Royal Anglesey Fifes visit Northern Ireland 

Five of the Royal Anglesey Fleet of Classic Fife keel boats were taken to Northern Ireland recently in order to re-enact a regatta which last happened 100 years ago.  Crom Castle on Upper Loch Erne in County Fermanagh was the setting for this once in a lifetime regatta arranged by Paul Louden-Brown and the Loch Erne Yacht Club. 

The event took place over 4 days, with racing every day, culminating in a parade of sail on the last day.  Thirty members of the RAYC attended the regatta and took part in the festivities, an RAYC burgee was presented to the Loch Erne Yacht Club as a thank you at the gala dinner on the last night.  Classic boats from all over the British Isles also attended which made for a wonderful spectacle.

The Royal Anglesey Yacht Club travelling fifes make annual trips to classic boat regattas across Europe with the aim of publicising North Wales and the sailing that happens here.  Tak Kershaw, one of the trip organisers for the Fifes said “The other reason for attending these regattas is to showcase the beautiful and unique classic boats that were built here to race on the Menai Strait and still do today.  Last year we were sponsored by Brittany Ferries to fly the Welsh Flag in Brittany, France at the classic Regatta held around the Gulf Du Morbhian.  We are already planning next year’s trip to Glandore in Southern Ireland and hope that a fleet of Menai Straight One Design boats, also raced here will be able to join us at the regatta.”