Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership
Product Feature
Ovington Snapback Cap
Ovington Snapback Cap

ContractCars.com Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race 2023

by Paul Halliwell 22 Aug 2023 15:51 BST 13 August 2023
ContractCars.com Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race 2023 © Paul Hargreaves Photography

After four years of Covid initiated absence the Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race returned with windy day of a high speed action on the 13th August.

Given the forecast of gusts of over 30 knots in the open Red Wharf Bay, the Race Officer Jeremy Entwistle, delayed the decision to run the full course until 90 minutes before the start. The briefing, kindly hosted as usual by the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club, was focused on the very different nature of the AODR from your usual round the buoys outing.

Despite the points available for the Allen Endurance series none of the qualifying cats or high speed monohulls could be induced on to the water at Beaumaris leaving the three Fireballs as the fastest boats to launch.

A few entrants took the opportunity to practice their righting routines in the pre-start but bang on time those still vertical set off on the run down the Menai Straits. The long leg down to Puffin Island meant that there were tactical options; keeping in stronger tide on the shortest route or pushing out towards the mainland to catch the really (really) big gusts coming off the mountains. it was the second option that paid with the new 420 pairing of Fflur & Rayner already showing their speed.

The rounding of the Puffin Lighthouse was a flat water affair this year meaning that the crowd watching from the rocks didn't get the spectacular "can we get our entire hull airborne?" exhibition that is sometimes a fan favourite.

The leg to the Quarry was a beat into what was now an offshore wind with the chop diminishing as the fleet got closer into beach. Most boats stayed in high mode close into shore but the planning Fireballs and 420 really stretched out the fleet as they sailed low into the big breeze out in the centre of the bay.

The close fetch into the beach mark at Benllech didn't offer too many passing opportunities but the final screaming broad reach in the flat water before Moelfre again gave options for looping out in the biggest winds or sailing directly toward the RNLI slipway landmark.

One short reach back to finish at Treath Buchan and it was time for some very tired sailors to head back to the RWBSWC for lunch and prize-giving. Dan Johnson & Ben Latham's Fireball led the way, followed closely by the 420 pairing of Arwen Fflur & Matthew Rayner, who secured the overall victory on handicap. Freddie MacLaverty's speed upwind through the waves got him the third spot on the podium as well as being the first RWBSWC boat. Steve Ward was the first GP14.

Many thanks to the rescue crews who kept the racers safe, the shore crew who fed and watered everyone and to ContractCars.com for their financial support without which we wouldn't have been able to run the race.

Read more on the race and course: www.redwharfbaysc.co.uk/anglesey-offshore-dinghy-catamaran-race

Overall Results:

PositionSail noClassTeamClubSecondsPY
156954420Arwen Fflur & Matthew RaynerPwllheli SC / WKSC64181100
215130FIREBALLDan Johnson & Ben LathamWeston / Errwood6215952
3221583LASER RADIALFreddie MacLavertyRWBSWC78911150
424982000Phil HowarthECPSC76891114
515132FIREBALLKeith McDonaldSmall Heath YC6815952
614870FIREBALLAlan BennettEtherow6901952
73042RS AERO 7Paul HalliwellRWBSWC77631063
813146GP14Steve WardBartley87671133
922901ENTERPRISEPaul YoungMidlands Sailing Club90721126
10757RS 200Tom EllisRWBSWC87501046
11209133LASER RADIALTim CannamRWBSWC97511150
123AragoAndy ClayShotwick93401095
1313868GP14Oliver DumbeltonNantwich and Border Counties99101133
14202DEVOTI D‑ZERODavid StockerRWBSWC90151029
1510479Topper ArgoMike RobertsTBC98321095
DNF1249RS 400Peter FaulstrohSutton SCDNF940
DNF1285RS 400Michael LathamErrwood SCDNF940
DNF9213LASER IIAlexander WatsonLlyn BrenigDNF1085
DNF427SOLUTIONMartin AndersonNorth Staffs SCDNF1096
DNF217542LASERPeter HallittPennine Sailing ClubDNF1101
DNF47052000Neil HoulihanRWBSWCDNF1114

Related Articles

Sailing Chandlery RS200 Northern Tour at RWBSWC
A hidden gem of a club on the east coast of Anglesey On the 7th September the Northern RS200 tour made a trip to the Isle of Anglesey to experience the delights of Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club (RWBSWC). Posted on 23 Sep
Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race Preview
56th edition on August 18th as a highlight of the 2024 Allen Endurance Series The celebrated Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race, inaugurated in 1965, is set to return for its 56th edition on August 18th as a highlight of the 2024 Allen Endurance Series. Posted on 3 Jul
Allen Endurance Series 2024 dates announced
Promising a thrilling and competitive season-long event for catamaran and skiff sailors The Allen Endurance Series proudly unveils its 2024 schedule, promising a thrilling and competitive season-long event for catamaran and skiff sailors to compete for. 2024 marks the 5th year of the premier long-distance sailing series. Posted on 8 Feb
Zippy's Adventures at the Menai Strait Regattas
A fortnight of drama in North Wales, as told by our favourite reporter Ahoy there Mateys! Gather round and let me spin you a tale of high winds, sandbanks, whirlpools and buoy blunders from the prospective of yours truly, Zippy the D-Zero 333. I've been through quite a fortnight of drama with my trusty Owner and skipper. Posted on 16 Aug 2023
Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race preview
Iconic race to be held on 13th August 2023 The iconic Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race, first run in 1965 and this year kindly supported by ContractCars.com, will be back for the 55th time on the 13th August as part of the 2023 Allen Endurance Series. Posted on 6 Jun 2023
Zippy Zero makes land at the Menai Strait Regattas
Salt and seagull decorations were accumulated, but victory made it sweet Hello all from Zippy the D-Zero, reporting from Beaumaris, on the Island of Anglesey, North Wales. Posted on 15 Aug 2022
Allen Endurance Series 2021
Additional event, bigger prize fund and new website for 4th season The Allen Endurance Series (AES) will be returning for its 4th season, this time with the inclusion of an additional event, bigger prize fund and new website. Posted on 18 Feb 2021
Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race 2020 cancelled
Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club still inaccessible Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club regretfully advise of the decision to cancel the 2020 Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race. Posted on 23 May 2020
Allen Endurance Series 2020 launched
At the RYA Dinghy Show 2020 Announced at the RYA Dinghy Show were the dates for the third season of the Allen Endurance Series, which now includes an additional event and prize fund for 2020. Posted on 10 Mar 2020
Announcing the Allen Endurance Series 2020!
Returning for its third season with an additional event The Allen Endurance Series (AES) will be returning for its third season, this time with the inclusion of an additional event and even bigger prize fund. Posted on 19 Feb 2020