Skipper sails off with victory
It has been a busy summer so far for Campbeltown Sailing Club and looks set to get busier still.
The club is running a sixweek programme of sailing lessons which has so far seen 40 people sign up to take part. The first three weeks of sailing lessons have finished successfully with many of the participants enjoying themselves so much that they signed back on for a second week.
The fourth week looks to be particularly busy, with demand for the under-16s course so high that organisers have had to change the afternoon from adult lesson to under-16s. There are still spaces available in weeks five and six for both under-16s in the morning lessons and adults in the afternoon lessons.
Last weekend also saw the club hosting Cushendall Sailing Club for the return leg of their annual race.
The club’s relationship with Cushendall goes back more than 40 years with both clubs visiting each other every year and holding a yacht race with the individual winner over both legs winning the North Channel Shield and a prize for the winning team.
This year there was no race when Campbeltown visited Cushendall as there was not enough wind and so all was to play for when the race began last Saturday afternoon.
This year’s individual winner was James Farrell, skipper of Sigmania, a Sigma 38 from Cushendall. A worthy winner, James is a highly experienced sailor and has coached the Northern Ireland dinghy sailors at international level. The team prize also went to Cushendall.
The event is not all about the yacht race, as the social side is also very enjoyable and friendships have been made and sustained over the years. The relationship between the two clubs is very strong and there is a feeling in both camps that this event is a highlight of the sailing year and should be continued for years to come.
For more information of the sailing lessons, visit Campbeltown Sailing Club’s Facebook page.