'The keel Boat Racing in Pwllheli is friendly, fun but also competitive and is available for sailors of all experience; novices to championship winners.'

Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club has been organising club racing of the highest quality for many years in the World acclaimed sailing waters of Cardigan Bay which provides near perfect sailing conditions with lack of commercial shipping, no strong tidal flows and ‘clean’ prevailing wind from the south west. The racing arena is all only minutes from the safe harbour, the award winning marina or from the new Plas Heli pontoon berths.

It is these superb qualities that makes the process of organising racing so much easier and provides the potential for the racing to be the best in the UK!

If you are not too busy racing take a moment to appreciate the spectacular scenery and views with the outstanding natural beauty of the Llyn Peninsula to the north, the dramatic backdrop of Snowdonia to the north east and the mountains of mid - Wales to the east and south east. If you’re alert you may also see dolphins and porpoises!

Those of you who have participated will know that the season usually starts with the Spring Series at the end of March and then there is something for everyone all the way through to the end of October.

The IRC and NHC fleets usually race around the fixed Club racing marks using one of the pre-set courses which are all published in the easy to use ‘Race Pack’. These races are referred to as ‘round the cans’.

The ‘Race Pack’ includes a list of marks (with coordinates), a chart, the set courses for all wind directions and the Sailing Instructions (SI’s).

CHPSC also arranges racing for the white sail class using the NHC handicap system and is aimed at introducing new competitors to racing in Pwllheli. Making sailboat racing more fun and accessible is a Club priority. We aim to have well managed racing that satisfies the back of the fleet as much as the front.

Not all racing is ‘round the cans’ we also have a long bay race for the King Constantine Cup which will typically take the fleet to Gwylan Islands at the end of the Llyn Peninsula or to the Causeway Cardinal Buoy in the middle of Cardigan Bay. There is also the long coastal night race. Both these races form part of the ISORA offshore racing series. The Club has a proud history with offshore racing in the Irish Sea with many overall winners and the Club being a regular winner of the overall ISORA club team trophy.

Another racing format available is the windward / leeward style racing from a Committee Boat. This is the format used in the annual IRC Welsh National Championship held at Pwllheli.

The end of season racing is the popular Pwllheli Challenge Series with racing over four alternative weekends.

An important part of racing in Pwllheli is the competitors debrief ashore after racing. The post racing gathering in the club is an opportunity to compare notes, discuss tack-ticks and manoeuvres, the ones that worked and those that went wrong! This is an opportunity to make new friends and recruit new crew.

All race winner trophies are presented in the annual Christmas Party – a great way to celebrate and plan the campaigns for the following season!

The schedule of racing is available as part of the 'Race Information Pack' so if you are interested in joining in, even for only the occasional race please contact us. We are always pleased to provide advice and guidance and we also encourage competitor feedback (positive or negative) so that we can improve the racing experience for everyone’s benefit. The schedule of racing can, of course, be extended if there is sufficient interest.

Come and join us for some fun in the bay! 

if you have suggestions and ideas to improve racing please send an e-mail

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Last Updated: 27 April 2025

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