Victoria Pinkerton Irish Multihull Northern Championship 2026 at Ballyholme Yacht Club
by Richard Swannie 19 Aug 13:34 BST
7-9 August 2026
Ballyholme Yacht Club recently played host to an unforgettable weekend of high-speed sailing as the Irish Sea Challenge and Irish Multihull Northern Championships took centre stage from August 7th to 9th, sponsored by Victoria Pinkerton Estate Agents.
The action kicked off on Friday, August 7th, with six daring boats — three F20s and three F18s — setting out for the ambitious Irish Sea Challenge. Their target? To smash the world record by crossing the North Channel in under 1 hour and 30 minutes. Following an encouraging send-off from the Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Craig Blaney, the fleet departed at 10:45 AM backed by fantastic RIB support crew. Launching into initial perfect wind conditions, the crews flew their hulls and set kites for a lightning-fast crossing.
However, about 8 miles out from Portpatrick, the breeze suddenly died, putting an end to the record attempt. While the weather decided it wasn't the day to make history, the ambition remains alive — there is always next year, lads!
On Saturday and Sunday, attention shifted to the main event as thirteen catamarans took to the water for the IMA Northern Championships with Phillip Davies doing a fantastic job as Race Officer. Day one delivered thrilling racing conditions with gusts topping 17 knots and comparatively gentle seas out at the tip of Belfast Lough. Competitors navigated a challenging windward-leeward course, where heated battles at the windward mark sparked more than a few close shaves.
Long legs offered hard working crews a welcome moment of respite on the upwind stretches, though the heavy conditions still claimed victims through gear failure and sheer physical exhaustion.
The top two positions during racing on day one were fiercely contested between teams Matt McNicholl and Barry Swanston and Mark Sewell and Will Smith, with Richard Swanston and Toby Collins muscling into second place in the third race. Circuit regulars Yannick and Sean Lemonnier put on an impressively consistent display, securing third place in three of the day's four races.
After a gruelling first day, the weary sailors returned to shore for a fantastic BBQ and live music organised by BYC. A special thanks goes to Wendy, Richard and Jo, who kept the hungry fleet and support crew well fed throughout the entire weekend.
Day two brought lighter breezes, averaging 7 knots with occasional gusts reaching 13 knots, making for a strategic, tactical pace over the final two races. Visiting F20 teams dominated the first race of the morning, with Dutch and Oakley taking first and King and King claiming second.
When the final scores were tallied, Matt McNicholl and Barry Swanston emerged victorious in first place taking home the Northern Trophy, with Mark Sewell and Will Smith taking second, and Yannick and Sean Lemonnier completing the podium in third. In addition to the main honours, all brave Channel sailors were recognised with Irish Sea Challenge Certificates, while Cameron Wallace and Toby Collins took home the official Challenge trophy.
It was a brilliant weekend of top-tier multihull racing filled with camaraderie, huge smiles, and plenty of dramatic capsizes!