When to visit the club

Our club is maintained and run by volunteers who value sharing the community spirit of bringing people together on and off the water. Our members provide organised sailing and watersports on Carlingford Lough in their spare time for families living in the area.

The best time to visit the club to have a look around or join us for a bit of banter in the bar is when racing is just finished. We race on Wednesday evenings from 7pm, coming off the water about 8.30pm, and Sundays from 1.30pm to about 4.30pm.

One of the sailors races back to get the bar open for the rest of us, and you.

Before the race folks are usually busy rigging and launching boats, and most of us are ‘last minute’, so visitors may find it difficult having someone to show them around before the start of a race.

After the race you’ll find many willing sailors to engage you with the days’ exploits. We are very proud of our location, our people and our welcome to visitors.
If the gate is closed when you arrive, there is an open pedestrain entrance beside it. Pop in and ask any member to open the gate to let you bring your car in.

History

Organised sailing on Carlingford Lough dates back to 1845 with a regatta being held annually, continuing to 1914 when the outbreak of World War 1 ended the event. Some informal racing took place in the 1920s, 1930s and mid-1940s including local family names of Alcorn, Broad, Campbell, Hall, Magee, McMullen, McMahon, O’Hagan, O’Hare, O’Neill, O’Tierney and Rooney.

A new club

The idea of a sailing club to provide organised sailing events on the Lough was spawned by a small group of local people chatting about ‘boating’ with the first formal meeting of Carlingford Lough Yacht Club held in the Balmoral Hotel, Warrenpoint on 17th August 1958. CLYC was originally located behind the Quay in Rostrevor and received huge support from local families and businesses to secure and prepare the grounds.

By 1962 the club had outgrown the site at Rostrevor and acquired its current site at Killowen Point. With interest free loans from members and some grant aid, a simple clubhouse was built with a function room, male and female toilets and showers. Over the years the clubhouse has been extended to include a bar area with fireplace and stunning views over the Lough, a double boat house and raised look-out “Battery” for starting races.

Built by members

The original ethos of the founding members was to keep sailing accessible to as many as possible. Members families have volunteered throughout the clubs history to develop and maintain the club, encouraged friends to join, organised various fundraisers such as barbecues, dances, fun days and sailing regattas.  Our members have developed a club that is inclusive and progressive with an emphasis on friendship, racing and enjoying good company.

Sailing and watersports

Members have enjoyed racing various designs of boats over the years including the GP14, Flying Fifteen, Enterprise, Heron, Scorpion and Mirror dinghies. In the 1970’s Lasers were introduced to the club and are still the most popular one person boat on the lough. We have Topper, Laser Pico, Laser 2000, Bahia, Feva, International 420 and RS400 dinghies sailing today.

We have a very active cruiser racing programme whose skippers always encourage interested people to come try out racing on bigger boats.

Our members and friends also enjoy occasional Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Kite Surfing, Power Boating, and Diving.

An RYA affiliate Training Centre and Champion Club, CLYC is able to offer a superb programme of Racing, Training and Watersports to suit all ages and abilities. We provide certificated RYA Level 1 to 4 Sailing Courses and our own Multi-Activity Courses for those who wish to try a variety of watersports.

Visit us / Get involved

Whether you are new to sailing, a salty seadog or just fancy the social aspects, we look forward to welcoming you to the club.

CLYC provide evening and weekend sailing courses every summer for Adults who may be new to the sport, sailed in the youth or wish to build their confidence.

You don’t have to own a boat, even if you are a sailor. You can hire a boat from the Club or crew on dinghies or cruisers.

The people who join the Club are families, single adults or single children. We have all year round sailing, with dinghy racing from late April to late December, and cruiser racing from early May to late September.