Pwllheli Sailing Club's May Day Series 2026
by Vicky Cox 7 May 05:17 PDT
2-4 May 2026
Close racing between Finally, Crackajack and Lightning - Pwllheli SC's May Day Series © Paul Jenkinson
The May Bank Holiday weekend in Pwllheli combined round the cans inshore racing on Sunday and Monday with a coastal race on Saturday.
With a forecast of rain showers on Saturday and wind due to die off during the day, the conditions were actually quite bright with a reasonable amount of wind to get the fleet away.
Everyone lined up closely in the starting area with Paul & Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350, Finally, pushing Paul Sutton's Farr X2, Lightning, out at the pin end but with Robert Temple's X40 Excession sailing tight on the wind beneath them they were unable to build any speed. Sam and Andrew Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra were a tad late to the line but arrived with plenty of speed to immediately take the lead, rounding the Partington Marine turning mark well ahead.
Robert Temple and Matthew Harrison's X40 Sport were also able to maximise on speed, pulling away from Finally and following Pata Negra around the mark.
Meanwhile Geoff Dufton-Kelly's Crackajack replaced Excession below Finally with Lightning, rejoining the pack alongside them for some close manoeuvring toward the mark. All three rounding the Partington Marine mark together.
Further back was the first of the YTC fleet with Tim Rouse sailing his Hunter Channel 31, Theia, single handed.
The fleet headed through the St Tudwall sound where they were joined by a pod of dolphins.
Just coming out of the sound, Tim Rouse on Theia, assumed the IRC fleet were already well on their way to the Gwylan islands at Aberdaron, the turning point of the course before heading home. However, little did he know that a change of breeze and strengthening spring tides once out of the St Tudwall sound had left them bobbing in the Porth Ceriad bay just around the corner.
Lack of wind and strengthening spring tides made it difficult to fill newly hoisted kites with whatever zephyrs could be found.
Excession and Finally chose to keep close inshore while Lightning and Crackajack took a more offshore route avoiding wind shadows at the headlands. Further ahead Pata Negra were attempting to round Cilan Head only to struggle in the tide against them. With tide getting stronger Excession decided to retire.
Another two hours of perseverance and not much progress, time was called on the race and Yellow brick tracker positions at 17:00 were used to calculate the leaderboard. Pata Negra won with Finally a close second place.
Theia took first place in YTC but remained out for a while longer to do a spot of fishing before joining the other crews in the local Indian restaurant to discuss the day's racing.
Sunday and Monday's racing suffered similar light winds but with bright skies there was plenty of appetite for a sail encouraging some young sailors out on boats. Both days were enjoyed by spectators along the beach.
Sunday's course headed west around the Partington Marine turning mark before heading out to mark number 4 (sponsorship available) then returning to the finish via the S&S Tyres turning mark towards the east of Gimblet Rock but with failing winds only the one race was possible.
Mondays racing presented slightly more breeze again making use of the S&S Tyres mark, this time along with the fairway buoy before heading west along the whole length of the beach to the Firmhelm Marine mark at the west end.
Mark Thompson & Stephen Tudor's J70 Sgrech Bach took early leads on both days with some slick manoeuvres while the bigger boats of Finally and Crackajack both suffered in the light airs.
Sgrech Bach won the May Day series convincingly with three bullets. Full results on the club website, www.pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk
Thanks to all our mark sponsors, Partington Marine, Firmhelm Marine, Tudor Estate Agents and S&S Tyres. There are still a few marks left available for sponsorship. Get in touch with the club if interested.