Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club Cyfres Gwanwyn Spring Series
by Mark Thompson 21 May 2018 13:27 PDT
After four alternate weekends of racing, attracting 10 boats at various stages, the final weekend promised light airs and a chance for three boats to win the coveted 'Aberech Bowl'.
With Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox, away in Ireland with J109 "Mojito", the Cork 1720 "Mojito Bach" was raced by Dave Picken. Glenn Pritchard finally got his 1720 "Mayhem" onto the water for the final weekend of races, with Eleri and Brooky from "Luvly Jubbly" 1720 onboard. The two J80's "Harley Quinn", Richard Cooks "Jezebel" and J111 "Sgrech" completed this weekends entry list.
Saturday dawned brightly, and PRO Robn Evans ran three short races with winds never much over 5kts. 1720 "Mayhem" took three fine wins ahead of "Harley Quinn", a fantastic start to Glenn's 1720 campaign. The results meant going into the final day, with Dave Hughes and "Legless Again" missing this weekend, it would be between "Harley Quinn" and "Sgrech" for the overall title.
Sundays race 1 was a 7.5 mile 9 mark windward leeward, starting with 5-6 kts of southerly wind, but forecast to fill in to 10kts later, out in the bay. With the pin end biased, and all boats jostling for a clear lane "Mayhem" did a great job of pushing "Sgrech" and "Mojito Bach" over the line early. "Harley Quinn" stayed away from this Melee and sailed a fine race to take the race win, ahead of "Mayhem and "Sgrech".
The final race in the series was another Windward/Leeward course of 9 miles, with the breeze filling in to 10-11 kt. A well mannered and clean start got the fleet away with "Mojito Bach" leading the way to the first mark. This race was a much better proposition for the Tudor/Rosewarne/Jones J111 "Sgrech" with the wind building at the most southerly marks, Sgrech was able to really get some progress made on the beat, opening up a decent gap to the first windward mark. After two laps of pure windward/leeward, the next two circuits had a dogleg to mark 6, giving a fetch to the O mark and ultimately the finish line, this gave skippers the conundrum wether to drop the kite at mark 6, or carry it to 0/ finish, with not to much sea room after the finish to bear away for the drop. "Sgrech" with A2 and Jib managed this twice, which was a great spectacle for the shore supporters and those on the finish line. It was a great experience broaching through the finish line! "Mayhem" took the final race from "Sgrech" by a minute corrected, completing a great weekend of racing for Glenn's team. In third place after a very consistant race series was J80 "Harley Quinn" which was enough to take the Spring series overall win by 1 point ahead of the Stephen Tudor skippered J111 "Sgrech".
Many congratulations to Dave and Sarah Leather, and the crew of "Harley Quinn" who sailed very well against the 1720's particularly in the light airs. Crews enjoyed a great social in Plas Heli after racing with a short presentation made to "Harley Quinn" and competitors and family enjoying the Sunday Carvery which is now extended to 6pm to allow those racing to enjoy a Sunday lunch.
The Pwllheli Sports Boat fleet is growing fast, with three J80's three 1720's and more on the way, in addition to the regular keelboat fleet. There is racing planned all year, and racing will be arranged for white sail and cruisers on the day should the demand arise. For further information contact Victoria Cox at and the racing packs, with full results published at www.pwllhelisailigclub.co.uk/racing