Pwllheli Santa Special and Christmas Prize-giving 2025
by Vicky Cox 9 Dec 11:26 GMT
6 December 2025
Winds gusting to force 11 on Friday afternoon put paid to the launch of the J70s and also discouraged the change of sails for many of the cruisers wanting to join the Santa Special race. The race is run annually prior to the club Christmas party, a light-hearted race with Santa hats a plenty and even the odd turkey or Christmas chimney on heads.
Although winds had dropped by Saturday they were still gusting to force 7 with large waves left behind, and plenty of showers about - conditions far from the lighthearted brief for the race and in no way conducive to wearing Santa hats without retainers!
Only Paul & Sam Kitteringham's team on Elan 350 'Finally', were out on the water, seeing an opportunity to snap up one last trophy, the commodores cup, before the prize-giving that evening.
The Commodores Cup is an elapsed time race, starting from the club start line, across the bay and around St. Tudwals West, St. Tudwals East and the Carreg-y-trai buoy, all left to port, and back to the finish line. The course can also be sailed in reverse, meaning skippers need to decide on the best course for them, based on wind direction and boat performance at various wind angles. Anyone can enter.
Skippers take their own elapsed time and send it in to the club along with their handicap (either IRC or YTC) to be added to the results table. Was it a winning time? The course can be completed at any time, and as many times as you like between January 1st and the first Saturday of December (the day of the Christmas party and prize-giving) but to keep everyone guessing, the results table is only published at the end of the season, so everyone has to push to beat their own time.
Paul and team on Finally did indeed win the trophy and collected it along with a few more trophies at the black tie Christmas prize-giving party in Plas Heli.
Congratulations to all our trophy winners including Nigel Ingram's Darling, and Tim Rouse's Theia, who were unable to attend.
A full list of results, all party photos and our racing schedule for 2026 can be found on the club website www.PwllheliSailingClub.co.uk
Skippers are always looking for more crew and the club is always in need of more volunteers. Please get in touch if you want to join the fun. No experience necessary... just an enthusiasm for getting out on the water or watching from ashore.