Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club

by Mark Thompson 12 Aug 2019 07:22 PDT 9-11 August 2019

Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club in conjunction with the Royal Dee Yacht Club, were once again delighted to have the opportunity to host the Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championships, as part of our 2019 Celtic Regatta, and Welsh leg of the RC35 class Celtic Cup.

We welcomed boats from all the Celtic nations, and the event started with a reception in Plas Heli on Thursday evening hosted by the commodore of Pwllheli Sailing club, Jane Butterworth in glorious sunshine on the Plas Heli deck.

Race day 1 - with 20 kt winds and showers forecast, the race management team layed a simple windward leeward course, and racing got under way as scheduled. For the first race the weather held with a steady 20kts of breeze from the south west giving a choppy sea, but fine racing conditions, allowing our Celtic visitors to put their stamp on the event very early in IRC 1, with First 35 Triple Elf (Christine and Robin Murray) taking first by 3 seconds corrected from J133 Spirit of Jacana (Alan Bruce and James Douglas) with J109 Jings (Robin Young) taking third. It was clear at this early stage that these well drilled regatta boats were going to dominate IRC 1 and push the top IRC 2 boats for the overall title.

In IRC 2 J97 Injenious (Mike Crompton and Graham Hallsworth) took the first race ahead of 2018 Welsh IRC champion Ian McMillan, sailing Impala Checkmate with Andrew Miles J35 Sidetrack third.

IRC 4 sailed one round the cans race with some close racing, with the win going to Mark Willis in Rodmar, with Alan Barton, Induna just behind.

The second race in IRC 1 and 2 started as scheduled with darkening sky's to the South West and with most of the fleet on the beat, a very intense squall whipped up, with winds up to 37kts and torrential rain in zero visibility! with many boats reefing down, it was survival mode for a while. After 10 mins the fleet emerged through the other side, and finished the race before heading back to the Plas Heli pontoons, and a welcome pint! Great chat in the bar, with Andy Greens photos on the big screen, and crews claiming ever increasing wind strength as the evening drew on! It was a great day of racing though, which every one enjoyed, and race 2 was won in IRC 1 by Spirit of Jacana, IRC 2 by Injenious.

Daily prize-giving was sponsored by Partington Marine, with jugs of beer and followed by a Barbeque. During prizegiving the race management team informed the competitors that regrettably racing would be cancelled on the Saturday, due to a deep low with forecast winds of 30-40kts in the race area. This was the same weather system that lead to the first day of Cowes week being abandoned. Our visitors took the opportunity to explore the Llyn Peninsula and enjoy the live music in Plas Heli, with Jac Dobson a'r band delivering a great early doors set during the late afternoon.

Day 3 dawned brightly with North Westerly winds of 10-15 kts giving flat water and excellent racing conditions, and glorious views of the stunning Llyn peninsula and Snowdonia. For IRC 1 and 2 four races were held, with up to four laps of a short windward leeward course. The starts were crucial, and the two RC35 class boats were giving a master class in starting. J125 Jacknife and J133 Spirit of Jacana, both higher rated boats having to push hard to get ahead of the J109 and First 35 from Scotland, and with the short legs not able to take significant advantage downwind, particularly from the boats flying symmetric spinnakers. Great racing though with some interesting interpretation of the racing rules at some of the mark roundings! The results of all four races in both IRC 1 and 2 were again dominated by the Irish and Scottish visiting boats, with Triple Elf able to discard one race due UFD In IRC 4 the cruisers raced two races around the cans from a bridge start and again the four boats racing today had two great races and were all very closely matched. Scored using NHC, with Induna (Alan Barton) taking race 1 and Rodmar (Mark Willis) race two. This resulted in Rodmar winning this class overall from Induna, with Roger Fitzgerald racing Dehler 29 Ella Trout 3 with his grandchildren third.

The results in IRC 1 and 2 took a little bit of time to clarify with ratings having to be double checked, but finally the results could be announced. The daily prize giving was sponsored by Rowlands Marine Electronics, with jugs of beer and glassware presented to day 3's race winners. The overall prizegiving was sponsored by Firmhelm Marine who donated some great prizes, with MD Simon Butterworth drawing two boat names out of a hat to present Dubarry deck shoes and a gift voucher.

