Music and sails perfect match

Music and sails perfect match

5 July 2017

TWELVE lucky pupils from three secondary schools on the Ards Peninsula got the opportunity to experience what is was like to sail on a tall ship during the recent Sails and Sounds festival in Portaferry

Pupils from St Columba’s College, Glastry High and Strangford College were selected to enjoy a day’s sailing experience aboard Vilma and Soteria, both topsail schooners built and previously worked as fishing boats from 1934.

The project was coordinated by Sheila Lyons on behalf of the Northern Ireland Old Gaffers Association, which organised the festival in conjunction with Portaferry Sailing Club.

With breakfast and lunch provided, pupils spent the day learning the various techniques needed to sail the vessels, which included climbing the rigging.

They rounded the day off with a special presentation ceremony in Portaferry Sailing Club.  

The principal of St Columba’s’ College, Mr Michael Breen, said afterwards: “The pupils really enjoyed the hands-on experience of sailing a tall ship — a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be forgotten.

The two-day festival was a tremendous success on and off the water, attracting boats from all over the UK, including the two tall ships,  as well as skiff racing and a display and talk on the currach lagen boat.

The deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Mr Gavin Walker, attended the festival on Saturday to present trophies to the youth sailing project and the Old Gaffers regatta winners and competitors. He also attended the Knotty Pine String Band concert in the Houston Hall. 

The McPeake concert was a fabulous success with fantastic performances from young people from the ACC Entertainment group in Ards. 

The weekend was combined with kids’ entertainment on the street, as well as Irish and Scottish dancing in which members of the public had a go at celi dancing.

Stalls, art workshops face painting and much more were enjoyed by the local community and tourists to the area. 

The highly successful second year event attracted thousands visitors and tourists, and the organising committee hope to develop and expand the festival in coming years.

The event was supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and Portaferry Regeneration Ltd. 

The organising committee would like to thank the people, businesses and groups from  and community of Portaferry for their support during the running of the festival.