Ards Sailing Club

Newtownards Sailing Club is an informal and friendly club situated about 4 miles south of Newtownards on the A20 coast road to Portaferry. Its position on the north east coast of the upper part of Strangford Lough allows dinghies to be launched at all states of the tide, as the drying out margin at our location is the smallest in the upper lough. The sailing water is clean as we are not close to a large conurbation. Due to the local shore geography we enjoy clear and undisturbed wind patterns which are ideal for dinghy racing, dinghy training and windsurfing. The sailing area is effectively surrounded by shore or islands, making it impossible for a boat to be carried out to sea if it gets into difficulty. The prevailing onshore wind is another safety factor. Similarly it is safe for windsurfers as there is the added advantage that, at mid-tides, there is an extensive area of waist-deep water in which to learn and practice. There is a mooring area for cruisers, and a jetty which can be used for loading and unloading keelboats for about 3 hours either side of high water. There is about 7ft 6in (2.3m) of water over the slipway at mean high water, more at spring tides. Regular racing on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons is organised for dinghies. GP14s, of which the club has one of the largest and most active fleets in Ireland, race as a class, with a normal turnout of around 12 boats. Other dinghies such as Enterprises and Lasers race on handicap. There is also a fleet of Mirrors which are mainly sailed by juniors.

Ards Sailing Centre, based at Newtownards Sailing Club, is the affordable way to experience the thrill of sailing. Ards Sailing Centre will make training plain sailing. The club is an RYA Regional Training Establishment and has recently undergone a rebuilding program with brand new facilities. Presently the main club rooms and bar of the Club are being rebuilt in time for the Spring of 2006. Ards Sailing Centre has a fleet of dinghies suitable for all aspects of training from absolute beginners to the more experienced sailors. Sail training will be in a variety of of dinghies such as Toppers, Lasers, Picos and Wayfarers.