Another gusty along-shore westerly with the breeze off the land fighting the breeze off the sea. A good turnout of 11 boats with two novices braving the challenging conditions – wind with tide and all over the place. Aiden Morgan fought valiantly in his first race until he succumbed to the tide and was rescued before being swept round Sully Island. Danny Clugston with a few more outings and dunkings under his belt eventually got the better of the tide and successfully completed a lap.

After a blistering start, taking advantage of the strong tide to cut ahead of the Lasers, Steve in his RS700 wasn’t able to capitalise and didn’t manage to lap Danny and Neil who after a close fought race finished in that order with Steve third on handicap and Robin, who he did lap, in 4th. Dan P in his Enterprise stayed far enough ahead of Nick in his Topaz to win the slow fleet.

Danny got the best of the start in the second race and sailed away from Neil, who after some close racing with Robin finished in second, with Robin in third ahead of Steve, fourth. Sam in his Dart 15 was having an impressive race and probably lying fourth on handicap, but missed out a mark on his final lap and after a very slow tack and sail back, lost his advantage ending up again in fifth. He’s one to watch for the future. In the slow fleet Nick who was neck and neck with Dan and so well ahead on handicap decided to blow his chances by also heading to the wrong mark allowing Dan again to take the slow fleet on Handicap.

Results

Sunday saw perfect conditions for Sully Sailing Club’s Annual Regatta, with a force 3-4 breeze and sunshine.

Twenty boats took part in the three races over a figure of eight course, with visitors from Mumbles, Cardiff and Thornbury vying with the local Sully boats.

The winner was Aran Pitter from Sully sailing a Laser dinghy. He said ” It was hard work but fun, I don’t think I will be able to walk tomorrow, I was hiking out all of the time”

Second was Martin Roots from Cardiff Bay in a Supernova while Carolynn and Nick Smith were third in a Miracle Dinghy. The highest placed Youth (Under 18) was Flo Tovey from Mumbles. Winner of the Slow Handicap section was Nick Speller of Sully in his Topaz Race.

Results

10 boats took to the water in a F3-4 northeasterly; another gusty day with a beat up the shore. Those who worked out early that keeping inshore paid off took the honours with Nigel in a Topper finishing first ahead of Danny and Robin.

The wind increased a bit for the second race, or at least there were more sustained gusts further out. Steve pulled out a commanding lead on the water in his 29er with Andrew in his cat following, but frustrated by the holes in the wind. Steve’s lead was not enough to catch Danny on handicap. Danny won with Steve second and Andrew third.

In the Slow Fleet Lawrence Tulip finished ahead of Dan Patterson in both races, but Dan held onto 2nd place in the series ahead of Chris Batho in 3rd but behind Nick Speller who wins the Slow Fleet series. Danny Powell with 8 straight wins finishes first in the Fast Fleet series ahead of Neil Brookes, with Andrew Evans in 3rd.

Results

A beautiful sunny day, with a light southwesterly wind and a huge course, and 17 competitors. Perfect for a pursuit race. Steve and Jean in Jean’s Mirror set off first and were quickly overhauled by Rex (Mirror) and Nigel (Topper), then after a disastrous tactic to beat the tide turned a reach into a beat, by most of the rest of the fleet. It didn’t take Danny in his Laser long to slice through the field, but Nigel held out for nearly an hour until passed by Danny, followed by Neil (Laser).

The wind increased for the second race and Steve made a quick switch to a Topaz, so quick that he sat out, missed the toestraps and fell in, snapping the tiller extension. The Topaz was incredibly quick with a piece of string attached to the tiller and he was up with the Lasers at the first mark. Pete in his large yellow cat got in the mix, holding up Danny before finally sailing away, followed by Danny and Neil – as Steve did a neat 360 when the rudder came up (how do Topaz sailors cope with that rudder?). Steve however held on for the win on handicap, with Danny and Neil in second and third. Positions behind were incredibly close with 4 boats finishing within 11 seconds on handicap in places 5 to 8. Pete finished last, nearly 10 minutes back on a handicap which is now under review.

Results

Another good turnout – 14 boats racing, including 5 new members, and a flukey northeasterly with outgoing tide making for tricky conditions. Neil made a blistering start in the first race and sailed off into the distance but had a close battle with Robin in the second race which Robin narrowly won.

Elsewhere Danny C tried to sail off with one mark, while another was almost left high and dry by the ebbing tide making rounding tricky for some. Csaba had a good first couple of laps in a Laser Radial and was up with the full rigs until led the wrong side of yellow by Andy.

Overall, a first and second helped Neil move into 2nd position, behind Danny. Andrew in his cat is holding onto 3rd but with his first and second Robin, on the same points, is breathing down his neck. Nick with two excellent third places has cemented his position at the front of the slow fleet with Dan P in second and Chris in third.

There are four races left in the series, including the Pursuit Race next week.

Results

A windy day. Blowing F5-6 at Nells Point! Four boats set out, but Robin capsized and broke his tiller. A good large course for Andrew in his Cat, but Neil in the Laser still managed to beat him. Maybe he should have hoisted his spinnaker. Danny suffering from a bad back was way back in third place.

In the second race Andrew did use his kite but this time both Lasers beat him. Neil was again too fast for Danny but the back pain was numbed by the strong winds and he was fast catching Neil (apparently). Another few laps and who knows…

Overall, no change from last week but Neil moves up to just outside the podium positions. Another week and he could be challenging Danny for the lead.

Results

Five boats prepared to set sail in stronger wind conditions than were forecast (Nells Point was reporting Force 5 gusting 6 throughout the afternoon!). Four actually took to water as Danny decided the wind was too much to risk a temporary repair to his boom.

