Pwllheli Summer Series Day 3
by Vicky Cox 26 Jun 2023 22:23 BST
24-25 June 2023
Mojito taking line honours on Day 4 of the Pwllheli Summer Series © Paul Jenkinson
This week saw the fourth of this year's six ISORA coastal races in Pwllheli, which formed day 3 of the Pwllheli Summer Series. As with previous coastals the fleet were started in half hour intervals based on class with class 2 and 3 going first.
Blue skies and a decent 15-18kts greeted the fleet and they were soon well on their way on the 12nm route out towards the cardinal buoy at the end of St Badrig’s causeway. Many of the fleet were joined by dolphins on route.
Zig zag were first to round the mark closely followed by Mojito but once Zigzag hoisted their kite on the reach towards the St Tudwall islands they were able to maintain their lead and keep Mojito at bay.
Once round the islands Mojito started to make more ground on Zigzag on the run back to Pwllheli in reducing winds of around 8-10kts. In class Zero, Jackknife were passing the fleet one by one and gaining on the leading two boats fast!
Sadly a kite blow out on the two handed Zigzag scuppered what looked to be a sure podium place. On to the finish and a couple of gybes before the line put Andrew and Sam Hall’s Jackknife in front giving them a fine win overall and in class zero. Mojito took 2nd place and 1st in class with Steve Williams’s Darling xx taking 3rd overall. Honeybee took 1st in class 2.
Sunday, day 4 of the Summer series and apart from the storm clouds hovering nearby, the day started with similar conditions for three round the cans races. Everyone was eager to get ahead and there was much pushing for the line. J70 Sgrech Bach, helmed by Thomas Tudor managed to squeeze in at the pin end next to Mojito but both boats were forced to put in a quick duck back behind the line at the start gun. Once round the first mark the fleet spread out leaving Mojito to take 1st overall. Sgrech Bach took 2nd and Gary Ward’s Altima took 3rd place.
The second race saw Will Partington’s Honeybee over at start leaving Mojito to get ahead after a perfectly timed approach.
However just as they were about to round the first mark the heavens opened and all wind disappeared.
Crew onboard all agreed that these were their least favourite sailing conditions - heavy rain and no wind but as the wind shifted round Mojito were able to put distance between them and the rest of the fleet to give them another win.
The last race of the day saw Mojito over the line again. This time the reduced winds allowed Sgrech Bach, Honeybee and Altima to put significant distance between them, all almost at the first mark by the time Mojito crossed the line. The close battle continued between J109 Mojito and J70 Sgrech Bach, Mojito just taking the lead before the finish but not enough to beat them on corrected.
However Altima, at the back of the fleet put in a super performance to beat everyone on corrected by nearly three minutes, meaning that Sgrech Bach had to settle for another 2nd overall and Honeybee taking 3rd place.
Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox’s Mojito lead the series with a 6 point lead ahead of Will Partington’s HoneyBee but with two weekends to go, there is still plenty to play for. Next racing is in two weeks time on 8th and 9th July. Full results and more information at www.PwllheliSailingClub.co.uk