Cockle Island Boat Club Groomsport

Folks a Standard Horizon VHF radio has been found down in Groomsport Harbour. If you have lost one contact the page and we’ll get it back to you.

Good luck Johnny & Jamie from all at CIBC. You can tell us all about it at a winter talk.😉

A HUGE GOOD LUCK TO JOHNNY AND JAMIE RITCHIE ON SIGMANTRA!

Club members Johnny and Jamie Ritchie will be racing their yacht, Sigmantra, in the Round Ireland Race primarily in Class 6, the two handed class but they are also in IRC Class 3, IRC Class 5 Cruisers and IRC overall.

There is a yacht tracking app where you can keep up to date with where this dynamic duo have got to. You can filter classes in YB Races Tracking that free to download and free to use.

YB Tracking Viewer - Round Ireland 2026 https://share.google/ucktuYpt2QRdGo1hB

From all here at RUYC; good luck! Your club is behind you! We are excited to see you flying our club’s ensign across the line!

Well done to Maximoose who won R3 at Royal Ulster’s regatta on Saturday.

Sharing Important Safety Information - Cloghan Oil Jetty - Operational. Please share this with your nautical friends.

Well done to all involved.

Bangor RNLI has rescued a swimmer as part of a multi-agency operation this morning (Thursday 28 May) after they got into difficulty off Groomsport Beach and were understood to be in the water for up to two hours.

The volunteer crew were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch their inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat shortly after 7am. A member of the public who spotted the swimmer in difficulty, raised the alarm.

The lifeboat helmed by Pete Semple and with crew members Gavin Mitchell, Andrew Gedge and Jonny Gedge onboard, launched immediately and made its way to the scene.

There was a north easterly Force 4 wind at the time making for large breaking waves and a big swell.

Bangor Coastguard’s shore unit was also tasked and arrived on scene first. As the lifeboat approached the scene, Bangor Coastguard requested assistance towards the shore due to the hazardous position of the casualty at the back of Groomsport Harbour’s wall.

The lifeboat crew assessed the situation and given the large swell and bouldery sea floor, decided that with time being of the essence, the best course of action was to put crew member Gavin Mitchell into the water to swim to and assist the Coastguard shore crew member who had begun to make their way down from the harbour wall and into the water to reach the casualty.

Amid the large breaking waves, the swimmer was observed to be stuck fast between a large boulder and the sea wall and was showing signs of extreme cold, exhaustion and weakness.

In the water, both Gavin and the Bangor Coastguard crew member worked as a team in challenging conditions to discuss the safest means of extraction before deciding on using a rescue sled to bring the casualty from the back of the wall to the beach. This task proved challenging given the large boulders and breaking waves and required the help of the wider Bangor Coastguard shore team on scene.

Once safely ashore, casualty care was administered before the swimmer was transferred into the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Speaking following the call out, Bangor RNLI crew member Gavin Mitchell said: ‘We want to wish the swimmer a speedy recovery following their ordeal this morning. This was a challenging call out given the location of the casualty, the breaking waves and the casualty’s condition at the time. We want to commend the member of public who raised the alarm as time was certainly of the essence and we want to thank our colleagues particularly those in Bangor Coastguard for their efforts - the teamwork from decision making to extraction was important under pressure and well executed. This was a fine example of multi-agency collaboration.’

‘As we head into the summer months, we would encourage anyone planning a dip or swim where possible, not to go alone, always carry a means of communication such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, wear a bright coloured cap and should you get into difficulty, know how to float. Tilt your head back with ears submerged, relax and try to control your breathing, use your hands to help you stay afloat - It's okay if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once you can control your breathing, call for help or raise a hand. Should you see someone in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’

Champagne sailing at Cockle Island Boat Club for our second Round the Island Race of the season.

Thanks to everyone who took part, especially Matthew Jenkins, Bryan Lawther and Kyle Colville for providing the photos.

Results for today’s race can be found here:

Round the Island Race Results

Well done to everyone who took part in yesterday’s Wrinklies Race.

A great afternoon on the water, and thanks to Denis Chambers for this cracking shot of the action. ⛵

Always good to see boats out racing at Groomsport.