Elite foiling sailors will take on one of the region’s toughest maritime challenges this August as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Records title for the fastest crossing of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Ballyholme Yacht Club sailors will welcome some of the UK’s leading Nacra foiling teams this August as they attempt to break the North Channel sailing record between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Three elite Nacra teams - Kevin Dutch & Dave Banner, Mark Sewell & Will Smith, and Chris King & Marcus King - will travel from the UK to Ballyholme Yacht Club ahead of a record attempt from Ballyholme to Portpatrick, Scotland, planned for 7–9 August (weather and conditions permitting).

The current record stands at 1 hour, 30 minutes and 41 seconds, set by Team GB Olympic silver medallists, World and European Champions John Gimson and Anna Burnett in the Olympic foiling Nacra 17. Gimson and Burnett’s record-breaking crossing was set in 2023. The duo were supported on their challenge by Belfast-based Artemis Technologies accompanied on route by Pioneer of Belfast, the world’s first 100% electric commercially viable foiling vessel.

The latest challenge will see the teams take on one of the most demanding stretches of water in the region. The North Channel presents significant challenges, with powerful tidal influences on both sides of the crossing creating steep waves, unpredictable conditions and a test of both speed and boat handling.

The teams will race aboard the high-performance Nacra 20 Carbon, a foiling catamaran capable of exceeding speeds of 25 knots. Maintaining control at these speeds across the challenging waters between Northern Ireland and Scotland will make any successful record attempt a significant achievement.

If successful, the sailors hope their time will be recognised by the Guinness World Records.

​

Ballyholme Yacht Club's McNicholl and Swanston claimed the Irish Multihull Association Eastern Championships title after a closely fought weekend at Swords Sailing and Boating Club.
The championship, held on 13 and 14 June, attracted competitors from Galway Bay Sailing Club, Ballyholme Yacht Club, Blessington Sailing Club and the host club on the Broadmeadows Estuary. Sponsored by Caterbox and Biddulph Refrigeration, the event featured seven races across two days in contrasting conditions.

Race Officer Declan O'Brien and his team set a windward-leeward course with a spreader mark and gate, providing challenging racing for both Class 1 and Class 2 fleets. Strong westerly winds gusting above 20 knots greeted sailors on Saturday.

SSBC's Trojanowski and Dorenbusch won the opening two races aboard their F18, with McNicholl and Swanston finishing second on both occasions. The Ballyholme crew responded in Race 3 and Race 4, taking back-to-back victories to move into the overnight lead.

Galway Bay's Lemonier and Mathieu remained firmly in contention throughout the day, consistently finishing among the leaders. Several crews were caught out by demanding conditions, with several capsizes recorded around the course. After four races and one discard, McNicholl and Swanston led overnight on four points, ahead of Trojanowski and Dorenbusch on five points and Lemonier and Mathieu on eight.

​Wednesday 14th. November 2023
7.00 pm
Zoom Meeting Link (limited to 40 minutes)
Richard Swanston is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: IMA - AGM
Time: Tuesday Nov 14th. 2023 19:00
Join Zoom Meeting : https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78496317942?pwd=bSI6bNAZOO10QGUthbzOhJH6DSUemS.1
Meeting ID: 784 9631 7942
Passcode:    e1bLEE
Aim is to complete in 30 mins to 40 mins.
1/ Treasurers  Report / accounts attached
Unpaid Affiliation fees.
2/ Possible events.  Dates to be decided
How many home events possible 4 no. ????
Travelling numbers ???
Ballyholme Yacht Club                    May         -   6 x Sprint races Saturday / 3 Races Sunday
Rational.
a/ Good practice for those going to the worldF18 Champs.
b/ Keeping boats close together during racing and starts
c/ Junior and senior development
Swords Sailing Club                                          -   Easterns Championships
Galway Bay Sailing Club                                   -  Nationals
Suggest August to gain entry to ISA Champions Trophy ??
Blessington S.C.                                                 -  Inlands
Cong to Galway Race                                        - Galway
Costa Brava       World F18 Championships   - 28th June – 5th. July
World F18  in Spain Championships  to coordinate dates
https://www.f18-international.org/2024-worlds-to-be-sailed-in-la-ballena-alegre-costa-brava/
3/ Election of Officers
Proposed Chair : Matt Mc.Nichol
4/ Ideas for the future
New blood into fleet / Juniors
Sprint event
Open days for try a sail CLUBS TO ARRANGE
For sale lists  
Invite 29ers Class to share any / All events ?
Join in with Wazsps / 29ers  / Fireballs / 505 or other to foster development and increase value to host clubs.
Dart 16 fleet
Age handicap to try to get old spec. boats racing
4/ AOB
Please send ideas asap to me : r.swannie59@gmail.com

 Last weekend, September 12th-13th the Carlingford Sailing Club hosted the Irish Open Multihull Championships 2015. Sailors arrived on Friday night to 40 knot winds and driving rain not deterred at all they set up tents! After a few hours the tents had been trashed, so several competitors had to take to the race office shed…. a very cosy welcome to Ireland. Simon Flack was over to defend his title won last year at Lough Neagh, sailing this year with multi-Irish champion crew Barry Swanston. A wrap up by Richard Swanston.
The open fleet format with all types of catamarans from a catapult to an F18 rated under SCHRS and racing an equal number of windward – leeward and triangular courses (to balance performance strengths) was used with all boats starting off the same start line. Classes were also subdivided into C1 and C2 fleets for individual fleet prizes. Saturdays forecast was gloomy to say the least. Rain and 25 knot baseline gusting to 40 knots from the S.W. To this, add the infamous Carlingford Kettles roaring off the top of the hills at all angles ripping up mini tornadoes of water that march and meander across the Lough ….not to be missed!! After much head scratching and nervous looks to the broken water in the lough and vicious squalls rolling down off the hills, it was decided (after a postponement) to ‘ give it a rattle sure’! We were treated to an unexpected two races in variable but safe conditions.

The white sail boats had close racing between Dermott Mangan (dad) in his amazing Catapult and Neil Mangan (son) with Simon Griffin as crew on their Dart16. Both gaining excellent overall placing under S.C.H.R.S. They may have done even better with a longer second leg to the gybe mark improving the angle between the marks. So overall went to Simon Flack and Barry Swanston by one point. Great racing! C2 fleet was won by Neil Mangan from the evergreen Dermot Mangan. Travellers Trophy was won by Wyatt.

​The 2015 Multihull Eastern championships took place at Swords Sailing & Boating Club - swordssailing.ie on 29th and 30th of August with a turn out of 18 boats . 
The fleet had 7 different classes, F18, Hurricane 5.9, Dart16 Dart18, Spitfire, Catapult and A class sailing .
Richard Swanston and Jenni Britton Ballyholme Yacht Club win the championship. Well done guys !

​