Mirror Welsh Championship at Pwllheli Sailing Club

The Mirror Welsh Championship takes place at Pwllheli © Simon Lovesey

The Mirror Welsh Championship takes place at Pwllheli © Simon Lovesey

The Mirror Racing season kicked of with Welsh Championship over the Easter Weekend at Pwllheli as part of the Nationwide Series. Pwllheli SC will be hosts to the 2009 Mirror World Championships and many of the sailors took the opportunity to participate in the Class Association organised training in preceeding three days.

Charlotte FitzGerald, and Annie Sibthorp scooped first lady helm, first juniors and first overall to become the Mirror Welsh Champions 2009.

The RYA National Junior Squ ad pairing saw off multiple World and National Champions, in a closely fought eight race series at this summer’s World Championship venue, Pwllheli SC. Tying on points, former Fireball World Champion, Andy Smith and son Tom, had to settle for second place on count back. 2005 Mirror World Champion, Ross Kearney sailing with Katy Jones steadily improved during the series to move up to third, just pipping Juniors Tom Lovesey and Milly Pugh by one point.

On the first day, in large waves and light breeze, Charlotte, 14, and Annie,13, sailed away from the 29 boat fleet to score two firsts. National Champions Emma and Martina Barry also found speed with a second and third. The third race showed a change in rankings with Andy & Tom winners and several boats OCS, including Charlotte & Annie and Ross & Katy. After the first day Andy and Tom Smith led with Emma and Martina Barry a point behind. Ed and Beth Grey lying in third.

Day 2 brought the sun, with a slight delay on shore before the f irst race was battled between the Fitzes. Charlotte and Annie claiming first and Izzy FitzGerald and Emily Peters taking second. Ross and Katy pipped Tom and Milly to third. Charlotte and Annie also took race 5 followed by Andy and Tom and Ross and Katy. The last race of the day was won by juniors Tom Lovesey and Milly Pugh beating Andy and Tom Smith with juniors Hugo Sloper and Emma Spruce picking up third.

The final day dawned with flat calm but after a will we - won’t we sail, the sea bree ze kicked in providing good conditions. The penultimate race proved a heavily port biased line and the race was won by Ross and Katy who crossed the fleet on port. Andy and Tom were second so went into the last race leading by two points from Charlotte and Annie with Tom & Milly lying in third. The race started with Andy and Tom going right but Ed and Beth chose left and came out with a strong lead. They held their lead all race with Ross and Katy finishing second just ahead of Charlotte and Ann ie.

Matt and Ben Lulham-Robinson sailed consistently to be first RYA Zone Squad boat. Keeping it in the family Roseanna Yeoward sailing with Charlotte Brown and Harry Yeoward sailing with Nick Elsdon were second and third youths, after Ed & Beth Grey. Mark Hide scooped the single handed prize.

The Mirror Nationwide Series consists of five class championships, including the Inlands and forms the basis of the class ranking list, see www.ukmirrorsailing.com

Overall Results:

News submitted using Sailwave sailing scoring software.