Please select your home edition
Edition
Belvedere

76th Edinburgh Cup at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club - Day 3

by Emma York 12 Jul 2024 00:31 PDT 7-12 July 2024

Wet and wild were the conditions on day three of the 76th Edinburgh Cup in Abersoch. A short postponement in racing allowed for the Northerly wind to arrive in Cardigan Bay, which brought with it more rain and bigger swell.

Race Four

As the Dragons lined up for the start of race four a big left shift meant that a number of boats were unable to clear the pin-end. Within the rack of boats Lawrie Smith GBR 815, Simon Barter GBR 763 and Owen Pay GBR 777 were among several boats that dipped the melee to make the line.

However Graham Bailey GBR 192 had a good start and headed left into the shore.

As the Dragons approached the windward mark near Pwllheli they were met with increasing wind with gusts exceeding 20 knots.

GBR 815, didn't have the best start but it was Lawrie Smith who was in a leading group of three Dragons along with GBR 192 and Grant Gordon's GBR 833.

Abersoch sailors James Budd GBR 808 and Mike Cope GBR 809 used their advantage of local knowledge sailing strongly in the top ten along with Pedro Andrade POR 89, and Denis Bergin IRL 161.

Race 4 Results: (top three)

1. Alfie GBR 815 Lawrie Smith, Goncalo Ribeiro, Ruairidh Scott, Martin Wrigley
2. Louise GBR 833 Grant Gordon, Luke Patience, Elliot Hanson, Faye Chatterton
3. Bluebottle GBR 192 Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Bedford, Killian Boag

Corinthian - The Knucker GBR 808 James Budd, Geoff Edwards, Christopher Thorn

Skipper James Budd commented; "We're enjoying it. It was one of our better mornings. It was quite tricky for the race officer and the committee to set the course because of where the Llanbedrog headland sits. Being local, we knew that it was going to flick left. So that's what we did. We came off the startline and did what we said we were going to do."

Race Five

The unrelenting rain didn't make for great visibility across the bay but by the middle of race five the waves became surfable downwind.

It was not a great start for GBR 192 as they were called over the line (OCS), while GBR 815 laid down a mark to lead from the outset.

Three upwind legs of 1.3 nautical miles delivered some match-race style sailing as every Dragon team were keen to increase their leaderboard positions.

Controlling the race from the front GBR 815 led the fleet with Jerboa GBR 813 and Louise GBR 833 trading places to make up the top three. Closely followed by Saturn POR 89, Little Fella IRL 211, Fit Chick GBR 753 and Bluebottle GBR 192.

"We had a good day today. I'm pleased about that, because we had a tricky second race, yesterday, which sort of left us a bit flat after the day, but we're pleased with today." said Gavia Wilkinson-Cox GBR 813 after the final race of the day.

"We were particularly pleased with our second race, although we lost a place on the last leg, the last beat went to Grant. But we weren't really strong enough to get into a tacking duel with him. We decided to let him go, and keep an eye on everybody else. But it was so changeable, one moment, Pedro was ahead of us then one tack later, he was miles away from us again, so it was really was tricky."

Race 5 Results: (top three)

1. Alfie GBR 815 Lawrie Smith, Goncalo Ribeiro, Ruairidh Scott, Martin Wrigley
2. Louise GBR 833 Grant Gordon, Luke Patience, Elliot Hanson, Faye Chatterton
3. Jerboa GBR 831 Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Mark Hart, Jake Hardman, Ffion Wood

Corinthian - Little Fella IRL 211 Cameron Good, Henry Kingston, Shaun Kingston

The final race of the 76th Edinburgh Cup is scheduled to start at 11:00 am (Friday 12th July).

Full results here www.britishdragons.org/76th-edinburgh-cup-results

Related Articles

Save the Date - Cowes Classics Regatta 2026
The dates now confirmed after a highly successful 2025 event As the curtain comes down on what has been a remarkable Cowes Classics Week 2025, thoughts at the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club turn towards the hosting of Cowes Classics Regatta 2026 with the dates now confirmed. Posted on 5 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 overall
Building breeze and sea state create a spectacular conclusion Ahead of an oncoming, breeze-filled front from the west, the superb race management teams, under the watchful eye of Principal Race Officer Tim Hancock, elected to send all the fleets out early on the concluding day of Cowes Classics Regatta 2025. Posted on 1 Jun
Medway Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta approaching
It's not too late to enter! It is just two weeks before The Medway Yacht Club hosts the 2025 Medway Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta. The dates are 13th to 15th June. Our principal sponsor is Pirates Cave Yacht Chandlery. Posted on 1 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 2
Fog lifts on the Solent to reveal the front-runner A dense, wispy fog sat over the Solent this morning, hampering visibility and causing Cowes Classics Regatta Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, to call a short delay shoreside to let the sun burn through and leave a simply stunning day for all. Posted on 31 May
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 1
Perfect Solent Conditions The Solent shimmered and glistened under early summer sunshine and with a brisk building Force 3-4 westerly wind over tide initially before the turn mid-afternoon, the racing areas of Hill Head and Osborne Bay offered near-perfect conditions. Posted on 31 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura overall
NONO wins Corinthian division, and FEVER the Masters title After an incredible week of high-stakes competition and unforgettable on-and-off- water moments, the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts wrapped Posted on 17 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura day 5
'Provezza Dragon' has already secured the title Day 5 of the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts brought light winds and only one race, but it was enough to make history: Provezza Dragon, led by Andy Beadsworth, has secured the 2025 Dragon World Champion title, ahead of the final da Posted on 16 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura day 4
Leaderboard shake-up Day 4 of the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts delivered picture-perfect "Champagne sailing" conditions, thrilling spectators and teams alike just 3 nautical miles off the coast of Vilamoura. Posted on 15 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura day 3
Consistency and competition Day 3 of the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts brought another day of top-level competition in Vilamoura, as the international fleet completed two races as scheduled. Posted on 14 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura Day 2
Vilamoura delivers outstanding sailing conditions Day 2 of the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts delivered everything sailors could hope for: fair racing, seamless organisation, and a warm community atmosphere. Posted on 13 May
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeZhik 2024 DecemberCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER