Erin sails close to the wind on Belfast Lough

20 May 2015

A YOUNG Newcastle sailor was celebrating at the weekend.

Erin McIlwaine took the overall first prize in the 4.2 Rig Fleet at the Topper Traveller event held at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough.

Racing as an Under 12 and competing against some Under 14 sailors, the Newcastle Yacht Club hotshot notched up two firsts and a second to top the 14-strong fleet, several of whom chose not to race due to the strong winds.

The sailors travelled from all over Ireland to compete in what was a windy and squally two days on the water.

Coaching was somewhat curtailed on the Saturday due to heavy winds when the breeze was rarely below 22 knots with some gusts of 27, so racing was shifted into the relative shelter of Ballyholme Bay.

Conditions were a little friendlier on the actual race day. The full rig fleet mustered 27 and the 4.2s ended up with eight out.

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