Tideway Nationals at Llangorse Sailing Club

The Tideway National Championships were held over the weekend of the 10/11th June with the racing on Saturday the 10th. It was sailed at the picturesque Llangorse Lake, which is situated close to Brecon and where the Llangorse S.C. kindly, sociably and very competently hosted the event.

10 Boats, both old original wooden Tideway’s and newer GRP versions travelled from all over the UK to compete for the 41 year old Walker Challenge Trophy for which class rules require a crew of two, and for the Rosebowl which is awarded to the highest placed single handed boat. The schedule was for three races to be sailed with one discard.

Unfortunately Saturday’s weather forecast turned out to be only too accurate, glorious sun but windy, the race officer on the committee/start boat recorded force 5/6 occasionally gusting 7 from the south. However, with L.S.C. racing scheduled for Sunday the races had to be sailed and 9 fully reefed boats launched for the first race, which was to be sailed on a figure of 8 course over 6 laps

Race 1 proved to be very taxing and demanding with several awkward marks, the fleet became quite spread out and with most battling just to survive intact the gun was given after 2 laps to TW299 (Mary Davies/Elizabeth Lloyd) with TW216 second (Danny Lindsey/Diana Lindsey) and TW84 (Pat Thomson/John Ruck) third. Three boats retired which included in their number the only two single handers. A tribute is due perhaps to Lew Walker, that despite the conditions, there were no capsizes and no outside assistance was required although kindly made available from L.S.C.

The wind was not abating and a break was taken ashore. The weather did not improve and sadly only three boats launched after lunch for races 2 & 3, which were to be sailed back to back. Race 2 was sailed over a modified triangular course to remove the earlier most difficult marks and as a concession to the age of most of these boats again it was shortened to 2 Laps. Race 2 was won by TW299 (Mary Davies/Elizabeth Lloyd) with TW84 (Pat Thomson/John Ruck) in second and unfortunately the third boat TW382 (Charles Birch/Vivien Irwin) retired. With the wind increasing and the fleet reducing, racing was then abandoned.

In a prize giving held in front of Llangorse S.C. the Walker Challenge Trophy was awarded to Mary Davies for the second consecutive year with engraved tankards and commerative mugs from L.S.C. awarded to the first three crews. The Campbell Quaich which is awarded for best maintained wooden boat was popularly awarded to the 39 year old Tideway sail no TW206 ‘Cello’ which is owned and maintained by Murial Widnall, the Rosebowl for Single handers was not awarded this year.

The Tideway Owners Association AGM was held in the L.S.C. clubhouse after the meeting with 20 members in attendance, followed by a fleet supper.

Overall Results: