THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Disappointment at poor viewing opportunities at Belfast Lough regatta

Eyes along Belfast Lough had turned seaward during the weekend which had just past reported the News Letter.

The lough it was noted had played host to a regatta which had been organised by the Ulster Yacht Club.

Thousands of people crowded the beaches on either shore of the lough hoping to catch a glimpse of the “aquatic amusements” which were to be held that day.

From an early hour steamers had left the quays at Belfast carrying spectators along the coast to Bangor to gain a better vantage point, while special trains had run from Belfast to both Holywood and Bangor by the Bangor Railway Company.

The News Letter’s correspondent noted that many of the spectators had been left bitterly disappointed as they had been unable to follow the racing accurately without “the aid of strong glasses”.

The weather also did its bit to leave spectators disappointed too, the paper’s reporter who had watched the regatta from Bangor wrote: “A strong breeze prevailed during the day, which, though it had the effect prohibiting one part of the programme from being carried out, yet fully compensated for this by the impetus which it gave to another.”

But some members of the Ulster Yacht Club were able to take advantage of a trip out on the steamship Voltaic which was under the command of Captain Johnston which brought them within good viewing distance of the racing.