Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club opened the sailing season with races in Bangor Bay on Saturday.

The Royal Ulster Yacht Club race began from a RIB. Sailors reached a windward mark then followed a course around racing marks at the refurbished Battery. South winds allowed two laps of a one-mile windward-leeward course.

In one class, Shaun Douglas took overall victory in his Beneteau 40.7, Game Changer. Adrian Allen helmed Succession, an Archambault A35. Mike Browne sailed Victric 3, a Dubois 33.

Paul and Emma Prentice won another class in their Sigma 33, Squawk. Robin Gray helmed Endeavour, a Beneteau 31.7 owned by Nigel Hamilton and David Milne.

Two new yachts raced in a third class against Impulz, owned and helmed by Chris Johnston. The entrants included Michael Wilson's Sunflower and Andrew Kennedy's Jacada II.

Dinghies competed across Bangor Bay in three classes. Max Boyd won his fleet in a Topper. The Ridout duo claimed first in the Fast Dinghy class with their 29er. James Moore, Ballyholme Yacht Club rear commodore, won the ILCA class.

Rory Flannigan, Royal Ulster Yacht Club honorary sailing secretary, officiated the event.