Donaghadee Sailing Club

New for the 2026/27 winter season introducing our...
Monthly SUPPER CLUB

🍴 Finish work, take a break from the dishes and come to the club for your supper, music, entertainment, drinks & conviviality.
🎲 Not forgetting the kids; the balcony room will be set up for a kids games night.
❤️ WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

🐔 This month will be CHICKEN CURRY (Veggie option available)
✅ Book below: £10.00 pp
(Kids under 13yrs £7.50 pp Chicken Curry or Nuggets & Chips.)
➡ Get behind your club and support this event by booking as early as possible.
🤝 Bring your friends
🗓 FRIDAY Oct 2nd

https://www.donaghadeesc.co.uk/

TOPPER NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Last weekend 9 of our DSC kids headed to Carrickfergus Sailing Club for this two day championship event, which saw 57 competitors come from all corners of Ireland.
But in typical spirit we didn’t just arrive with 9 Toppers; between yachts, ribs and canoes, we turned up with an additional 6 support boats... more like the Siege of Carrick-take 2!
A total of 6 races were scheduled, but extremely light winds had other ideas.
By close of business on Saturday, the championship itself was in jeopardy as we only had 1 race completed… but a minimum of 2 is required to constitute an ‘event’!
With competitors having travelled from as far away as Cork, Waterford and Wexford… all eyes were on Sundays weather in the hope that our RO could get at least a second race in the bag so it wasn’t a wasted journey. (No pressure Lawrence!)

Sunday morning, we awoke to a glassy Belfast lough! Not looking good for any racing…eeek. But there was some hope; a staggering 5-7kts of wind was forecast to arrive around 1. (hold on to your hats)
So Carrickfergus Sailing Club kept to the schedule and launched all 57 Toppers on time… but by 11am AP was up and so the waiting game commenced. The kids made the best of it and had lots of fun and games, rafting up, boarding each other’s boats, DJ Nigel McNeely even brought the tunes. Lots of laughter could be heard rippling over the glassy water. By 1230 there were rumours of sending the kids ashore to wait it out. But our RO held his nerve and right on cue the whisper of a breeze arrived at 1. Shortly thereafter event race 2 was underway. A few hours later and boom we had a total of 4 races in the bag, which meant the ever important discard kicked in.
In what is possibly the most frustrating of conditions for a Race Officer, Sheila Lewis and our very own Lawrence Baalham skilfully managed to get 4 good quality races in over the weekend. A credit to their skills and perseverance.
The frustrations of the day spilled over into the protest room, but after all was resolved by the unflappable Denis Todd and team; the final rankings were issued and prizegiving concluded the event.

Our DSC kids did fantastically. Congratulations to all:
5.3 Fleet:
Ed Reynolds – 1st U14 boy & 3rd overall,
Sarah Eagleson – 4th U14 Girl,
Josh McNeely, Jake Mullan, Finlay Geehan, Kitty McAnlis and Lucy Reynolds.
4.2 Fleet:
Maisie McAnlis – 4th Girl and
Heidie BevanJones.

Full Results here-> https://www.sailwave.com/results/carrickfergussc/2026TopperNortherns.html
Our thanks to Carrickfergus Sailing Club for a great event... we'll be back next year.

Next up is a 1 day Topper Traveller event at Strangford Lough Yacht Club this weekend, closely followed by the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Champions at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club the following weekend.
With three back to back event weekends, these kids are getting the most out of the end of the racing season.

ONLY A FEW SPACES LEFT!

Sail, Sup, Sip & Relax with Afternoon Tea
Saturday 19 September

Ladies why not join us for a light-hearted, fun day on the water, followed by sparkling afternoon tea in the Clubhouse. No experience necessary, just a willingness to give it a go!

Book Online: https://www.donaghadeesc.co.uk/?p=12255

TOPPER NORTHERNS,
Day 1 results
Unfortunately due to light winds, only 1 race today.

Fingers crossed for a little more wind tomorrow 🤞🏼

Great efforts from all our KIDS. ♥️

Sailwave results for Topper Northern Championship 2026 at Carrickfergus Sailing Club 2026 sailwave results

Topper Ireland NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS Carrickfergus Sailing Club

Not much wind, but still plenty of laughter coming from the water.

R1 complete in

TeamDSC on Tour ... Topper Northerns at Carrickfergus Sailing Club

Sailing Club Trophies

If you've had a club trophy sitting on top of the piano or mantlepiece collecting dust would you please bring it down to the club by Sunday 6 September... we need to get it engraved in time for this year's prize giving. Thank-you

Is this anyone's punt? Sitting on the waterline this morning.. sorry could get at it without getting soaked 😕