Over the Whitsun Week, Saundersfoot Sailing Club hosted the 50th Anniversary of the Regatta from Sunday 28th May to Friday 2nd June . We were treated to sun shine and wind every day for the 52 boat fleet ranging in speed from a Tera to an International Canoe. The fleet included seven Ospreys, so great fleet racing within the joys of an interesting week of handicap racing.
Race 1
Wind was a solid force four, with gusts on top. Gareth and John(1331) led at the windward mark, followed by Dave and Maurice(1365). On the second lap 1365 took the lead . At the gybe mark 1365 joined the local swimming group - the Blue Tits for a dip. This left 1331 to extend a lead over the chasing pack. At the finish it was 1331, Dan and Matt in the class boat (1360) and Oscar and Lisa (1348). On handicap the Osprey won by one second to the Merlin, which was two seconds in front of a Blaze. So great tight racing on day one in fantastic conditions.
Race 2
Got underway in a north easterly three to four, with enough waves on the beach to deter the canoe from launching. 1365 led around windward mark, followed by 1360. A good battle continued between the two, extending the lead on a chasing pack. At the last mark, with only a third of the beat to go, they then proceeded into the corner of doom, with little wind and a further southerly shift. 1348 kindly took tacking at the mark and headed straight to the finish with only a short to tack to make the pin end of the line. It was only during the sail back to beach that the full impact of the corner of doom was realised - with the finishing order being 1348, 1360 ,1365. On handicap it was a Blaze taking the honours with 1348 second.
Race 3
A lighter day with a North Easterly two to three . It was Mike and Pam (1312) who had their nose in front at the windward mark. 1331 had taken the lead by the wing mark, but it was close racing across the fleet. On
lap two 1360 had pulled through to take the lead. On lap three 1365 got a little further left to be on the inside of a lift and took the lead, which they held to the finish. At the finish, it was 1365, 1360 , 1312. On handicap the first Osprey was third just 5 minutes 59 sec !! behind the International Canoe of Robin Wood.
Race 4
Maurice and Dave were enjoying the comforts of the committee boat on Wednesday. With an afternoon start scheduled, the fleet were taken out in to a force two North Easterly. After two general recalls the fleet got away in a southerly breeze on a trapezoidal course . With a beat out towards Caldy Island. It was 1360 who led and continued to open up a lead to the finish. Behind there was close racing with 1331 chasing and after a trip back to the pack closed up on 1360 by the finish. At the finish it was 1360, 1331, 1348. On handicap the trapezoidal course in a force 1 to 2 resulted in much closer times. Resulting in 1360 second to a RS200 , 1331 9th and 1348 20th . The canoe not warming to the dead run in the lighter conditions coming in 14th.
Race 5
North Easterly two to three and full sun shine again. It was 1365 leading around the windward mark and 1348 closely behind and challenging down the first reach to take the lead. As race progressed it was 1365 maintaining the lead followed by 1348 and 1331. At the finish it was 1365, 1348 and 1350 who had worked their way from the back . On handicap normal service had resumed and first Osprey was just 9 minutes 11 seconds behind the International Canoe with 1348 second and 1360 fifth.
So after a great series within the Ospreys, which had four different race winners across the five races. Handicap results gave four different race winners as well. The headlines of the top end of the results were
- 1st Merlin Rocket Chris Martin
- 2nd Osprey Dave & Maurice
- 3rd osprey Dan & Matt
- 5th Osprey Gareth & John
- 9th Osprey Oscar & Lisa
So in the end a good solid performance from the Ospreys, 4 of the top ten in a 52 boat fleet.
Pursuit Race
Traditionally a pursuit race is run on the Friday . With a morning start scheduled competitors were greeted to a very light easterly which deterred some from launching and opting for an early pack up. This included the International Canoe.
For the boats who launched they were rewarded with South Easterly force 2 with a long beat out towards Caldy Island . The settled wind built slightly throughout the race, with the first beat in to a strong flood tide. 1365 lead from 1360 which was being chased down the first reach by 1316 ( Keith & Andy). The huge 2nd beat was made interesting as you could tuck inside Monkstone Point to keep out of the tide but risked less wind.. 1312 cashed in their chip and went hard right and judged the lay line to perfection rounding just behind 1365. There was only 5 minutes left and we all reached in line to the finish in the following order:
- 1st Osprey 1365
- 2nd Osprey 1312
- 3rd Osprey 1360
- 4th Merlin Rocket Chris Martin
- 5th Osprey 1316
So to close out the sailing side of the week a great Osprey day with four out of top five being Ospreys.
Added to this there were some great socials from Quiz evening to curry & band night and two prize giving evenings in the club. Along with a few cool beers in the Chemist Inn which backs on to where the boats are kept.
So why not consider joining us next year where the target is to get over 10 ospreys which will be around 20 percent of the fleet.
The next Osprey event in Wales is Tenby Regatta on 17th & 18th June, which is three round the can races on Saturday followed by Round Caldy race on Sunday. There is also a club prize to the first team of four boats which is £500 cash prize. So if you cannot bring four Ospreys from your club bring some other friends ( preferably not IC sailors !!)
So for all the people who are struggling for close osprey racing in June this is the event for you. Currently weather forecast is 22 degrees with full sun and South Easterly wind which is great to strengthen if we have this heat in the forecast.
See you there
Dave Griffiths
