Chelmarsh Sailing Club annual weekend away at Dovey Yacht Club

Chelmarsh SC annual weekend away at Dovey YC © Martin Smith

Chelmarsh Sailing Club held its annual sailing weekend at Aberdyfi, hosted by Dovey Yacht Club over the weekend 16th to 18th May. An event in its 27th year which has become a cherished tradition, offering both competitive racing and camaraderie against the stunning backdrop of the Dyfi estuary.

The weekend featured five races — three on Saturday and two on Sunday — with 21 boats taking part, including 18 from Chelmarsh. Saturday's conditions were forecast to be on the light side, however it soon became apparent that the easterly direction funnelled the cool breeze down the estuary, producing ideal conditions; sunshine, a steady force 4, manageable neap tides and glistening blue waters, leading to what many described as "champagne" racing.

Race 1 saw the only race of the weekend with wind against tide generating a vicious short chop, foreign to the pond sailors from Chelmarsh. The tide also pushed the racers onto the start line, causing some real carnage at the committee boat end. It was the Hickson brothers, Grant & Brian from Dovey, who knew the fastest way up the first beat, their grey Dovey designed GP14 leading around the windward mark.

A set of long off-wind legs of various angles saw the three Supernovas quickly passing and stretching away from the slower boats, Martin Smith, David Partridge and Matt Thursfield swapping places throughout the 40-minute race. Matt took the first hooter, but his celebrations were short lived when it soon became clear that the magic of Jonathan Carter and Gareth Wilkinson had raced their GP14 at breakneck speed to take the race on corrected times - two seconds in it!

Race two after a leisurely lunch saw the tide turn, the course configuration changed, and the breeze just raise its pressure by a knot or two. Matt pulled away from his Supernova compatriots, Richard Coates in his ILCA7 using his local knowledge to his advantage and climbed up the order, however it was the Solo fleet which saw the most tactical sailing between club commodore David Thursfield, Neil Thornton, Tracy Hannan and Mike Whitehouse.

None were giving an inch as they called rules at every opportunity.

As was to become a theme, it was JC and GW who again took the corrected time win, this time by a cavernous 6 seconds!

The final Saturday race saw the course stretch out to a windward-leeward configuration, the three GPs flying their multicoloured spinnakers powering along in the gorgeous afternoon sunshine, John & Cathy Toone making their presence known towards the top five of the race results.

As is customary, the Saturday night inside the Yacht Club saw a cracking meal, laughter and anecdotes shared amongst the groups of Dovey and Chelmarsh members - a retying of this close bond between the two clubs.

Chelmarsh SC annual weekend away at Dovey YC - photo © Martin Smith

Sunday dawned, a calmer estuary, less breeze but it was building as the sails were hoisted and the green launch-flag raised on the flagpole. A flooding tide, a north-westerly breeze of 'side-sitting' strength, meant it was a 'hug the shoreline' kind of day, certainly on the beats - 30 tacks minimum I'd say in that first race.

Line honours went to Will Brookes sailing his ILCA6 finishing a lap ahead of the Supernovas of Matt and Martin. The GP of JC & GW took their fourth victory of the weekend with Tracy Hannan guiding her Solo to the top of the Solo fleet in the far more manageable conditions.

The final race, a rectangular course, with a tight reach giving the non-spinnaker boats a chance to make their PYs work. It was Ade Speke in his Aero 9 who had his best race of the weekend, getting that rig to work - life lesson: the forecast at Aberdyfi is not worth the screen time - always pack every sail plan you can find, bring the largest and smallest you've got - the microclimate on the Welsh coastline requires the drysuit and shortie.

If the kit bag closes at the first time, you've not packed for Dovey!

Chelmarsh SC annual weekend away at Dovey YC - photo © Martin Smith

So, a fabulous weekend of estuary sailing was brought to a close, JC and Gareth gently ringing the Dovey bells with a convincing set of races across a range of stunning conditions.

Lead Supernova was Matt T in second, Martin S in third overall. Richard C took first Laser, Mike W lead Solo and first Dovey boat were Grant & Brian H.

Huge thanks from all at Chelmarsh to the whole community from Dovey YC, giving up their weekend to rescue, guide, support and share their little piece of paradise with us.

Overall Results:

Chelmarsh SC annual weekend away at Dovey YC - photo © Martin Smith