THE Menai Strait Regattas Fortnight is almost upon us which means there will be a mass exodus of sailors from the Wirral to North Wales over the next few days.

The popular festival begins on Monday with the Royal Dee Yacht Club Regatta at Beaumaris and ends on Saturday August 15 with the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club event at the same venue.

Classes taking part will include the Falcons, Hilbres and Stars from West Kirby, the Operas from Hoylake and the Mylnes from Royal Mersey.

West Kirby Sailing Club will be the Regatta hosts at Beaumaris on the second Wednesday and Royal Mersey take charge the day after also off Beaumaris.

The popular and often challenging race through the Swellies from Beaumaris to Caernarvon is set down for Wednesday, August 5 and the Round Puffin Island race is planned for Tuesday, August 11.

The full Regatta programme with first race times is as follows ...

  • Monday, August 3: Royal Dee YC at Beaumaris, 1pm
  • Tuesday: Bangor Town at Glyn Garth, 1pm 
  • Wednesday: Beaumaris to Caernarvon Race, 11am 
  • Thursday: Royal Welsh YC at Caernarvon, 1.30pm 
  • Friday: Caernarvon SC at Caernarvon, 2.30pm
  • Saturday: Port Dinorwic at Port Dinorwic, noon
  • Monday, August 10: Menai Bridge BC at Menai Bridge, 2pm
  • Tuesday: Beaumaris Town Puffin Island Race, 1.30pm 
  • Wednesday: West Kirby SC at Beaumaris 11am 
  • Thursday - Royal Mersey YC at Beaumaris 11am 
  • Friday: Conway YC at Beaumaris, noon
  • Saturday: Royal Anglesey YC at Beaumaris, 1pm