BYC youth Laser Radial sailor Sophie Murphy is currently in Singapore at the Youth Olympic Games. Sophie is representing Ireland in A Byte C11 sailing as part of the Irish Olympic team and starts racing on 17 August. The Irish team consists of 20 members in total, comprising of 2 boxers, 2 runners, 1 tennis player, 1 triathlon and a hockey team.

The Irish Optimist fleet headed home on Sunday evening after an exhausting, but exhilarating weekends racing at Ballyholme Yacht Club. Over 100 sailors had travelled to BYC for the AGNEW AUTOEXCHANGE Ulster Optimist Championships. Their previous two events had been sailed in less than five knots, so the 25 knot breeze fulfilled their wildest dreams. Race Officer Robin Gray set perfect courses for the main fleet and six races were sailed over the two days. The Regatta fleet sailed around much smaller courses in the Bay and surprised themselves at how well they coped with the force4/5 winds!

Watch out at Ballyholme Yacht Club this weekend – the Club is being descended upon by over 150 young Optimist sailors! They were in BYC last year for their Ulster Championships and enjoyed it so much they are back for mor fun in Sea Bangor.

Report by Paul Prentice

The Irish Sigma Nationals were held in Dublin Bay and hosted by RSGYC from the 11th -13th June. Our thanks to RSGYC and particular Paddy Maguire for all his efforts in this year's championship. Tim Goodbody proved again that boat speed is only one factor in winning a 10 race championship, White Mischief's excellent final day performance clinched another Irish Championship win in a very competitive 13 boat fleet.

Last weekend was another busy weekend for travelling boats with the RS Elites and SB3s travelling to Royal North, the Sigma 33s in Dublin and the Catamarans in Galway. BYC members were crewing many of the top boats and there were also many others who took the time and travelled, but didn’t bring the silverware home.

YACHTSMEN and women will be travelling from all over Ireland to attend an event at Donaghadee Sailing Club later this month.

The GP14 60th Anniversary Ulster Championship and Masters event is being held at the Co Down club. The weekend event is the first major competition being hosted by DSC since its new £1m clubhouse was officially opened last summer.

This time of year is the infamous ‘Scottish Series’ for keelboats in Tarbert, Loch Fyne. Fewer boats than normal travelled up to Scotland this year with BYC Club members having success in the RS Elite class.

Brian Shaw of Carrickfergus was ably crewed by Robin Flannigan and Sally Watson and they were disappointed to finish second overall, not quite managing to catch the Olympian Shirley Robertson.

The girls in FALLEN ANGEL finished third overall – congratulations to Fiona Hicks, Carol Graham and Lee Stevenson.

Scottish series results available at http://www.scottishseries.com/results

Down in Dublin at the IRC Nationals, Catherine Gunning and Andrew Gallagher, both Outport members of BYC, were sailing on a Class 2 Cork boat and finished second overall, narrowly missing first with a kite wrap on the last race!

Submitted by Elaine Taylor BYC

Ballyholme's Seaton wins Ulster Laser sailing championships Clubmate Tiffany Brien scoops Ladies National championships Report by Damian Connan

Stephen Milne teamed up last week with Peter O’Leary for the Bacardi Miami Sailing Week in the Olympic Star class. They sailed exceptionally well in the last race when high winds decimated the fleet. Read on to see all the ‘big’ names they beat!

Icebreaker sailing at Ballyholme on Sunday was certainly warmer than the previous week, but it was still cold enough for Bill O’Hara to wear a hat! The sunshine made it almost pleasant and there was a great turnout in all four fleets for the Norfolklines Icebreaker Series. Added to that were the dozen boats belonging to the young RYA Topper Squad who were racing in the middle of the Bay.

There is the chance to sail in The Tall Ships Race and also the North Sea Regatta this summer. They are looking for Irish young people aged 18-25 to crew these boats in the summer. They can join each leg. There are several vessels so there are enough opportunities. They also have vessels where people from 26 years to 80 years can join!

If you are interested, please contact janine@seasailtraining.com.

More information can also be found on http://www.atseasailtraining.com/178/203/international-exchanges-.html and also on http://www.atseasailtraining.com/178/207/tall-ships'-races-2010.html.

Matt McGovern (BYC) who is currently campaigning the 49er with Ryan Seaton is flying high and fast in Sydney at the Australian 18ft Skiff Championships. He is crewing with other 49er sailors, Andy Budgen and James Barker on Project Racing. Check out their results on www.18footers.com.au or www.flying18s.com.

Submitted by Elaine Taylor (BYC)

Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern have attained an excellent 3rd place in the Australian 49er National Championships. The racing was over four days and the boys were consistent, in 4th place up until day four, when they sailed two excellent races and gained a place to finish in the top three.

At an awards evening a few weeks ago, the Ocean Youth Trust, Ireland awarded Bill O’Hara the ‘International Maritime Award’ for his success in helping to bring International Sailing acclaim to Ireland through his work as an international race official, most recently as race director for the Volvo Ocean Race.

Elaine Taylor BYC

Once again the Norfolklines Icebreaker Series has taken off with a fantastic turnout of dinghies. The Laser fleet sports the top names on the Irish circuit battling it out for top slot amongst Olympians – both past, present and aspiring. Here’s Roaring Forties Flannigan’s great report –