Bangor Regatta 2026 at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club
by Rory Flannigan 1 Jul 17:59 BST
25-28 June 2026
The fleet takes on the wind at the Bangor Regatta 2026 © JCP Imaging / jcpimaging.mypixieset.com
"We had a ball, some of the closest racing I can remember for a long time... with a wide variety of conditions to challenge everyone", is just one in a long list of positive feedback for Bangor Regatta.
Organised by Royal Ulster Yacht Club and held from the 25th to 28th June 2026 Bangor Regatta saw 46 yachts and over 350 sailors from across the British Isles compete in Belfast Lough for the coveted Bangor Town Trophy and an original Terry Bradley painting.
Sailors were challenged over four days with a very wide range of weather. On the Thursday sailors enjoyed lighter winds under the baking Ulster sun. Friday saw sailors bake, once again, although the winds were even lighter! Saturday, however, was a different story; gusts of over 40 knots and swell of over 3 metres challenged sailors and their yachts with Sunday seeing gusts of 30 knots but the swell was not as severe.
Race Officer, Con Murphy of the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, assisted by Colin Loughead of Royal Ulster Yacht Club, set brilliant courses. For Classes 1, 2 and 3 these courses saw yachts races on perfect beats and runs, challenging sailors and producing neck and neck results each day. For Classes 4 and 5 sailors were challenged to courses that saw them race across Belfast Lough and her approaches, taking in sites such as Cultra, Whitehead, Kilroot, Orlock and the Copelands.
Inside Bangor Regatta were two other events; the Sigma Class National Championship and the Feedwell Impala Championship. These one design classes brought yachts from as far as Falmouth and the Clyde to win their respective titles. The Sigma Class, renowned for their camaraderie and partying, brought an extra dimension of colour and fun to Bangor Regatta with their theme 'Sigma-fest" which saw their sailors dress in bright colours with a tropical theme for their Class dinner on the Friday evening.
The Apres sailing was, once again, legendary with Royal Ulster Yacht Club's clubhouse alive for four nights. With live bands and DJs, BBQs, fine dining and a temporary bar on the lawn, sailors, volunteers and club members were able to celebrate the day's racing in style!
Overall Results:
Class 1 (IRC)
1st, Storm
2nd, Final Call II
3rd, Victric 3
Class 1 (YTC)
1st, Going to Red
Class 2 (IRC)
1st, Purple Haze
2nd, Snoopy's J
3rd, Hellaby Puffin
Class 2 (YTC)
1st, Purple Haze
Feedwell Impala Championship
1st, Bonanza
2nd, Menace
3rd, Romper
Class 3 (Sigma Nationals)
1st, Marries (and National Champion)
2nd, White Lightening
3rd, Squawk (and Irish Champion)
Class 4 (IRC)
1st, Game Changer
2nd, Evenstar
3rd, Blacksmith
Class 4 (YTC)
1st, Game Changer
Class 5
1st, Playtime
2nd, Vivid
3rd, Merry Jack
Special prizes:
- Under 25 crew: Abbi Reid (onboard Salamander)
- Female crew: Erica Ruigrok (onboard Storm)
- Furthest travelled yacht: Minnie the Minx (from the Hamble)
- Bangor Town Trophy (best performing yacht): Purple Haze from Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Following this event, Gavin Watson who chaired Bangor Regatta 2026 had this to say: "So after my third time of organising this great event and with the feeling it is now well established on the sailing calendar within the UK and Ireland, I and the great team of people who pull this off every time, can reflect and ponder as to how we can grow the numbers and make it an even bigger attraction for sailors to come and visit the shores of Belfast Lough and Royal Ulster Yacht Club"
A huge thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who made this incredible event a success. These events don't happen without all the volunteers who give their time and experience to help not only during the event but before and after also, from making the club grounds look good to helping on the committee boat and battery it is all very much appreciated!
Bangor Regatta 2026 is immensely grateful to our sponsors, Feedwell Animal Foods, Bangor Marina, Terry Bradley, John Minis Estate Agents, Cosimac and Beggs and Partners.