royal ulster yacht

Royal Ulster Yacht Club

The first yacht club established on Belfast Lough was, as already stated in these pages, the Royal Northern. That club, as we have seen, after forming a branch on the Clyde, developed into a Clyde club—at any rate, the Clyde section seceded from the original one, and settled at Rothesay. The Royal Ulster, the senior club in the Lough at the present time, was founded in the year 1866. The club soon came into prominence, and its regattas for many years have been visited by the big-class racing yachts which do the round of the principal coast fixtures. Before the season became as crowded as it now is with regattas, vessels were in the habit of crossing to Belfast Lough from the Clyde immediately after the ‘fortnight.’

The clubhouse is situated about a mile out from Bangor on the south side of the Lough. For a time an ordinary dwelling-house served the purpose of club quarters, but as the organization flourished and increased in prosperity, larger premises became necessary, and the present handsome club-house was built. It stands on an eminence, whence a magnificent view of the Lough can be obtained. The yachts taking part in the races are never out of sight, while by making an ascent to the tower one looks down on the Lough as on to a chess-board, and every move of the competing vessels can be watched, and oftentimes anticipated. From this elevation one can see new breezes coming into the Lough, or perhaps can see that a certain boat, unless she puts about very soon, will be right out of the breeze she has been holding. In other words, from this coign of vantage one can often see what is about to happen before those aboard the yachts themselves.

The club came into great prominence in connection with the more recent America Cup matches, as it was through the Royal Ulster that Sir Thomas Lipton sent his challenges on three different occasions to the New York Yacht Club, and the representative committee on this side was formed of members of this club.

Belfast Lough has often been referred to as the cradle of the one-design classes, and this form of racing has certainly taken root and flourished in the district. There are several different classes, and the club provides a very full programme of races during the season for the local boats. The competition among the local craft is very keen. The boats in the biggest class are excellent little craft. There is a class of nearly the same dimensions in Dublin Bay, and a feature of the annual regattas is the meeting of representatives of these two classes, between which there is the keenest rivalry.

The club-house is an excellently arranged building, and, in, addition to all the ordinary requirements of a club, contains a number of bedrooms on the top story, which are in great demand at regatta times for members coming from a distance. On the landing of the principal staircase there is an interesting relic of a memorable accident, in the tiller of the ill-fated  Valkyrie II ., which was sunk on the Clyde. There is an inscription on it as follows: ‘Tiller of  Valkyrie II . Presented to the R.U.Y.C. by D. C. Kemp. At the start of the race for the Muir Memorial Challenge Cup, Mudhook Regatta, Hunter’s Quay, N.B., on 5th July, 1894, the  Valkyrie II  was sunk after being in collision with the  Satanita .

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Boats for sale

Rolex Big Boat Series Plan has been Released

The registration for 55th annual series of Rolex Big Boat has started. The series will be raced on San Francisco Bay and it will be done between 12-15th of September 2019. The series is the best called for breeze-on sailing, ideal venue, and the opportunity to be the winner of ROPSC, which is Swiss-made.

Any of the boat class that will have six entries by 1st of August 2019, will get their personal One Design start. On the other hand , the class One Design that couldn’t reach this important mass will be taken to the race in the  ORR classes of the regatta, along with the mono-hulls that have more than 35’ LOA with a present full or partial measured ORR certificate .

The J/70s boats have now been invited with least 15 boats that have been registered by the 1st of August 2019.

ROPSC sailing Susan Ruhne

• March 1, 2019
• No Comments
• Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Who currently holds the America’s Cup? List of challengers and defenders since 1851

O ne hundred and seventy-three years ago, on the Isle of Wight, a race began that would become a legend in the sailing world —a race that continues to be discussed today. The competition was for a silver trophy that captured the imaginations and fortunes of some of the wealthiest people in the world, sparking bitter rivalries, intense controversies, and costly legal battles.

What’s more remarkable is that the boat that would become the center of attention by winning the race, the yacht America , started the race facing the wrong way.

The Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world because this is where the America’s Cup began. Despite the poor start, America surprised its British hosts by winning the race, and the trophy soon made its way to New York. However, after the victory, the owners and crew were uncertain about what to do with their prize—until someone had an idea. This idea would transform the trophy into the most prestigious sailing award, and it has since become the oldest international sporting trophy in the world.

The trophy was renamed the America’s Cup after the yacht that won the first race , though it is informally known as the Auld Mug

Interesting trivia about the winning boat of the first event was a 100-foot schooner, and after winning the cup, the vessel was sold for a sum of $25,000, $5000 more than it was paid for.

For some, the America’s Cup has grown into an obsession. The quest for this trophy has led some of the wealthiest people to pour vast sums of money into their campaigns, only to come up short. Yet, despite the immense costs, many have returned to challenge for the Cup again and again. The New York Yacht Club, in particular, holds the record for the longest winning streak in history, fueled by these relentless East Coast competitors.

One such competitor was Thomas Lipton , who, despite five unsuccessful challenges with his Shamrock yachts, used the publicity to build his tea empire. His repeated failures earned him the respect and affection of the public, even as they cost him a fortune to defend his campaigns. In contrast, others, like Lord Dunraven , were entangled in bitter disputes , illustrating the passion and intensity that have always surrounded the America’s Cup.

The early days of the America’s Cup are as captivating as today’s high-tech, carbon-fiber racing machines.

The America’s Cup is the oldest international sailing competition. Races are held between a defending and challenging yacht club, with the winner awarded the America’s Cup trophy, known as the Auld Mug .

Any yacht club meeting the specified requirements can challenge the current holder. If successful, the challenging club gains stewardship of the Cup. In 1970, a Challenger Selection Series was held to decide the official challenger .

Team New Zealand syndicate

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron club is the current holder of the America’s Cup . They successfully defended the 36th America’s Cup in March 2021 using an AC75 foiling monohull called Te Rehutai, owned and sailed by the Team New Zealand syndicate and heavily sponsored by Emirates airline company.

The next America’s Cup will be held between the defending Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and a challenging yacht club from 12 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

List of all winners

From 1851 to 1983, the USA won the America’s Cup, holding onto the title for 132 years until Australia and the Royal Perth Yacht Club won in 1983. The New York Yacht Club had successfully defended the Cup 25 times in a row , making it the longest defense of a title in sports history .

Additionally, the America’s Cup r ace winner has the right to decide the rules for the next contest , including the types of boats to be used, the location of the race course, and when the race will take place.