Sailing
At RUYC, we have a full programme of racing each year starting with Grange Wine Merchants Spring Series in April, Opening Day at the end of April. Thursdays from May to September are for RBCA Club Points Racing and sailors from RUYC and nearby Ballyholme and Cockle Island Yacht Clubs compete 'Round the Buoys'. The Grange Wine Merchants Autumn Series runs from mid September to the end of October each year. We also have a lively Cruising Section with a number of Cruises in Company thruoghout the year.
We also organise a series of Offshore Races and Coastal Races which this year will be Round the Lough Race, Round the Copelands Race, Ailsa Craig Race (overnight), Strangford Lough Race and Portpatrick Race. The Offshore and Coastal races are supported by Rollins Insurance.
Sailing Programme 2024 - available HERE
2024 RBCA Club Racing Notice of Race HERE
2024 RBCA Club Racing Sailing Instructions HERE
Amendments 2 & 3 to 2024 RBCA Club Racing Sailing Instructions HERE
Amendment No 4 to RBCA CLub Racing Sailing Instructions - HERE
(This changes the starting order of Class 2 IRC/YTC and Whitesailand
ILCA 4/Laser 4.7 & Topper and Large Dinghy (PY < 1200) will start together)
(Please refer to each individual race listed under Sailing Events for Sailing Instructions)
Northern Ireland Offshore Points Series and Coastal Series are supported by Rollins Insurance
IRC Northern Ireland Championship
We are excited to be hosting the first IRC Northern Ireland Championship in July 2025. Belfast Lough is well known as a great racing area and our Club is also well know for warm and lively hospitality. The award winning Bangor Marina in the heart of the city will be home to competitors for the event.
Click on the IRC logo for an exciting update
1720 Northern Championship
We welcome the 1720 Sportsboat fleet back to Belfast Lough in September after too long an absence. If you don't already race a 1720 there's plenty of time to beg, borrow or charter one for the event.
List of Race Officers for 2024 - HERE
The Sailing Secretary will communicate with each Race Officer in good time before their duty but it is vital that you advise her in good time if you are unable to be there on a particular date or if you have swaped with someone else on the list.
Find our latest racing results online at: RUYC Results Central
Belfast Lough Yacht Conference has a new website - link HERE
Please visit the site and check that your boat is listed as, if it is not, you will need to advise each club of the boat details in advance of a regatta or you will not be recorded at any regattas you compete in. Sail Number, Boat Name, Home Club, Any Handicap Numbers and the class competing in. Also note that there will be a new, shortened Starting Sequence used for Lough Regattas this year.
Handicap Systems
Our Cruiser/Racing classes are sailed throughout the season under IRC and YTC handicap systems.
RYA YTC Handicap System - New
The RYA YTC powered by the RORC Rating Office is a free rating system to promote participation in racing cruiser-racing. The system was taken on by the RYA in 2022 after a decade of it being run in the south west by its creators (swytc) with the objective to provide a simple rating assessment so that skippers of any skill level may feel encouraged to race their boats in one off races, club series or even port regattas.
For more detail head to the RYA web site: click here
For IRC rating and certificate information contact the RORC - here or speak to one of the RUYC racing owners
RORC Offshore Special Regulations
Informatioan being updated - checkback for new categories and regulations