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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 its current location at Wig Bay, Kirkcolm, in 1968.
The new 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.'
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