2022 South Rock Race :- IRC 1 Race review.

After missing two years due to COVID lockdowns the annual South Rock Race was held for the first time since 2019. The 8 boats split across IRC 1 and IRC 2 were greeted by blue sky and a solid 15 to 20 knot Northerly. With wind against tide at the bar mouth and a solid sea running on the back of the building breeze it was not clear if the race would go ahead. The Portaferry Sailing Club race committee did a great job getting the race underway, allowing the competitors to make the final call on the state of the bar when they made it to the top of the narrows. Seven of the Eight boats decided to cross the bar and were greeted by great conditions in the Irish Sea. "Going to Red" had their first hit out under IRC with their recently purchased J109, the new set of sails from Doyle helped drive them onto victory in IRC 1. With the said news during the week that Raymond Beattie had passed way while visiting the Isle of Mann on Tiger Lilly the crew on GTR flew Code flag under numeral pennant 1 in his memory. Hopefully Raymond was watching the racing for a happy place.