Northern Ireland Office

His Royal Highness The Duke of York has visited County Antrim Yacht Club (CAYC) in Whitehead. His Royal Highness who is patron of CAYC opened the new Clubhouse and joined the celebrations marking the Club’s centenary year.

Whilst CAYC was formed in 1909, it can trace its roots back to 1902 in Whitehead Sailing Club. Today it has over 300 members and the completion of the new Clubhouse allows it to provide modern sporting and social facilities for the local community, visitors and tourists. In recent years the Club has hosted European, national, provincial, regional and local sailing events which have successfully attracted competitors from throughout the UK and Ireland.

His Royal Highness was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of CountyAntrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE, and went on to meet Mr Steven Canning, Commodore and Mr John Lewis, Club Principal, who accompanied HRH during the engagement.

At the adjacent Slipway, HRH met Mr Des Nixon, Safety Boat Officer, and spoke to a number of sailors, kayakers and members of rescue boat teams.

Inside the new Clubhouse, which is the result of a £700,000 project funded by club members, Sport Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Carrickfergus Borough Council, Awards for All and the RYA Volvo ECO Challenge, His Royal Highness met Mr Robbie Coburn, Dinghy Instructor and a number of junior members involved in a training programme. HRH also met Mr Gavin Pollard, First Officer, Ms Megan Roberts, Club Captain, and Mr Jim Rankin, Sailing Secretary.

In the Committee Room The Duke of York met a number of Past-Commodores and Club Trustees and, later in the Function Room, met Mr Harry Carse, Vice-Commodore, who invited HRH to view a number of photographs depicting the Club’s history, before meeting around thirty-five guests.

Following a few words of thanks Mr Canning invited HRH to unveil a plaque to commemorate the opening of the refurbished Clubhouse and Mrs Liz Canning presented HRH with a gift of a CAYC Plaque.

HRH The Duke of York accepted an invitation to sign the visitors’ book before departing for the next engagement.

Notes to Editors

HRH The Duke of York was greeted by Mrs Joan Christie OBE Lord-Lieutenant of CountyAntrim and went on to meet:

Alderman Patricia McKinney, Mayor, Carrickfergus Borough Council

Mr Charles Johnston, Mayor’s Consort,

Mr Alan Cardwell, Chief Executive, Carrickfergus Borough Council

Mr Sammy Wilson MP MLA, Member of Parliament for East Antrim

Mr Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Mr Steven Canning, Commodore, CountyAntrim Yacht Club, and

Mr John Lewis, Club Principal