Loch Ryan Sailing Club

Our Club - The Loch Ryan Sailing Club in South-west Scotland dates back to 1844 when the first published record of a sailing regatta was held. Events have continued at Loch Ryan ever since, aside from a break during World War II and until 1951 when the club was re-established to take advantage of the wonderful sailing opportunities offered by this sea loch which is eight miles long and three miles wide at its widest point. In 2018 the Club moved back into the town of Stranraer and works with SWSA and other water sports clubs in Agnew Park.

In the recent past, the club has hosted the Dart 18 Nationals, the Tempest Nationals, the Laser 2 Northerns, in 2009 the GP14 Scottish Nationals and in 2010 the GP 14 and Laser 2 Scottish Championships, 2013 saw the GP 14s return for their Scottish Nationals.

The Club welcomes enquiries from Class Associations for similar-sized events.

History - The first published record of a sailing regatta in Loch Ryan hosted by Lochryan Yachting Club was in August 1843 under the patronage of HRH Prince Albert and attended by most of the local nobility including the Earl of Stair and the Earl of Orkney.  The major prize was the Members' Cup, value 50 Guineas and the Ladies Silver Cup value 35 Guineas. There was a match for a cup presented by the Merchants of Glasgow to the value of 45 Guineas for Yachts of any Royal Yacht Club not exceeding 30 tons. There were also sailing matches for fishing boats and rowing matches for gigs, wherries and fishing boats. On the first day, after three hours' racing, the match was won by Peterel on handicap from Meteor with the Phoebe coming fourth despite losing a topmast. The two-day event was followed by a ball which went on until 3.00am. The regatta in 1878 was even attended by a yacht from New Orleans!
Events continued at Loch Ryan despite various gaps until the commencement of the Second World War. The club started up again at Stranraer Harbour in 1951 and continued there until moving to Wig Bay, Kirkcolm, in 1968. In 2018 the Club moved back into Stranraer.

The Wig Bay premises were opened by Uffa Fox, designer of the Flying Fifteen in May 1968 with the comment 'you have a wonderful ground for yacht racing here, it is beyond compare.'