Andy was able to capsize twice before the start. Nick just the once. Andrew in his cat sailed clear on the opening beat followed by Nigel in the Argo and Nick in his Topaz. Andy then realised the race had started and tacked back towards the start line in his Laser.

With Andrew flying on the reach to the second mark the others were trying to make up ground. Andy managed to catch Nick and Nigel but capsized rounding the mark. A very inconvenient location but Nigel and Nick managed to avoid the obstacle and go clear again.

Andrew was looking to lap the other three boats as they approached half way on the second lap (his third). The reach seemed to be very fast and everyone was surfing some of the large waves being generated (some say up to 5 foot waves!). It was quite exhilarating and Andy clearly thought it was too hot and decided to capsize (again). Nigel and Nick again sailed clear and Andy retired (pride) hurt.

Andrew took the race on the water, and the Sharpe Trophy, followed by Nigel (crewed by new members Alexia and Danny C), who decided not to cross the finish line and Nick (crewed by newest member Csaba) who finished 2nd on handicap.

The wind stayed the same for the 2nd race and the waves got bigger. Andrew again sailed away, but more closely chased by Nigel, with only one crew this time, and Nick taking 3rd spot and that was how it played out on handicap.

The series is still being led by Danny P in his Laser but after 2 firsts Andrew E now has 2nd place and Robin (Laser) is 3rd in the fast fleet. Nick in his Topaz now leads the slow fleet with Dan P in his Enterprise in 2nd and Chris Batho 3rd in a Radial.

Results

No one wanted to write the report for this race- with so many boats on the water it was highly likely that epic duels would go unmentioned, with mutterings that the author was only interested in their own race.

Bob in the tower, mostly on his own, was already overwhelmed with the sheer number of boats, so no chance of a rational report from him !

Race 7 got underway in light winds from the East and a number of boats were left well behind the line when the final hooter went. In such lights winds breakages were unlikely but Robin in his Laser managed just that, and spent the start sequences time attempting to fix his downhaul…which he didn’t need anyway. Two catamarans on the water provided obstacles for the dinghies to sail round at the marks with Sam Hefford in his Sprint 15 out on the water for the first time, edging ahead of Pete Wells in the Dart 16 on Handicap. Pietro in his Topper was sailing on track and to the lay lines and was not phased by the faster boats catching up after the start and bearing down on him on starboard. He was beaten by his Dad Corrado, but only one place, which must have been tough. Meanwhile the Lasers of Danny and Neil pulled away with Neil leading most of the way, only to get overtaken on the very last leg by Danny.

Race 8 got underway with a better start for most and the Lasers taking the lead from the start, this time with Danny ahead initially but the first lap the lead swapped between Neil , Danny and Robin. Danny pulled away from the other two, but with the wind dropping again the rest of the fleet closed the gap. In race one of the day the first five places were separated by ten minutes, in race two by just five minutes. Pietro managed to beat his Dad- revenge is sweet and Neil thinking he had second in the bag took his foot off the gas and was nearly pipped by Robin at the finish – one second in it ! Those at the front of fleet may have omitted to notice Nigel in a Topper sneaking along behind them and ultimately splitting those who thought they were front runners.

The discards have kicked in so Laser Danny returns to the top spot. If you would like that explained ask in the comments below the post or on Random Sailing.

Results

With many of the big guns either away, on duty or expecting grandchildren, it was all to play for in races 5 and 6 of the Summer Series. And with the added incentive of silverware up for grabs; The Watler and Centripump Cups, 5 boats took to the water in a steady Force 1 to battle it out!

Whilst the Watler Cup [for Fast Fleet] could unfortunately not be awarded due to Pete Wells, in his Cat, being the only participant, the Centripump Cup was closely contested by the remaining 4 eager competitors; Rex Hendrickson in his Mirror, Nick Speller in the Topaz Uno, Alexia Davies in a Laser Radial and Dan [& Tasha] Patterson in their Enterprise.

Race 1 saw the Patterson’s get a flying start, crossing the line right after the horn and setting off on a beat [I think] towards the first mark, closely followed by Pete and the hunting pack. On approach to the first mark, in little or no wind and due to a lack of tidal judgement, Dan had to tack again to get round, which forced Pete to tack too. This rookie error turned out to be a ‘good move’ as the Enterprise rounded the mark and sailed off leaving Pete to tack twice in a Cat with barely any wind to do so. Pete would have his revenge later!

The second lap saw the wind die further which made it even harder for the slower handicap boats, leaving only 2 boats to complete the lap. And as Dan approached the finish line, the sheer joy of crossing the line first in a race was cruelly taken away by a silent but deadly Pete, who sailed by in the dying seconds to a fine blast of the horn. In the end, being first over the line was irrelevant, as behind this façade of glory seeking, the true competition was being won, on handicap, by Nick after a good first lap who finished in first place and wins the Centripump Cup.

The course was shortened for the second race and whilst it may have been quicker to swim around, the 5 boats set off once again in good faith, this time with Nick Speller getting a dream start. At least that’s what it looked like from the writers vantage point, 100 yards away from the start line!

The shorter course at first appeared to be a disadvantage for the Cat but a shift in the wind direction meant that Pete was able to get the spinnaker out more often and soon began lapping everyone for fun.

Meanwhile in the slow fleet, there were some good battles that saw Nick and Rex go neck and neck on handicap and Alexia working hard to keep the Laser Radial moving in almost no wind.

Despite the handicaps, Pete held his nerve to complete the race efficiently and take a well deserved first place, closely followed by Rex in second and Nick in third.

Dan Patterson is now [temporarily] leading the series ahead of Danny Powell and Peter who moves into 3^rd. Well done to Alexia Davies sailing in her first series races, hopefully other newcomers will following in her footsteps. [or wake].

Results

Results