Musto ISORA Welsh Coastal Race and tuning weekend at Pwllheli Sailing Club
by Vicky Cox 9 Apr 2025 09:15 BST
The Pwllheli sailing season kicked off in fine style with a tuning weekend, incorporating the first of the Musto ISORA Welsh coastal races, proving to be very popular. The longer legs of the coastal gave skippers chance to test their set up in more relaxed conditions ahead of the racing year. The weather obliged with glorious sunshine, encouraging club racers to join the fleet and spectators to watch from the shore.
Despite forecasts of very little wind, the fleet started in 20-26kts east-northeasterly providing an interesting downwind start on a course along the beach to the west end before heading south out to sea towards the cardinal buoy at the end of Sarn Badrig and returning via the St. Tudwall islands.
The fleet got off cleanly, if a little late, with only Mark & Jo Thompson's J97 Jac y Do at the line on the start. Jac y Do lead the fleet out to the West End. A young crew joined skipper Chris Jones on J70, Mojito Bach. A little nervous due to wind strength coupled with the distance offshore, they tentatively set off with sandwiches packed. But once the kite was hoisted they fell into their stride, almost making it to the front of the fleet from a start position right at the back.
It was Andrew and Sam Hall's Jackknife in class zero that really found form, eventually leading the fleet around the remaining course. A few wind holes allowed Steve Goddard's Farnol and Paul and Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350, Finally to keep Jackknife in their sights at the causeway but winds disappearing just south of the St. Tudwall islands on the way back bunched the whole fleet looking for breeze.
Only Jackknife, just that little bit ahead of the rest of the fleet, were able to creep through the sound.
For the rest of the fleet though, they had to wait, jostling for position in any gusts they could find. This was too much for Tormilind, Lightning and Excession and they dropped sails and started engines. However, as wind filled in at Abersoch, Jackknife were eventually able to get going again, overtaking some of the retired boats and taking line honours and first overall.
Further back, despite persevering, Crackerjack became the next to retire, leaving Faenol to lead the fleet home. Andromeda, closely followed by Darling xx, both headed inshore to breeze allowing Andromeda to take 1st in class 1. Class 2 went to J70 Mojito Bach finishing 2nd overall, followed by Jac y Do 2nd in class, 3rd overall.
Sunday continued the Pwllheli Tuning weekend, this time around the cans, a chance to practice manoeuvres for the IRC Welsh National Championships hosted by Pwllheli Sailing Club (2nd to 4th May).
The fleet were again met by sunshine. However, with reduced winds, the heat rose, and they experienced wind shifts and wind holes, challenge sailing skills in both races.
As the IRC Welsh championships included the J70 Welsh Nationals, Mojito Bach were keen to show their skills. A close battle between them, this time skippered by Dave Sharp, and Wil Partington's A35 Andromeda, resulted in them taking line honours together. Mojito Bach took 1st overall on handicap, Andromeda 2nd overall and 1st in class 1.
The close racing continued in the 2nd race with just over 60 seconds separating the top three boats - Andromeda, Mojito Bach and Finally. Mojito Bach took the series and Class 2 with Andromeda 2nd and 1st in class 1. Finally, 3rd overall, were 2nd in class 1. 3rd in class 1 was Geoff Dufton-Jelly's Crackerjack.
Full results and more info can be found at pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk and ircwelshchamps.com