International Moth fleet at Abersoch Dinghy Week
by Alan Watson 31 Jul 09:50 BST
22-27 July 2018
The absolute accolade sailing these fast but fiendishly unstable craft is "You made it look easy". Paul Hignett with a perfect score of five bullets did just that in an awesome display of Lowriding.
30 years development separate the broadbeam Magnums of the eighties to hydrofoiling Ninjas from Mike Cooke of the two thousands. The very narrow slab sided Hungry Tigers (after innovations by Andy Paterson in the nineties) dominated.
John Edwards chased hard in his beautifully restored Hungry Tiger but couldn't match Hignett's downwind speed and sailed well to take second spot. Alan Watson (Magnum 8) easily won the first light wind race but upwind pinching reduced him to third overall.
Katie Hughes in her foiling Ninja made light work of the huge courses, along with the Mach2s of Mike Budd and Paul Jenkins, but the prevailing light winds made foiling at times impossible or slow. Newcomers Miles James and James Evans did well to get out in these tricky craft.
Sailing in the morning singlehanded fleet left afternoons free and a Lowrider adventure to a neighbouring beach accompanied by dolphins was a highlight for some of the fleet.
Thanks to the organisers of the GJW Abersoch Dinghy week at SCYC for accommodating the moth fleet. Everyone enjoyed the great weather and some superb sea sailing with spectacular downwind surfing.
Results:
1 - Paul Hignett, Hungry Tiger, Loch Lomond SC
2 - John Edwards, Hungry Tiger, Ogston SC
3 - Alan Watson, Magnum 8, Chew Valley Lake SC
4 - Katie Hughes, Ninja, Loch Lomond SC
5 - Miles James, Magnum 7, Bala
6 - Mike Budd, Mach 2, SCYC
7 - Paul Jenkins, Mach 2, Eastbourne SSC