West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Llandegfedd Sailing Club

At last the first round of the West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Llandegfedd SC on September 12th. A blisteringly good day - oh, how we have missed it.

Llandegfedd SC showed with some style how it was possible to run an open meeting within the necessary Covid restrictions for the first round of the West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour. Due to Welsh government Covid regulations being different to those in England, only 30 people were allowed on the race track. To allow maximum number of boats to take part Llandegfedd Commodore Bill Jackson ran the committee boat on his own with help of auto hoot and lights instead of flags. Pete Cruickshank (I taught him all he knows) and Colin Walsh ran safety and mark laying. Between them they did an astounding job of running four really good races in rapid time with very true courses and start lines in a very shifty south westerly that tried to go south and west at the same time.

In clear blue skies and an 8-15 knot breeze, that changed in strength as quickly as it changed direction, there was never a dull moment for the whole fleet with constant place changing keeping everyone on their toes. Well, everybody else changed places on every leg apart from the class act that won all four races. Alistair and Helen Norris never led at the first mark, but in three of the races were in the lead by the end of the first downwind leg. They then took the idea of social distancing a little too far for the liking of the rest of the fleet to win by comfortable margins. Henry Hallam & Ashley Hill from St Mawes were the only boat to stay in the lead for two laps but they could not stop the form team. Merrick Stanley & Victoria Upton in fast boat for sale and Pete Vincent & Lady Bubbles Pound were the other boats to lead at the first mark.

The Stanley & Upton team gaining 3rd place on the last run in the final race proved decisive in the fight for second place overall just piping the newly-weds from Exmouth, Fred and Liz Mainwaring. Llandegfedd's Paul and Sharon Freeland won the silver division prize in 7th overall with Llandegfedd's Sarah and Dave Green winning bronze division prize in 9th overall.

After racing a very happy group of competitors relaxed in a happy contented red-faced way over some tea and cake outdoors after a blisteringly good day. This is why we own boats. A huge vote of thanks to Llandegfedd for making it possible, particularly to Bill, Pete and Colin.

St Mawes and South Cerney are keen to run Ugly Tour events in October and early November. Keep looking on the SW Tour Facebook page for announcements of dates. More of the same please.

Overall Results: