Belfast Lough Yachting Conference

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All content copyright Belfast Lough Yachting Conference 2013-2021

In opening, I would like to thank RNIYC for hosting the BLYC for the past two years. East Antrim Boat Club took on the role of hosting the conference for the next two years. The last meeting hosted by RNIYC was in February 2020, little did we realise then what lay ahead for the 2020 season.

The 2020 season will be remembered as the season that didn’t happen and I’m sure will be talked about for many years to come.  No “open” regattas were held in any of the BLYC clubs in 2020 and all the planned events were cancelled. BYC and CSC did manage to host members only regattas amidst the ever-changing guidelines surrounding the pandemic and EABC managed to squeeze in a dinghy series in late 2020 between lockdowns with restricted numbers and numerous mitigations to comply with.

The BLYC re-grouped in November 2020 and held its meeting via Zoom. Regatta dates for 2021 were finalised and dates for events scheduled for 2021 were noted. The second meeting was held in February 2021, again via Zoom at which the 2021 regatta dates were confirmed, 2022 regatta dates were proposed and the events calendar was further developed.

Regrettably, at the time of writing these remarks, the pandemic continues to restrict sailing activity, locally and further afield. HYC have had to cancel their 2021 regatta, Bangor Town Regatta has been postponed to June 2022 and Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2021 has been cancelled. Hopefully the other BLYC regattas and events will be able to take place, watch the BLYC website for updates.

A big debt of gratitude is owed Ron Hutchieson and Robin Gray for their continued support in maintaining the website and the information and documentation presented therein, to Kathryn Boyle in her role as secretary and of course to all the Club representatives.

I hope the 2021 season will see normality, or at least the “new normality” resume and I wish everyone an enjoyable sailing season whatever shape that may take.

BLYC Chair’s Remarks