In IRC 1 the overall winner was confirmed as J133 Spirit of Jacana (Alan Bruce and James Douglas) on count back from First 35 Triple Elf (Christine and Robin Murray) with fellow RC35 class member J109 Jings third.

In IRC 2 local boat J97 Injenious (Mike Crompton and Graham Hallsworth) took first ahead of 2018 champion Checkmate (Ian McMillan) with Sidetrack (Andrew Miles) third.

IRC 4 results were as above with Rodmar (Mark Willis) presented with the Royal Dee cruiser class trophy The overall Spinlock IRC Welsh National Champion was announced as J97 "Injenious" just one point less overall than "Spirit of Jacana", and presented with the 2019 Spinlock trophy and voucher.

Full results at www.ircwelshchamps.com

Many thanks to the race officers Mike Butterfield and Robin Evans, scorer Jack Thompson, and the organisation team including Sarah Pemberton and Richard Tudor. Thanks to Jo Thompson and Gerallt Williams for organising the prize-giving, to the Royal Dee Yacht Club team including Derek Matthews, Mike Butterfield and Commodore Charlie Jones for race management, and Heidi Bakewell and staff of Plas Heli for the bar and catering. This completed another great championship, taking the best advantage of the weather windows, with the management team announcing next year's regatta dates as 14-16th August 2020.

Related Articles

Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 set for October
From racing to cruising, Australia's biggest sailing showcase The Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 will take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC), Newport, and promises to be the biggest sailing only showcase in the country. Posted today at 6:08 am
Lucky joins Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race fleet
With a slew of line honours, overall wins and race records to her name A new international player has emerged as a threat in October's Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race (S2A) sponsored by Harken, as US yachtsman Bryon Ehrhart has entered his Juan Kouyoumdjian 88 designed Lucky. Posted today at 5:23 am
Torbay Royal Regatta 2025
Fierce competition as Tor Bay delivers champagne conditions Teams from across the country converged on the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, hosts of the latest edition of Torbay Royal Regatta, for three days of intense racing and socialising over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Posted on 8 Sep
Rolex Middle Sea Race passion and performance
The very definition of great offshore sailing The Rolex Middle Sea Race stands as one of the world's most captivating offshore challenges. Now in its 46th edition, which starts on Saturday, 18 October, the 606-nm circumnavigation of Sicily continues to attract sailors from across the globe. Posted on 3 Sep
From vision to reality
The XR 41's journey from sketch to World Champion In 2023 I took part in my first X-Yachts Gold Cup at Aarhus in Denmark. It was a glorious event, balancing fun and competition perfectly, and was a weekend where new friendships were formed with sailors who I continue to chat with regularly. Posted on 2 Sep
Burnham Week 2025 Trophy Day
Slingshot wins the Town Cup while Darren Sewell wins the Dinghy Town Cup Nicholas Plank, Slingshot, wins the 2025 edition of the Town Cup, part of Burnham Week 2025, in perfect sailing conditions. Posted on 31 Aug
The perfect launchpad for RORC Transatlantic Race
Since 2014, Marina Lanzarote has consistently welcomed the fleet as the chosen departure point The RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association and Yacht Club de France, will start from Marina Lanzarote on 11th January 2026. Posted on 31 Aug
Abersoch Keelboat Week 2025
In memory of Peter Driver, a great supporter of Pwllheli and the Abersoch sailing clubs In memory of Peter Driver who sadly died on Sunday 17th August whilst swimming from his boat Crud Yr Awel. Peter was a great supporter of Pwllheli and the Abersoch sailing clubs and will be very sadly missed by all. Posted on 30 Aug
Dartmouth Sailing Week 2025 Video Highlights
Spectacular sailing for the yachts and dayboats Spectacular sailing for the yachts and dayboats over three days, with the final day called off due to high winds. Posted on 30 Aug
Citco Round Jersey Race 2025
An all-time record of forty-one entries The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club's annual Round Jersey race, the third to be run under leading fund management company Citco's banner, held on Sunday, 17th August saw an all-time record of forty-one entries. Posted on 29 Aug
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOM