Sailing at Newtownards SC
Newtownards Sailing Club enjoys some of the best sailing water in Ireland. Clean, clear and safe, the club’s location on the North East of Strangford Lough is well suited to a wide variety of sailing activities; offering everything from dinghy racing to cruising. The expanse of shallow water at low tide provides a safe environment for beginners, yet there is sufficient depth at high water to permit launch and recovery of large yachts.
Club racing takes place on Thursday evenings at 19.30 and on Sunday afternoons at 14.30 with fleet racing for the GP14 and a general dinghy handicap for dinghies of other classes. There are often crewing opportunities and new members are encouraged to participate. The current Sailing Instructions (SIs) can be found here.
Training takes place on Tuesday evenings, with RYA level 1 and 2 courses running through spring and into summer.
Newtownards Sailing Club enjoys some of the best sailing water in Ireland. Clean, clear and safe, the club’s location on the North East of Strangford Lough is well suited to a wide variety of sailing activities; offering everything from dinghy racing to cruising. The expanse of shallow water at low tide provides a safe environment for beginners, yet there is sufficient depth at high water to permit launch and recovery of large yachts.
Club racing takes place on Thursday evenings at 19.30 and on Sunday afternoons at 14.30 with fleet racing for the GP14 and a general dinghy handicap for dinghies of other classes. There are often crewing opportunities and new members are encouraged to participate. The current Sailing Instructions (SIs) can be found here.
Training takes place on Tuesday evenings, with RYA level 1 and 2 courses running through spring and into summer.
GP14The club’s main fleet comprises the GP14, a dinghy that has evolved to form one of the largest racing classes in the UK and Ireland, with an active and professional class association (http://www.gp14.org/).
Alistair Duffin is a regular in the Newtownards fleet and is the leading boat maker in the GP class His boats have won many world championships. You can see him in work here: https://vimeo.com/71965767 (the camerawork and editing is by David Allen, another GP sailor). |
Club BoatsTo support the main fleet, the club owns several GP14s for use during training courses, and also for club racing. Three of these boats have a Speed FRP hull, allowing newer members to be competitive during racing, without dipping their toes into boat ownership straightaway.
As well as GP14s the club also has available four Picos, a Laser, and even a Leisure 17! We have Valiant, Tornado and ZAR RIBs for safety boat duties. |
Member's BoatsSeveral members have their own Leisure 17s for cruising, and our boat park has a number of other types, all stored at very competitive rates. Moorings are available for keel boat sailors.
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