Intense competition unfolds at the RS Northern Championships as sailors engage in robust sailing contests amidst challenging weather conditions
Hop aboard as we take a dive into the thrilling racing action at the RS Northern Championships, held at the Strangford Lough Yacht Club in County Down. This event, scheduled for May 17-18, saw some nail-biting competition across the RS Aero, RS 200, and RS 400 classes.
With a grand total of 33 entries, racers from far and wide across Ireland flocked to this event, making it a significant start to the 2025 season, especially for the RS 200 and RS 400 classes – recognized as NI Sailing Team classes. Despite the tricky light winds, Race Officer Aidan Pounder and his crew managed to successfully complete four races for all classes over the two-day race.
In the RS 400 class, 2021 and 2024 Olympian, Rob Dickson, joined forces with his crew, Michael Ferguson, to secure the top spot. Hot on their heels were duos Gareth Flannigan and Knox Wilson from Ballyholme Yacht Club and Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan from Royal North of Ireland. We also saw Erin McIlwaine from Newcastle Yacht Club finish as First Lady and 5 overall alongside her helm, Luke McIlwaine.
The RS 200 class showed no signs of slowing down, with East Down Yacht Club's Jakob Ozarek claiming overall victory alongside his crew and First Lady, Emma Pierce. The second place was a tight battle between Emma and Frank O'Rourke; Emma unfortunately lost out on the overall victory on countback. East Antrim Boat Club's Joshua Kane and Charlie Patterson secured the third spot overall.
Interestingly, the RS Aero fleet encourages sailors of varying sizes to participate, utilizing the 'RS Aero 6', 'RS Aero 7', and 'RS Aero 9' rigs. Using a handicap system, results were determined, with Howth Yacht Club's Daragh Sheridan taking home the win. The struggle for second place was another close call, with Noel Butler losing out only due to countback. Sarah Dwyer from the Royal St. George Yacht Club finished third overall and as First Lady.
Data suggests that the 2025 RS400 Eurocup and UK/Irish Nationals might take place on Belfast Lough in August 2025, but further details are yet to be announced. To stay informed on any updates and to register for the event, feel free to visit the official RS Sailing or RS400 class association websites or reach out to them directly.
Following the event, SLYC Vice-Commodore, John Gilmore, expressed his delight at hosting the RS Northerns. He believed that promoting adult dinghy sailing is crucial for fostering a pathway for lifetime participation in the sport. The RS fleet is expected to return to the club soon, and sailors are looking forward to it!
As always, the success of events like these relies heavily on volunteers giving up their time to make it a memorable experience for racers. A big shoutout goes to Aidan Pounder and his race management team from Ballyholme Yacht Club for their phenomenal work on the water.
It's an exciting time for double-handed sailing across the Emerald Isle. Keep an eye on closely contested events such as this, as they're a positive influence on the sport's growth overall. Till next time, fair winds and smooth sailing!
[1] SLYC: Strangford Lough Yacht Club[2] Eurocup, British Nationals, and Irish Nationals: to take place at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in August 2025 (exact dates TBC)[3] RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour: active in 2025 with events at Carsington Sailing Club and others, but these events are separate from the Eurocup and Irish Nationals.
Engage in some exhilarating sports as we delve into the world of dinghy sailing races, specifically the RS Championships, where sailors compete in classes like the RS 200 and RS 400, recognized as NI Sailing Team classes. On a sunny weekend in May, racers embarked on sailing adventures in the dinghy, racing against one another in the Northern Waves.
