Abersoch Mirror Week 2025 at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club
by Neil Baker 18 Aug 18:21 AEST
10-15 August 2025
Abersoch Week 2025 started a couple of days late this after waiting for the wind. Monday and Tuesday became beach days for the many families but on Wednesday morning the breeze arrived and 49 boats got out on time for the 11am start and a planned 3 races.
After several general recalls and increased port bias the fleet got away. In a light 5-8 knots we were all tacking to the right to get clear. I was sailing with my 4 year old son Rory and we were with the front bunch. Pre-event favourites like Dobsons, Budds and McGoverns were line abreast bringing up the left side. JP and Claire Marks were coming up strong underneath and we were falling into their lee so we tacked. 2 mins later they came in from the right leading and we were stuck in dying wind in the middle. The wind dropped down to just a few knots. A couple more tacks and we didn't seem to have moved whilst JP and Claire lead the race down wind with the favourites chasing.
We slipped right down to the high 30s, only ten-ish boats behind us, at the first mark. How did we end up here...in a similar position we got last year in an old wooden boat.
My mind went to a dark place: this was the nightmare scenario coming true. The day before I'd spent a load of money on a boat to upgrade from wood in a possibly, well probably reckless way, and was now paying for it. The boat was a dog, or worse, it was me. Now I'd have to face up to this with my wife, Katy, not a sailor, how I'd wasted 4 grand on a plastic version of the, unsold, wooden thing that had been taking up space in out garage for the past 18 months, which it seems goes exactly the same speed.
Perhaps a bit more background:
18 months ago we bought a wooden mirror, Dotty, and started our 5 and 3 year old kids sailing. I couldn't find a plastic one so settled for a cheaper wooden option, named "Dotty" with love heart stylised writing on the side, and got us on the water. I'd been sold on the idea of Abersoch week by a few people so we went along in 2024 and had a good time. It is an amazing place, beautiful beach, lovely sailing club and great organisation. Which always surprises me having only been to nearby Pwllheli before which certainly doesn't have the same vista. A few miles past Pwllheli and the whole place changes and becomes the Llyn Peninsula area of outstanding natural beauty. A stunning paradise of unmatched sandy beaches and crystal seas. The kids loved it. They made new friends and never stopped all week. We didn't have a lot of pace which was a tad frustrating for an overly competitive middle aged man but it was better to be sailing than waiting around for a plastic boat to come up. They're like hens teeth. This way we're were doing it, having fun as a family and getting them to experience it all. I'd figured out a bit about the rig set up to improve it a little and also figured out a few improvements to make Dotty easier to sail and maybe slightly faster.
I'd been keeping an eye out for a Winder mirror to come up, just in case, but they seem to always be sold before they are available or gone within 5 minutes of the advert going on Facebook or wherever. I'd even spoken to one person, an old mate, who said they'd advertised their boat just to make their other mate buy it, a mate more matey then me I guess.
In the meantime time I knuckled down and got to work improving the boat: getting wood to match the thwart to mount control line cleats, fill in and sand back the skeg, improve the spinnaker pole control system and buying a new spinnaker to replace the one resembling a partially dissolved nappy we'd been given with the boat.
But then I got lucky, someone posted on a what's app group that they had a winder boat for sail, "Wind Whistler". I called him immediately and after a few questions, of which I was probably too excited to listen to any responses I said I'd take it. The boat sounded broadly ok when he'd bought it and he hadn't used it. It was probably 20 years old so might need a bit of TLC but it's epoxy right? It SHOULD be ok. I didn't want to wait and someone else snatch it. Who knew when one would come up again. Lets not worry about the fact I'm now taking the family to a sailing event where they're all relying on me to make it happen and we're not even taking a boat, just gambling on one when we get there that hasn't moved in 2 years and might need a full re-fit. I googled up the 2023 worlds results, it had come top ten, it must be ok. I repeated this to myself every few minutes on the 5 hour drive to abersoch, silently papping myself. Not to mention the confidence draining conversation earlier that day with the vendor who didn't seem to know if the boat had an over or under cover or a trailer board. A couple of text messages to say the covers had been found helped a little.
Due to a load of other circumstances we couldn't even get there early, we arrived in abersoch to collect the boat at 4.30 pm, you had to register by 5.30 so things were getting a tad more nervy. I had a quick look at it and my heart started sinking. It was all but in a hedge, it had a few knocks in it and they hadn't even got the right colour gel coat to mend a chip (face palm). The hull looked, well, a bit average; dents and scrapes etc and despite the vendor giving it a scrub it still had lumps of stuff growing on the hull. Katy said "is it ok? Is it what you expected?". HMMMMMM, in a way it was exactly what I'd expected, more "feared" if I was honest, so I put on a brave face and said "Yeah, I think so, we'll find out tomorrow when the event starts". On reflection maybe that didn't sound so brave.
Anyway, we packed it up, paid and drove it to the club. TBH it still blows my mind that you can transfer thousands of pounds on a Sunday afternoon to a stranger with just a few taps on your phone and then they say "great, all yours" just seconds later. We just made the registration then rushed off to get our accommodation without giving the boat a serious check. There was no wind forecast so I gambled that I'd have time to rig and sort it before racing. Did I mention it came top ten at the worlds?
Monday came and with no wind we stripped the covers off and rigged Wind Whistler. It all looked ok so we flipped her on her side and cracked the Jif out. It's Jif, not Cif and never will be. She cleaned up pretty good. Everyone else was digging sand castles and paddle boarding. General abersoch fun.
Tuesday came again with no wind. This time we didn't even bother to get to the beach on time. When we did, it was the same story. Multiple delays and then an earlier cancel for the day meant loads more sandcastles and paddle boarding. And ice cream, plenty of delicious ice cream options all over Abersoch.
Back to the event and Wednesday kicked off with enough wind to race so off we went. The first race wasn't going well. Rory didn't care though. He was singing away and chatting in the front. No idea what was going on but somehow always being in the right place in the boat with minimal direction. He doesn't trim any sheets but he does the odd small job like release the pole or cut the jib. We pulled the kite up and got into the race again in the reach. The wind built a little to 7ish knots and our light weight gave us a bit of speed around the triangle. We even cut low and gained a few boats at the leeward mark as they got stuck coming down against the tide. Classic move.
We still had work to do. Luckily there were shifts to play so we did what we could. The speed seemed ok and we managed to get good lanes to pull back about 10 places and loads of distance. Then in the reaches we managed the same low trick to gain more and get up to a respectable 16th. Well, it felt like a big win after the first leg.
At the front Ross and Freddie Kearney had taken the race with Ian and Ted Dobson in 2nd. Places throughout the fleet were changing over like mad with the racing very close.
This is where the magic of Abersoch week kicks in. They have a rib with loads of crews all ready to swap. We switched Rory for my elder son Fionn, aged 7 and veteran of last year's event. Katy had quite liked the trip out to see a bit of the sailing on the rib too. Fionn seemed to think 16th was good as it was better than any result last year. He was excited to race which was good as we had 2 races to go. An extra one planned to help make up from the first two days.
Race 2 was different. The breeze steadied to be more consistent around 7-10 knots. Loads more recalls and they gradually moved the pin up to increase the bias. The pin was getting busier each start. We ended up coming in on port, ducking a bunch and then popped out like we'd been fired from a cannon. I panicked on the blag flag and we dipped down but then I realised the gun had already gone so off we went. I had no idea if we were over. At least we had clear air as the pin end bunch all tacked out quicky. Racing stayed tight and we managed to get round the 1st mark in the low teens. The McGoverns took an early lead and were uncatchable with the Dobsons in pursuit but the next 10, or was it 15 of us, we're so close anything could happen. People were going high and low on the reaches and bunches were forming. We managed to sneak ahead of a big bunch to be about 7th. The beat was hectic with us all playing the shifts and keeping it tight. Toby and Molly Wincer were holding 3rd. James and Evie Budd and Katy Archer and Summer were right on them with us just behind as we sailed round the triangle. Suddenly Toby tried to do a 360 with the kite half up, apparently Molly saying they hit the gybe mark. By the mark Katy and Summer got into a solid 3rd and the rest of us tried to out do each other in the short hop to the finish. We came out 4th. Maybe this boat DID come top 10 at the worlds! Fionn was over the moon. He'd been trying so hard to help in the boat and was fist pumping with joy about "our new best result".
The tricky thing with these kids is getting them to do enough in the boat to feel like they're helping but not so much to scare them or stress them and put them off. Fionn has done enough sailing to start doing more but I know I can't push him as he just kicks off as opposed to Rory who just does as directed. We also don't sail regularly enough for him to do as much as the better crews in the fleet. He was really wanting to do more now so we just discuss what he wanted to do and got him doing more with the jib and a little bit of pole work at the top and bottom marks. Some of the 6 and 7 year olds are even doing the pole in gybes and trimming the kite which is really impressive. It's interesting talking to the other parents about how they manage it. In most cases time on the water away from racing is best, short sessions too, but the dilemma is always finding the time. Some parents are able to really get even 5 year olds doing lots but it's all about finding the balance for each child.
Anyway, as mentioned Race 3 had been shoehorned into the sailing instructions to make up for the first two days. The racing was very similar. Lightish breeze and tight racing. Form was taking shape amongst the top bunch. Team Dobson lead away from start to finish. The Kearney's took second, Budds third and McGoverns 4th. We managed a 6th just behind the Stewart's having nipped a very tight finish from the Katie and Summer and the Hayden's. Three races done in some glorious sun and a lot of tired kids returned to the beach. More paddle boarding, sand castles and ice cream which seems to be the fountain of all energy for young kids. Then the fantastic beach games expertly run by the club with tug of war, running races and welly wanging. Afterwards we ourselves had dinner in Nwdl for our wedding anniversary, which was brilliant.
Thursday dawned with another millpond but after a short delay we launched into a quick building breeze from the north west, coming over the peninsula, that settled at around 12-16 knots. Rory had tagged in demanding it was his turn for two races. With a square line the starts got away easily. The chocolate hunters were all at the starboard end where for 3 starts in a row we got squeezed out with 30 seconds to go as the Dobsons and Budds came in with boat handling I couldn't imagine. But today Wind Whistler lifted her skirt to show a fine pair of legs. She wanted to run with the pack today, thank god.
The 3 races blurred together to be honest. We tacked early to get a lane and blasted out to the right waiting for a shift to get back in contact with the fleet. Each time seeing the leaders, always the Dobsons today as they won all 3, closely followed by a constantly changing top 10 pack. You just had to pick some shifts and lanes and get to the mark. One time we came in from port over standing a smidge and lost 6 boats ducking at the mark to tack. Then the melee of getting the kites up, I developed the world class technique of dropping the tiller to get the guy in the pole whilst praying we didn't spin out as Rory just shouted "Dad, dad, dad" in support/panic/laughter usually as the boat started to head up and I fumbled back for the tiller. I keep telling myself to learn to use my foot but it never happens in the moment. Then the tactical chicanery of who goes high and who goes low. Every time someone would win on both sides. A couple of times we snuck ahead of packs or had to tuck in behind. The general rule was we lost out at the gybe mark and had to try and make it back. It's great to see some of the young crews gybing their boats like pros. But upwind we were flying.
The Dobsons took the first race with Budds and McGoverns right behind. We snuck 4th having held off hard charging Archers and Wincers. Top ten at the worlds I guess.
The second race was another Dobson win whilst Paul and Adrian Hayden took a brilliant 2nd. We snatched 3rd from the Budds on the line after splitting to brave the incoming reaching boats into the finish. We'd been chatting how sodding hard the racing was on the reach.
But the comedy moment of the race goes to Katie Archer and Summer. We'd started at the boat end and Kirsty and Harris Mitchell had, as usual, snuck the perfect start coming in to the gap at the gun. Looking to tack and duck them Katie was telling me to tack. I gave a look of "obvs but there's a boat" as I was trying to judge when to go and helping Rory get ready, wanting to go sooner rather than later. We did a tack and big bare away and just got round behind Kirsty and Harris and into clear air and relief. A few seconds later I heard a screeching shout behind as Katie and Kirsty slammed a crash tack away from each other. Katie ended up rolling back out the boat as a confused Summer hung on to the wheelying/capsizing boat. That's right, other people can sail badly from time to time, not just Sail GP. Kirsty and Harris made a clean break clear for a top 5 round the first mark at least.
In the last race it was all looking the same again. Same bunch at the starboard end, Team Mitchell coming in once again to prove I can't start. This time Fionn had tagged in and with him able to do the jib our tacks were better. We tacked off again and held a lift across to the right coming back on another lift sticking right with the front bunch to the mark. This was the race we overstood costing us a nice second place but a duck and good hoist had us right in the race. It must have been 7 boats all overlapped down the reach chasing who else but the Dobsons. We tried to roll them and almost made it but got pinned out at the gybe mark and dropped to the back. Then the fun started as everyone was still on top of each other steaming, as much as mirrors do, into the bottom mark. Jonny McGovern was a boat in front of us, clearly having trouble with the crews union negotiations and opting to use scab labour, himself, for this race. Watching him dive to the inside and take water on everyone we watched them all rack up and starting shouting for room. So an early drop and hang back and we were able to nip inside all of them for 3rd place. Fionn was laughing and busy telling me what they all did wrong for the rest of the beat. 7 year olds love to state firm facts about things they barely understand.
Now the real fun started. We were right with the Dobsons and Wincers who'd snuck into the lead. I said to Fionn we should go after them this time and he even got up to perch on the gunwale to help. But it was no use. The Dobsons just sailed off showing great speed as Ted also got out his hiking boots. We went back and forth with Toby and Molly but the Budds and then the Kearney's were flying too and we ended up 5th at the mark behind them in that order. We tried everything to the finish but the positions held.
It was a great day and Fionn even asked if we could carry on sailing. So we did until the ribs came and told us off for not tallying. We had to get back and ready for the all important disco at 6pm, via the excellent mexican in the village. The kids were all super excited if not a little worn out. Most of them spent the disco running down to the pontoon looking for crabs anyway whilst us parents discussed the challenges joys of easing our kids into the sport. There were some comedy conversations about people buying boats and explaining it to their non-sailing spouses but you'll have to find me for that story 1-1 as I can't divulge that secret here.
Friday dawned with a decent forecast but the wind didn't play until 1pm where it started to fill with a very light easterly. We managed to get a start away which, after a wind shift to the right, turned into a drag race to the mark through chop from motor boats. The Dobsons sailed off for another win closely followed by the McGoverns. The rest of us had one of those nail biting light to nothing races trying to doge the holes. Katie and Summer did a great job pulling right through to 3rd. Just as we finished a lovely force 3 filled in but hey ho. The event was done.
Ian and Ted had done a fantastic job to win the event showing great speed and for Ted, perseverance as he really doesn't like putting on a damp wetsuit each morning. James and Evie Budd had done a great job to take 2nd. We couldn't quite work out if we'd made the podium or not as I'd clean forgotten what the points were but the McGoverns great final race had put them right back in it. I watched my boys faces light up through the prize-giving as the results were read out and they realised we still hadn't been called. In the end 4th was our place and well done to team McGovern for rounding out the podium.
There were some great spot prizes with best dressed boat going to Megan and Macy Turner in Hei Hei, replete with grass skirts, garlanded boat and a Hei Hei on the foredeck. Jules Vass took first wooden and single handed. The many 4 year old crews got a prize as the youngest competitors with an extra special mention to Nell McGovern at just 3. All the helms under 10 got prizes and first under 10 and first gaff rig went to Charlie and Louie Merrick. First Junior was Esme Hatsell and Pavla Vernik.
A special thank you must go to the club and many, many volunteers who make the event happen. Multiple social events, beach games, brilliant organisation and great racing.
If anyone out there is wanting to get into the fleet I can't recommend it more. It's great family sailing and Abersoch is the perfect place to take the family. Yes, 2nd hand Winders are hard to find so start with a wooden one and get into it, no one cares about your ego but you. Your kids will just enjoy doing something together, learning new things and making new friends. Once you've got into the fleet you're much more likely to find someone willing to sell and be there at the right moment it becomes available...Or just get a new one, they hold their value like nothing I've ever seen and the 2027 worlds at Poole will be a brilliant event to aim for.
Full results can be found here.
See you next year, 16th to 21st of August, or at the 2025 Nationals at Netley on the 28th-30th of August.