ISORA Lyver Trophy Race ahead of the Pwllheli Pop-Up Regatta
by Victoria Cox 6 Jul 2021 06:41 BST
2-3 July 2021
Lyver trophy: Mojito preparing for the start in front of the Lyver Building © Sam Kitteringham
When the fleet came together on Friday 2nd July at the start line just east of the iconic Lyver building they found a pleasant 8-12kts from the northwest.
After an AP till 1830 to allow a cruise ship to leave, the race officer, Chris Riley, let the fleet go. All clear apart from Paul Hampson's J105 Mojo. Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J109, unsure of the recall, also ducked back briefly.
Tacking up the Mersey and making use of the tide out, the fleet started to stretch out with Jackknife and Mojito at the front, both gradually pulling away from Paul Kitteringham's Elan 350 'Finally' and Mojo.
As they followed the channel round to the west out of the Mersey between the wind farm and TSS, kites went up and Jackknife eventually starting to get ahead of Mojito, pulling out a mile in front. But as night fell, so did the wind and the fleet were left floating back for hours in the turning tide. A puff of wind and they'd make ground forward only to float back again when the zephyr disappeared.
All crews complained of having the view of the wind farm for many hours. Jackknife, Mojito and Mojo all parking up for around 4-5 hours but for boats towards the back of the fleet the pain was a long drawn out 7hours. For Jan Anderton's Shaula this was several hours too long. Sadly, on approaching the next wind hole at the top of Holyhead Saturday lunchtime they decided to retire.
For Jackknife, by this time 4nm ahead of the fleet, there was only a momentary wait at the Skerries but for Mojito, the 10hours struggling to get past the north of Holyhead was painful and all they could do was watch their 2 mile lead on the rest of the fleet diminish to just half a mile.
Mainly frustrated at lack of progress but with mirrored seas, they gradually became resigned to their fate and occupied themselves with games of I-spy, riddles and jokes and of course the selection of onboard meals and snacks. The food of choice for most boats on the race seemed to have been sausages served in various forms.
When the wind filled in from the south east, the breeze line could be seen on the glassy water with Mojo at the front of that line and approaching Mojito rapidly. Mojito were prepared for the wind though and were able to increase their lead on Mojo again. However, Jackknife we're now almost 25miles ahead of the rest of the fleet. The opposing tide at Bardsey Sound was the only obstacle they faced and baring any more wind holes it was surely their race. With the rest of the fleet also having to fight against tide at North and South Stack off Holyhead, the leaders, Andrew Halls Jackknife were able to pull out to 40miles ahead at the finish, giving them a comfortable win.
Behind them, with wind gusting up to 20kts, Mojito made Bardsey Sound just at slack tide followed by Mojo. Mojito we're able to secure 2nd place overall and 1st in class 1 with Mojo 2nd in class1 and 3rd overall.
Further back in the fleet, Paul Kitteringham's Finally managed to make enough progress against the tide at Bardsey to take 3rd in class1, leaving Mark&Jo Thompson's Jac-y-do fighting against the tide at the sound for another four hours but still managing a 1st in class 2.
The fleet are all now safely in the shelter of Pwllheli and eagerly awaiting the Pwllheli Pop Up Regatta which starts on Thursday. With daily prizes and a rapidly increasing cruiser (NHC) fleet to compliment the IRC classes, there is still time to enter for some well awaited summer fun.
Results can be found at isora.org and details of the pop up regatta along with entry form can be found at pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk/pscv3/index.php/popup-regattaintro