Tenby Sailing Club Regatta sponsored by Lewis Lewis & Co Ltd
by Ted Lewis 23 Jun 2015 13:04 BST
20-21 June 2015
On the reach during the Tenby Sailing Club Regatta © TSC
Tenby Sailing Club held its annual Regatta over the week end just gone. Visiting boats arrived during Friday and Saturday morning and by the 12.30 race time 34 competitors headed out to the race course.
A mixed fleet included 10 Ospreys, 5 RS200s, three Lasers, a couple of Fireballs and assorted other classes. The race Committee set a triangular course well off shore and three races were run back to back in a somewhat shifty but exciting force four westerly breeze. Some tremendous down wind legs, under spinnakers for those boats who have them, were enjoyed by the entire fleet.
After the three races the Regatta was won by Chris Martin and George from Birmingham sailing a Merlin Rocket, with local Osprey sailed by Ted and Lucas second, and visiting Fireball of Keith MacDonald and Andy Brittan third. All then adjourned to the club for refreshment, food and a band in the evening.
Sunday was a bit greyer and a bit windier. However enthusiasm was high and the marks were laid for the round Caldey race. Cruisers got away first just after 12 noon and headed for the island. Fifteen minutes later the dinghy fleet, enlarged by a couple more entries, was off. It was a tight reach at the start in the North bay, hardening to fully close hauled along the south beach and through the sound, with spinnakers hoisted for the run around the back of the Island. The significant outgoing tide and opposing wind produced some boisterous areas at the east and west ends of the Island, but with a good stiff breeze blowing this caused the competitors no problems and the fleet quickly emerged onto the return leg. Again this was a tightish reach, too tight for spinnakers, from Paul Jones Bay across to Monkstone and from there back into the bay to the finish line.
In the Cruiser fleet Aries skippered by Steve Lewis took the honours from Slipstream skippered by Blake Shaw, both given a head start by Tejada who was over the line at the start and had to re-start!
In the dinghies it was visitors to the fore, the race being won by Keith and Andy in their Fireball from the Osprey of Oscar and Lisa Chess in second and the Scorpion of Peter Rose in third. First Tenby boat was the Osprey of Alistair McKay and Alastair Knibbs in seventh place, continuing their recent run of good form. This earned the Alistairs the Rolly Squibbs trophy, presented in memory of former Commodore and keen racer, Rolly Squibbs.
The week end concluded with a prize giving in the clubhouse on Sunday afternoon. Competitors were keen to know which of five competing teams had won the team prize of £500 kindly sponsored by local Solicitors, Lewis Lewis & Co Ltd. After the first day "The Bandits" from Tenby were in pole position but they did not fare well around the Island, and after all the figures were worked out it was the "Tata Tarts" from Port Talbot who took the money. Well done to them! Matters finished with a generous vote of thanks given by Oscar Chess.
Many thanks to all members who gave up their time to help to run another successful club regatta.