Lough Foyle Yacht Club

Well folks: here it is the 2022 LFYC Sailing Schedule. It is time to check the shackles and get rigged.

We are starting next saturday (02/04/22) at 17:00. Hoping to see you all there.

This is draft 1 of the schedule, it is flexible and can be adjusted as we go along. Please shout out if you know if things that should be changed or added in.

There is plenty happening, lots of sailing and a few items which still need to be finalised. Any changes amendments will be posted here and on the whats app group.

GG and his Solo

Lough Foyle Yacht Club

2021 Sailing Program

Frostbite series details here

Races start on time: The time of the race start indicated is the time of the five minute gun. It is up to sailors and crew to be on the water and in the proximity of start line. The OD (depends who it is, take your chances) will (probably) not wait!

Rescue Coxwain: Liam Harrigan (unless stated)
OD: Peter Fallon Snr (unless stated)
2020 Race reports (archive)
2019 Race reports (archive)
2018 Race reports (archive)
2017 Race reports (archive)
2016 Race reports (archive)
2015 Race reports (archive)
2014 Race reports (archive)
2013 Race reports (archive)
2012 Race reports (archive),
2011 Race reports (archive),
2010 Race reports (archive)

Racing Sat 30/10/21

Great racing, Congratulations to Keith and Mateo L who won the series. Ken and Davy exchanged 1 + 2 place today in races 1 and 2 with Keith and Mateo. Tight racing all round. Hot toddy today. Aidan O D kindly provided a bottle of Cork Whiskey which went down well (even though it was from Cork).

Racing Sat 16/10/21

Light winds today, we managed just one race. 3 boats retired …it was a bit of a drifter tbh. The main challenge was to cross the bay from the power station. Keith and Mateo managed that well, everyone else struggled with big time gaps between boats who completed the course.

Racing Sat 09/10/21

Great to see Ciaran and Eva M out sailing and going well. Keith and Mateo L uncatchable today.

Frostbite Racing 06/11/12

Blown out (storm conditions)

Frostbite Racing 13/11/12

Very light winds. Race 3 abandoned. Today it was all about getting round the mark at the power station in a very light wind pocket.

Frostbite Racing 20/11/12

Winds variable from very light to F4. Very strong tides. Starting 200m down the shore towards Gilmores to try to keep out of the tide at the start. Gilmores, the green man, power station. The trip from the power station to the finish line was hard to judge because of the strong tides. Kevin T capsized  in race 2 at the power station mark gibing from the dead run to the beat. He recovered well and continued racing.

Frostbite Racing 27/11/12

Very windy today at back end of storm Arwen. Anton H got caught in irons and went over at the beginning of race 2 and Aidan O D went over around the same time on the run. Both recovered well and continued racing. A reminder that you are only in the boat until the wind decides to blow hard enough. Race 3 today was cancelled as the wind really picked up. Todays racing concludes sailing in Culmore for 2021. Congratulations to Aidan O D who wins the Frostbite series. Many thanks to Big Pete for OD and Liam H for Rescue cover and to Ken L for deputy OD. Thanks also to Maureen L for all the scones. They are truly appreciated. Thank you to all the sailors, see you in 2022.

Notice of Race Series

LFYC Frostbite 2021

Every Sat in November (5, 12, 19,26)

Racing starts each Saturday at 12.00pm, Culmore Point

Racing will be short courses with a 2 minute, 1 minute and go, gun. Depending on conditions, 1, 2 or 3 races will be held per day. All sailing decisions final by OD.

All boats welcome. (Ideal for Lasers, Solo, Phantom)

Entry fee: £20 for LFYC members, £40 non members.

Tea and coffee and biscuits and tall tales afterwards in the cabin.

Time to shake out that old Laser and drysuit and face the elements

Culmore Regatta 2021

As the Pandemic receeded the Culmore Regatta regained some its familiar hospitality.  The tent was back up and the soup and sandwiches refreshed tired and cold sailors. Many thanks to all those who catered with special mention to Fiona and Tracey and Joy. The soup was really good and it is no slight on it to say that it was the best thing going because the weather washed out the event in all honesty. Still, spirits were high. There was  a good punt race on the Friday night with a win for Sail No. 14. In torrential rain and light winds the McGuinneses managed to establish a lead in the punt race on Saturday. They made it around the weather mark and all other boats struggled to make that point with just James Lynch and team managing to finish second. Congratulations to John and Donal McG and their long time sailing buddy, the irrepressible Joe Kelly.

On a sad note this year is the first year that the Culmore Regatta has gone by without George Coyle, RIP.

The Gallaghers, going well on Friday night. (Thanks to Kieran Doran for the photo)

Racing 02/10/21

Well done to Keith and Mateo L for the series win. Bill J and crew (Keith’s son) and Anton H and Joy W exchanged 3 and 4 positions and had a good day of racing. Ken and Davy L and Keith and Mateo L exchanged 1+2 places in tight racing.

Racing Thur 26/08/21

The last of the midweek sailing for 2021 today. Perch start, Conniborrow, Faughan, Leonards. Anton and Joy managed a nice traverse of the bay in strong tides in race two to make the Faughan gibe mark in one go – but could not catch Keith and Mateo L.

Racing Tue 24/08/21

Keith and Mateo sailing very well. Anton and Joy and ken and Davy enjoying a good racing evening in light winds and strong tides.

Racing 10/08/21

Welcome to Series H. Very light winds today. Two boats retired after race one.  Ken and Meteo and Ken and Davy managed both races.

Racing Sat 18/09/21

Keith and Mateo L sailing very well. there was no catching them! That concludes Series G. Congratulations to Ken and Davy L who win the series.

Racing Sat 04/09/21

Faughan, Conniborrow, Leonards. x 2 for race 1. yellow outfall mark, Conniborrow, Leonards and to the line for race 2. Race tow course was changed by the OD to keep boats out of the channel to allow a big coal ship to pass. When the races started many boats raised spinnakers on a close reach across to the Faughan or Yellow outfall marks. Great to see David T and Son out sailing.

Racing Sat 25/08/21

Racing in Culmore bay. Light variable winds sometimes with little gusts to F3/4.

Racing Sat 07/08/21

Today was the beginning of Series G. The course was Start from the slipway and the cranes on the docks leave a mark near the moored boats to port then head to Gilmores then Harts. Anton H forgot about the first mark in race one but managed not to loose out too badly. In race two the start was close and in all the excitement Anton H forgot about the mark again. He retired because he also caused some injustice to another boat. Doh and double doh! Other than that it was nice day for sailing with County Cork scoring two nice wins.

Racing 10/07/21

Ken and Davy L and Keith and Meteo L in close racing with 6 seconds between them in race 2

Racing 17/07/21

Bill J and Barry McN moving steadily upward as a sailing team

Racing 24/07/21

Very light winds with Azores high parked over Ireland. Anton H and Kevin T, sailing Lasers were both happily making their way across the bay in a good breeze toward the Faughan mark when the wind suddenly dropped to nothing and they both got swept away by the strong tide. Race two did start but was abandoned mid race.

Racing 31/07/21

First and second exchanged places in race 1 and two. Third and Forth also exchanged places in race 1 and two. A good day out with close racing everywhere. Less than two minutes between all boats in race two.

Tues 06/07/21

Racing cancelled – no wind.

Thurs 08/07/21

Keith and Mateo L going very well. Anto H sailing today in his Laser.

Thurs 13/07/21

Racing cancelled – no wind.

Thurs 05/08/21

Sailing in Culmore Bay in light winds. Bill J and Barry McN going very well in Race Two. Tonight also concludes Series E. Congratulations to Ken and Davy L who win Series E 2021.

This series is timed to co-ordinate with the GP Ireland series to allow for boats to travel to the events while still giving a good series for those who stay in the club.

Racing Sat 23/10/21.

Very windy. Survival racing today. Kevin T managed the laser very well and almost took off on the reach. Harts, Gilmores and Power station X 2 in 24 mins. Congratulations to ken and Davy L who win the series.

Racing Sat 21/09/21.

Sailing in Culmore bay today. Anton H and Joy W had some technical trouble with the boat (centre board stuck) and had to retire. Repairs are underway and hopefully they will be back on the water next week. Anton H sailed the second race in his Laser. Well done to Ken and Davy L who won both races. Nice to see Barry and Emmet McN sailing today.

Racing Sat 11/09/21.

Sailing today in Culmore Bay, light winds building to F3 sometimes. In race one there was an incident at the power station mark and in the ODs report notes “Awww Sweet Jesus” was written. This being unusual, I wondered how to convert an ASJ into racing points? I rang the ISA in Dublin. After initial discussion about a possible OCS or a DNC, a very helpful guy there recognised the ASJ. He said, in all fairness, it was probably the same as a DSQ. But, he said, not to worry about it he had seen far worse in his time. He had seen a good few JM+Js and even some FFS’s. So, in conclusion Anton H and Joy W are ASJ/DSQ for going around the mark the wrong way. Congratulations to Ken and Davy L who won the race. Bill J was going very well in the Laser won Race 2. David T and Son were sailing very well with the younger Mr T proving himself an excellent helm. Great to see George G out in his Catamaran. Many thanks to Liam H and Big Pete for Rescue and OD.

Racing Sat 14/08/21.

Sailing in Culmore bay today. Great to see Ciaran M and Eva M out sailing today and going well. Ken L and Anton H teamed up to get a sailing in the face of missing crew.

Racing Sat 03/07/21

Well done to Ken and Davy L with two wins today.

Racing Sat 19/06/21

Close racing between Ken and Davy L and Anton H and Joy W today with Kevin T and Barry McN in pursuit. Anton H and Joy W put in the concentration to win race 2.