Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series at Royal Anglesey Yacht Club - Race 1

Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 1 © Mike Hardy

After the long winter break, with many months of fettling by some owners, with others taking a more 'relaxed' approach, as they tried to remember just where they left the boat at the end of last year.

The early birds launched mid-week for the first race of the 99th season in perfect warm and sunny conditions, Arriving at our freshly laid moorings, we discovered that the Sandwich Terns had got there before us, leaving the customary, thick, welcoming layer of guano on the mooring buoys.

However, as always seems to be the way, Saturday brought a chilly, but bracing NW breeze (but looking on the bright side, at least there was no snow on the mountains this year), With the wind coming over the Island and a strong flood tide heading towards Menai Bridge, the race team, led by Garth, having firstly carried out a stocktake of essential supplies (I.E. Chocolate Biscuits) set an X course of Nwy, Friars, Friars for the fleet of 5 who came to the line.

Typical of racing at Beaumaris, it was unclear which end of the Royal Anglesey line would be favoured, Anglesey shore to stay out of the tide for as long as possible, or ODM's as a shorter distance, but in adverse tide.

At the start, the fleet was split, with 28 (Jeremy & Alan) and 38 (Mike, Steve and 'twitcher' Hope choosing the Anglesey shore and 42 (Family Booth), 41 (Family Yates) and 29 (OBL, Trigger and G, the pocket rocket) choosing the ODM's. In the end there wasn't a lot in it, with 28, 38 and 42 arriving in close company with 41 and 28 not too far behind. The fleet chose to stay on port tack, except 28 who took a 'flier' to the Anglesey shore in adverse tide, never to be seen again. Judging the lay line to Friars was always going to be tricky, but 42 got it spot on with, 28 and 38 in close company behind.

The first run of the season is always challenging as the fleet try to remember how to firstly rig, and then, set the Spinnaker (in common with many older classes, we fly the spinnaker inside the Jib and outer forestay) on 38 it took several attempts (and some muttering from the Owner) before eventually calm was restored, they were not alone in having 'issues' as spinnakers went up, only to come down again, for minor adjustments, throughout most of the fleet.

At the front, there was never much between the leading boats, but 42 prevailed, beating a hard chasing 28 by 4 seconds (after an hour and three quarters racing!) with 38 finishing in third 30 seconds behind the winner. 41 and 28 took 4th and 5th.

So, first blood to 42 in the long (23 races) 'A' series.

For the rest of the small fleet it was a chance to sort out any early season gremlins, of which there were plenty, so there should be no excuses needed for Bank Holiday Mondays race (as if!).