Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships 2025 at Carrickfergus Sailing Club

Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships at Carrickfergus © Ritchie Kenny

The weekend of 24th - 25th May saw the Inaugural Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships hosted by Carrickfergus Sailing Club. Saturday morning started an overcast day with the wind 15 kts gusting into the late teens/early twenties.

The Ruffian fleet at Carrickfergus has seen a bit of a resurgence with two new additions to the fleet, the Lewis & Foster families' Icicle, a new acquisition, and Carageen, a Carrickfergus stalwart returning under new ownership with both boats only having sailed a few club races prior, boosting the entry list to ten boats. Saturday morning saw the pontoons a hive of activity due lots of pre-race fettling with final checks, spinnakers being repacked etc.

Race Officer David Hill, got the racing under way at 11.00am, with a Windward /Leeward course set in the stiffening breeze. All boats got off to a clean start with Hot Orange leading the way to the windward mark closely followed by Icicle, Carrageen then Druid. Downwind saw the positions remain the same with the rear boats catching the leaders.

Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships at Carrickfergus - photo © Ritchie Kenny

The second beat saw the fleet split with several boats choosing the shore side of the course where the wind was lighter however, the was a bit of a lift. By the time the boats arrived at the top mark it transpired that the lift was negated by the additional breeze and it was pretty even.

Hot Orange had extended their lead by several boat lengths and the rest of the fleet remined tightly packed, jostling for position. The race ended with a finishing order of Hot Orange, Icicle, Carageen, Druid, Rascal, Daisy, Coyote and Mjollnir.

Race two was quickly under way and with a well-behaved fleet it was another clear start. The order at the top mark was again Hot Orange followed by Carrageen, Icicle, Druid, Mjollnir, Rascal, Daisy then Coyote. Positions more or less remained steady. A mis-timed spinnaker drop onboard Carrageen allowed Icicle and Druid to slip through at the penultimate mark.

Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships at Carrickfergus - photo © Ritchie Kenny

Meanwhile aboard Rascal, the crew were busy having suffered a spinnaker faux pas resulting in a spectacular broach which unfortunately cost them two places.

Race three was another good start and the front of the fleet stayed true to form with Hot Orange out in front and the rest of the fleet fighting for positions as in the previous races.

Unfortunately, on the Sunday morning due to poor weather conditions and a forecast of building breeze, an early call was made and racing cancelled. With typical Carrickfergus Sailing Club hospitality, tea and coffee was quickly at hand for all the competitors with prize-giving set for 15:30 that afternoon.

Hot Orange were the clear winners of the Gold Fleet with three solid firsts. Racing was tight further back with only a point separating 2nd,3rdand 4th positions respectively. The Silver Fleet was won by Rascal.

Many thanks to the Race Committee and all the competitors. We hope to see everyone back next year!

Ruffian 23 Ulster Championships at Carrickfergus - photo © Ritchie Kenny

Overall Results: