Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 10 at Royal Anglesey Yacht Club
by Mike Hardie 27 Jun 2021 22:24 PDT
26 June 2021
With four more boats now in the water, making a total of 17, it looked like being an interesting day on the water, with a 'Puffin' race scheduled in the programme.
For those of you unfamiliar with the class and the waters we sail on, we normally have 3 or 4 races during the season, which take us through the sound between Penmon Point & Puffin Island and into the 'proper' Irish Sea. Unfortunately with a Fresh NE and a strong ebb meaning wind over tide conditions (i.e. very lumpy), our Race Officer, Chris decided that it was possibly a little 'lively', even that legendary 'Old Man of the Sea' Stan (have you seen me on TV?) Zalot had cancelled all his Puffin trips to see the Seals on his tourist boats!
With an 'X' course of B6, Magdalen, B8 and Hwfa set by the Race Control Competitors Interface and with not too much tide running at the start, the middle of the line seemed to be favourite and was consequently a little crowded, but surprisingly quiet. 38, Mike & Pippa (Steve being away on Grandfather duty) were judged to be OCS (and consequently did the decent thing and dropped to the back of the fleet and had a coaching / familiarisation session for the new owner of 24, Pippa) while 30, Gwen & Jay judged it perfectly and got the best start (see photo). The long beat was enjoyed by all in the fresh conditions, with 30 having sailed a great beat, rounding first, with 41, Family Yates next around, followed by 42, Tim & Guest with 7, Howard, Georgie & Leo, 35, Hugo & Bob, 5, Andy & Pete, 15, Tak, Dave & Guest, 34, Family Flower and 29, Trigger & G (whose motivational talents seemed not to be working) in reasonably close company. 6, Alli & Caroline (who had started late) brought up the rear, with 38 following in full teaching mode.
The long run to Magdalen initially prompted the fleet to split, with the majority sticking to the Anglesey side but with, 35, 5 and 42 taking a route over the banks until they arrived at B8, when they headed across to the Anglesey shore to join the rest of the fleet, from where your reporter was, it didn't look as if there was much difference between the two sides (but I was a long way away!!) The next decision point was as the fleet approached Beaumaris, with most crossing the tide to the slacker water over the banks, but with 7 and a couple of other boats choosing to sail through the moorings, a winning move as it turned out as she had clearly taken the lead by Gallows Point. A lead she held to Magdalen, which she rounded first, followed by 5 with the rest of the fleet not far behind. The beat (with the tide, always a pleasure) to B8 saw place changes I am sure (too far away to see) but 7 held her lead, again followed by 5, with 41, 35, 42 and 30 fighting for a podium position.
A run to Hwfa saw places being consolidated, and rounding first, 7, was pleased to hear the shorten course signal and she held on to take the chocolates and her maiden win of the season, followed by 5, 41, 35, 42, 30, 34, 15 & 29. 6 had previously retired.
So yet another winner, that's 8 in 10 races and its surely only a matter of time before 30 manages to stay in front all the way round!