Strong entry list for the 2013 Cat Sails IOM Ulster Championships

Lough Money will host the Cat Sails IOM Ulster Championships on 2-3 November © Brian O'Neill

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of November will see the second International One Metre Class (IOM) Ulster Championships, incorporating the Celtic Challenge Cup, with a marked increase in expected entries over last year's event.

To date 21 skippers have confirmed they will compete, representing clubs from as far afield as Buchaness and Aberdeen, Howth and Lough Erne. The depth of talent already entered will also ensure last year's winner Pat Johnston of Greenock MY & PBC, has a real task on his hands in returning to defend his title.

The Venue

On the advice of some of last year's more experienced Scottish competing skippers, a new venue for the event has been chosen. The 2013's Championships will be held at Lough Money, a disused reservoir situated just a short distance outside the town of Downpatrick, County Down; and it could prove a challenging venue for even the most experienced of competing skippers.

Lough Money is over a mile long and almost half a mile across at its widest point, and has the luxury of crystal clear waters with a large, weed-free race area.

What could make it a challenge for the competing skippers? The topography. A steep hill, rising to over 100 metres is situated right on the bank of its Western shore in the lower body of the Lough where the race area is sited. Its height, steep gradient and immediate proximity to the shore means this overshadowing hill greatly affects prevailing winds, which predominantly blow from South West to Westerly in direction, although can at times veer into the North West.

It causes prevailing winds to bend sharply around it, resulting in the altered flow taking a roughly North-South or South-North direction along the length of this part of the Lough where the race area is sited.

The effects of this natural phenomenon is to produce a continuously shifting and difficult to read series of disturbed and pulsing flow patterns, which can be particularly prevalent at windward marks and leeward gates if in fact we do have a prevailing wind.

This disturbed flow can also often suffer from significant and unpredictable holes in pressure. Allied to this if prevailing breeze is strong, is the presence of katabatic gusts. These gusts drop like 'wind bombs', often taking skippers totally by surprise. Any of the Scottish or Irish entrants who might have previously raced big boats in the Scottish Series on Loch Fyne should have a fair idea of what to expect. But if the wind gods provide breeze from any other points on the compass, then this disturbed air feature should be absent.

Team Racing

Over the course of the 2 days of racing a team element is included, as competing skippers will also be representing their respective countries in the battle for the Celtic Challenge Cup.

The Social Side: For participants arriving on the Friday evening a social gathering with dinner is planned at www.denvirs.com in the near-by town of Downpatrick. On the Saturday evening and early Sunday afternoon of the event a dinner and prize-giving lunch are also planned at www.paddysbarn.com, close to the venue.

Additional entries

For guidance and advice with accommodation, directions to the venue, and general enquiries for additional entrants, please contact the event secretary via the MYA's Events and On Line entry page, www.mya-uk-members.org.uk/events/event_details.asp?id=1148