ISORA Coastal race 2 at Pwllheli Sailing Club

Jac y Do, viewed from Crackerjack, on the way to the finish - ISORA Coastal race 2 at Pwllheli © Will Lycett

This weekend presented champagne sailing for Pwllheli boats, however early light conditions on Saturday morning prompted the race management to shorten the course of the clubs's ISORA coastal race to ensure everyone got a finish.

Conditions were light on the start line with many hugging the line. Mark Thompson's J97 Jac y Do got the best start with Geoff Dutton-Kelly's Beneteau 40.7 Crackerjack pushed over by Paul & Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350 Finally.

Andrew & Sam Hall's Lombard 46, Pata Negra soon got ahead to round 'Sponsorship available Mark 2' at the west end of the beach and headed east to 'Sponsorship available Mark 10'. Nigel Ingram's XP 33, Darling xx rounded next together with both Finally and Jac y Do and all kites were launched giving a colourful view from ashore.

With wind filling in, Pata Negra quickly pulled ahead from the fleet followed by Darling xx but spinnakers on both Paul Sutton's Farr X2, Lightening and Robert Temple and Matthew Harrison's X40 Sport, Excession allowed them to regain ground lost on the upwind leg. Lightening enjoyed the downwind leg to round 'Sponsorship available Mark 10' off Abererch beach, with Darling xx.

Next to round was Excession getting ahead of Finally and holding them in dirty air, forcing them to eventually foot off.

With Crackerjack now back with the fleet after getting left behind at the start, they headed round the Carreg y Trai buoy and into St Tudwall sound. Wind shadows in the sound forced the wind forward, delaying some hoists. With Pata Negra well on the way back to the finish. Darling, Excession and Finally were in the next pack.

Behind them, Lightening hoisted their code zero while Jac y Do stuck with kite but as wind built and swung forward they struggled to keep on course without a couple of broaches allowing Crackerjack to get ever closer.

Pata Negra took line honours and 1st overall on corrected. Next to finish was Darling who took 2nd overall on corrected, 1st in class 2. Jac y Do were 3rd overall on corrected and 2nd in class 2. Class 1 was won by Finally with Excession just 2minutes behind.

The fleet headed for Abererch beach - ISORA Coastal race 2 at Pwllheli - photo © Will Partington

Sunday presented more challenging conditions with glorious sunshine and flat seas. For many, this was too much of a challenge but it attracted Stephen Tudor & Mark Thompson's J70 Sgrech Bach out to enjoy the weather.

Realising that the lack of wind may become an issue, a course was set taking advantage of the tide and using the zephyrs in the bay which gave spectators a close up of the boats. Paul & Sam Kitteringham's Finally took line honours but Sgrech Bach won the race on corrected.

Next racing is on the 2nd to the 4th May with a coastal race Saturday and round the cans racing Sunday and Monday for the May bank holiday series. All results and information is on the club website pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

All boats are welcome. Everyone can view the racing from Gimblet Rock.

Pwllheli SC is looking for sponsorship for their ten racing marks. If interested please contact to find out more.

Finally, viewed from ashore - ISORA Coastal race 2 at Pwllheli - photo © Peter Sinclair Gill