royal Ulster Yacht Club members John and Sally McKee were recently involved in the resuce of a cruiser on the River Shannon 

Members’ Guidance on the Re-opening of the Club
 
As members will be aware from previous announcements, we are hoping to reopen the Club bar and dining room on 3^rd July. 

Please find below the latest information from RYA Northern Ireland.

"The NI Health Minister last night (19th May) signed the amendment to Coronavirus Restrictions permitting Outdoor Activity from today.
 
We continue to seek clarification from the Government Approach to Decision Making announcement, specifically with terms of ‘some water activity’.   In the absence of any further guidance from Government Departments, our current interpretation is that this does permit all forms of boating activity (sailing, windsurfing, powerboating etc) but only when safely:

• undertaken by individuals or members of the same household;
• there is no sharing of hard surfaces (including all types of boat);
• public health guidance is followed at all times;
• strict social distancing can be undertaken.

The RYA have now outlined the 'guiding principals' that will shape its detailed response to the Governments plans for easing restrictions.

In compliance with Government legislation, due to the ongoing Covid 19 situation, the clubhouse is currently closed to all members and visitors.

Our Club Manager is still available and can be contacted by email.

The situation is under constant review and we will be in contact with all members as soon as there is any change to the situation..  

To keep up with Club news, please make sure you have signed up to our Telltales newsletter.  If you are not currently receiving this and you wish to, please contact Nicole.

A new lunch menu is now available from 26 February 2020.

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!

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.

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

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)

At the end of the fifties and at the beginning of the sixties my brother Colin was a member of the RUYC. He got an opportunity to acquire a good racing yacht - the West Solent Class, 'Suvretta' This is the story of her acquisition and repair.

The offshore scene was thriving in those days - just before the glassfibre revolution, and many of the boats were converted inshore racers, and others the epitome of offshore racers - boats like Ceara, Maid of York, Capella of Kent etc.

Full article by Ivan and Collin Nelson - click here (pdf file)

We are very pleased to announce that this season's Guinness PRO14 Rugby will be shown in the Back Bar from Friday 31st August onwards. Please see attached a copy of the fixtures list for dates. times and teams.

All 152 Matches televised will be available to view along with some other sports; International Champions Cup (Football) Europe League (Football) NASCAR, GAA & Ice Hockey etc.

Bangor Town Regatta – a note from the Rear Commodore

The big event of my tenure as RC has come and gone in what seems like a flash. The months of planning by the BTR Committee under the chairmanship of Jim Coffey resulted in a highly successful Regatta with an excellent turnout of keel boats and also of RS 200s and RS 400s for their Irish Nationals, held as part of the BTR. Seen from my vantage point on Witchcraft in NHC Restricted, the four days of racing were keenly contested in all classes. The Waverley World Championships also took place during the Regatta.

Click Here for full article

Andrew Gallagher of AquaVentus photography was out on the water all over Bangor Town Regatta taking some great shots of the racing on both Cruiser and RS Championship courses.  You can purchase your favourite photo of you and the crew on the course at www.aquaventus.co.uk