For the first time in their domestic event season this year the 420s had some breeze to stretch their legs, it has taken until September for an event to provide moderate to strong breezes and the 2018 Ulster Championships duly delivered some great breeze as part of the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Championships hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.
Belfast Lough can provide some challenging conditions when the wind starts to build, Saturday provided a day with some early sunshine and a breeze in the 10-15 knots range with the occasional squall, but the Lyttle/Whyte combination scored three first places to lead overnight. Sunday promised more breeze which duly arrived and favoured the slightly heavier crews. Two races were run on Sunday before the race officer called it a day. The Lyttle/Whyte combination thrived in the stronger 17-20+ knot breeze and were pushed hard by the 2nd and 3rd place boats of Thompson/Quaid and Kane/Williamson. As the breeze strengthened to 20 knots and above the crews pushed the boats hard with some exhilarating sailing as the 420s planed both on the up and down wind legs of the course.
The final positions for the 2018 Ulster Championships were as follows:
1st Morgan Lyttle/Patrick Whyte – Royal St. George Yacht Club/Lough Ree Yacht Club
2nd Daniel Thompson/Dan Quaid – Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club
3rd Lucy Kane/Abby Williamson – East Antrim Boat Club
