Abersoch Mirror Week at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club

John and Alice Edwards win Abersoch Mirror Week 2014 © Tony Bale / www.tonybale.zenfolio.com

Winners John and Alice Edwards with Andy Teague at Abersoch Mirror Week 2014 © Tony Bale / www.tonybale.zenfolio.com

The Old Gaffer leant back on his stool and puffed out his chest. "You should Never Give Up, you see, you need to hang on right to the end and you never know what might happen". Both Man and Boy listened intently and stared deep into their half-empty glasses. "You should never stop looking around you, Dontlego, in case there is a Maverick, a Crafty Fox or a Wizard creeping up behind you, a Jammy Dodger, ready to deploy Sharp Practice and drive you Bananas."

He chuckled to himself as he recalled that, after no play on Monday, due to Bertha's windy tail end, Principal Race Officer Andy Teague called on the 47 entrants to send out crash test dummies (a.k.a. competitive parents) to strut their stuff amid 35 knot gusts. A short course had to be set below the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club because the committee boat's anchor would not hold, such was the strength of the wind. Some never made it to the start line, from where multi-class champion Mike Budd leant back in his toe straps, powered up the short beat to the windward mark just off the beach, hoisted the kite and disappeared into an unchallenged lead. The 13 finishers, out of 17 or so who launched through impressive breakers, were rewarded raucously with Yorkie bars at prize giving by Andy Teague.

The Old Gaffer's eyes narrowed as he considered the impact of the other, Young, Yorkies. Winder's beautiful Keighley-built craft may have been holding sway at the Mirror National Championships in Brixham, but would they here? With all but ten being gaff-rigged, wooden hulls, built from 1966 onwards (some by grandparents of the sailors) and one Trident Race, the Old Gaffer was confident that there would be just as serious competition for his prize as there would be for overall honours amongst the Young Yorkies.

Wednesday had dawned with a more moderate WNW breeze, but which still touched 25 knots in the heavier gusts. The course was the customary two generous triangles on an inshore course from committee boat starts. Race One was won by Dave and Archie Shiel from Mike and Katie Budd, but both the Young Yorkies and The Old Gaffers stuttered in confusion in Race Two as to the configuration of the race winner. Norbert breathed fire from a perfect pin end start as he led all round the course, demonstrating the Third Way: a fine wooden hull and a Bermudan rig. Three races were a challenge for some, but the classic Mirror Week format of allowing crew swaps between races preserved energy for the younger sailors. Six year old Alice, however, preferred to shelter in the Love Boat RIB for a cuddle from Rachel to warm up before returning to Race Three. Such was the support from all the volunteers ashore and afloat that 33 finished this race. With the Budds taking the win from the Shiels, these two led overnight: the Hamels showing their power to take a share of third as the leading gaff-rigged boat. Many yarns were spun late into the evening once the beach huts were commandeered for the barbecue, held on a classic Abersoch fine sunny summer's evening.

On Thursday, three races were again completed in a shifty 12-15 knots NW breeze. The Young Yorkies and Old Gaffers were shown by Andy Teague that you should start Any Which Way You Can, as the line bias altered with each race. John and Alice Edwards found an extra turn of speed and fortune to take three wins, showing again that a well-prepared, 21 years old, amateur-built wooden hull equipped with a Bermudan rig can compete equally with the Young Yorkies. With three points separating the leading three it would be all to play for on the final day, but that was not a concern for the 100 lucky few who were able to gain a ticket for the sell-out Mirror Drive, compered by the ever-humorous PRO and fuelled in the Cove Restaurant at SCYC by the talented chef David Smith and his team.

And so next morning the chips were down. The family battles were tense, particularly for the extended Atherton/Taylor and Hodges families, who had entered four boats each. Race Seven was led from start to finish by Dave and Archie Shiel from John and Alice Edwards, who survived a second lap charge from the consistent junior trophy winning Wonder Woman in Pinky2, Rebecca Greaves, with her crew Liv Withers.

Happy faces at Abersoch Mirror Week 2014 - photo © Tony Bale / www.tonybale.zenfolio.com

The Old Gaffer knew the score: it would be winner takes all in the final race. As the wind backed significantly in the minute before the start, Sharp Practice dived for the pin end, then port taking the fleet. However, the less adverse tide inshore allowed the Shiels and Budds to sneak through, with this order being held very closely round to the last mark. But the wise words of the Old Gaffer were heeded. Edwards stayed low after the rounding and Alice called a tack onto starboard, ducking Budd and sailing into less adverse current and a favourable left shift, delighting in taking the gun and overall honours. The Budds also sneaked through to second, but the Shiels had done enough to retain second overall. There was funny business behind also. "Oh Globbits!" Captain Blue was heard to exclaim, when Bob sneaked a lee bow on him just before the finish to take 8th place in the race.

Rebecca and Liv finished an excellent 5th overall to take the juniors prize: Hamble River SC's Foxer champion Chris Hamel with Alex was the first Gaffer in a commendable 7th position. The Silver Fleet was won by talented youngsters James and Matt Waddington from Dee SC, who were up in the leading group in Race 4.

Abersoch Mirror Week 2014 - photo © Tony Bale / www.tonybale.zenfolio.com

Andy Teague, however, reminded a packed SCYC bar that everyone was a winner, with prizes being awarded to all participants. A variety of popular Special Recognition Awards were made also. The £45 entry fee represented excellent value, but was only made possible by the expertise and hard work of all the volunteers on the water and ashore. With 47 entries from 18 clubs travelling from as far as Kent and Scotland, Abersoch Mirror Week remains a firm family favourite and, once again, the largest Mirror regatta in the UK.

There will be difficult choices in 2015, with the Mirror National Championships at SCYC coinciding with Abersoch Mirror Week. As well as the decision of which fleet to join, the Old Gaffers will now have to consider whether there will be investment in Young Yorkies, preservation of their traditional rig or going the third way of a wooden hull with a Bermudan rig. With the successful recipe of short back to back races held inshore, aimed at the entire range of experience from first time racing youngsters to competitive champion parents, and with the Nationals providing a different challenge further offshore, there will be no place better for Mirror sailors of all abilities in 2015 than at Abersoch from August 15th to 21st.

Prize Winners:

1st Gold Fleet Helm: John Edwards
1st Gold Fleet Crew: Alice Edwards
1st SCYC boat: Dave Shiel and Archie Shiel
1st Silver Fleet Helm: James Waddington
1st Silver Fleet Crew: Matt Waddington
Youngest Helm: Izzy Bray
First Girl Boat: Rebecca Greaves and Liv Withers
Biggest mishap: Christian Lee (we won't tell...)
Tish Fildes Tray (awarded to someone who has done something exceptional): Lizzie Allen
Seamanship Trophy: Charlie Middleton
1st Wooden Boat with Gaff Rig: Chris Hamel
First Boat with a Combined Crew Age of Under 30 Years: Rebecca Greaves and Liv Withers

Abersoch Mirror Week 2014 - photo © Tony Bale / www.tonybale.zenfolio.com

Overall Results: