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Pwllheli Autumn Challenge Series - Week 4
J70 Joskin at speed - taken from the beach by Dave Leather
Weekend 4, the penultimate weekend of the Pwllheli autumn challenge series made use of a weather window after Storm Ciarán. Saturday started in rain and storm clouds with chilly winds around 20-23kts from the northeast which increased to 30kts towards the end of the first race.
Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J109 Mojito got off to a great start on race 1 leaving the fleet behind. However, a problem with a main sail batten, preventing a kite hoist once round the first mark, left them having to settle for a slow but more direct goose-wing to the next mark with crew up the mast trying to sort the problem.
Henry Edwards's J70 - Joskin loved the conditions. They were fast on the upwind leg but their bright pink kite was seen flying past Mojito with impressive speeds and reaching the leeward mark first despite having to sail further offshore and put in two gybes. Their lead was reduced a little, just as heavy winds hit the fleet but although they were forced to sail past the mark struggling to get the kite away, they still managed to round first, leaving Mojito with plenty of work to do to pass them again on the upwind leg.
Further back and many of the boats followed Mojito, choosing to goose wing down to the second mark. The first was Paul and Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350 'Finally'. But Stephen Tudor and Mark Thompson's J70 Sgrech Bach, who were at the back of the fleet, showed just how much the J70s love the conditions when they hoisted their kite. They were seen positively flying at amazing speed past Mojito Bach then Darling and almost overtaking Finally before they had to gybe away from the beach.
The next leeward leg offered Joskin another opportunity to get ahead of Mojito but this time Mojito were able to hoist their kite and maintain their lead, further secured when Joskin broached trying to get the kite down just as a heavy gust arrived, flattening most of the fleet.
Many of the fleet experienced issues in the increased winds forcing Stephen Goddard's Faenol out with a torn mainsail, and Mark Rosenthal's Elan Flair IV to pull out of the race, both retiring for the day. Despite finishing 2nd overall, 3 minutes ahead of Sgrech Bach, Joskin also called it a day as the heavy winds continued. Finally, also ended the day with mainsail issues and the smallest boat of the fleet, Will Partington's Hunter 31 Honey Bee who finished 3rd in class 2, also decided to join them all back at Plas Heli.
Mojito got another great start on the second race along with Mojito Bach just seconds behind, slotting in next to them at the pin end, and Sgrech Bach further downwind closer to Gimblet Rock.
However, Mojito were forced to stop the boat shortly after the start to ensure they brought a crew member safely back onboard after they slipped through the guardrail, luckily still holding onto the boat. This allowed Mojito Bach helmed by Chris Jones, followed by Sgrech Bach to take the lead with Ashley Field's Sunfast Panache closely behind.
Once settled though, Mojito were able to regain their lead to get line honours for some close results. Sgrech Bach took second, just 47 seconds behind on corrected with Panache taking a well deserved 3rd place and 2nd in class 1.
Everyone returned to Plas Heli for hot food, warming showers and fireworks while recounting their stories from the day.
Sunday saw some welcome sunshine with showers about and 15-22kts from the west. Mojito got a late start, squeezed between Steve Williams's XP33, Darling xx and Paul Sutton's X2, Lightening. Playing the gusts and shifts, they managed to get above Lightening into clear air with Panache, Finally and Honeybee further above them.
There was close battling between the three J70s all around the course and in the end it was 2nd, 3rd and 4th places overall that went to the J70's, Joskin, Mojito Bach and Sgrech Bach respectively behind Mojito with line honours and 1st overall. Panache, second over the line took 2nd in class 1 on corrected.
The last race of the weekend provided a close start, with Mojito timing their run just 3 seconds too early, leaving the fleet to get away and Joskin to get an early lead ahead of Panache and Darling, as Mojito ducked back over the line. However Panache found their form and were able to get in front and continue to build speed.
Great gains were achievable by paying attention to the many wind shifts and the lead changed several times as boats approached the windward mark.
After a lucky recovery by Mojito, they raced closely with Panache ahead of the rest of the fleet creating a short lived good lead. A kite wrap on Mojito saw them heading to the last mark without a headsail and all crew on the bow trying to sort it, allowing Panache to close the gap and catch up with them just before the finish. Sadly not enough to prevent Mojito from getting another line honours and 1st overall.
Further back in the fleet it looked like Mojito Bach were surely going to take class 2 1st but by the finish it was Joskin taking 2nd place overall on corrected, and 1st in class 2, just seconds behind class1 boat Finally. Honey Bee, although last over the line, had done enough to come in 3rd overall and 2nd in class 2 on corrected.
Everyone enjoyed the racing and are looking forward to the final weekend of the series in two weeks time. Although many of the scores are starting to be cemented, there is still plenty to play for with further discards available.
More info and full results on the club website at www.PwllheliSailingClub.Co.UK
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The transformation of Caban Heli for chidren with special needs was shown on S4C on Sunday 5th November.
You can see the programme again by following this link (or click the image below)
Follow the work and generosity of the contributors in this excellent and quite emotional programme.
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Come along to Plas Heli for the Consultation 10.00 - 20.00 hrs Friday 10th November
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Pwllheli Challenge - Weekend 3 results, and a full report below.
Pwllheli Autumn Challenge Series - Week 3
by Christopher Jones 23 Oct 16:26 BST21-22 October 2023
Pwllheli Autumn Challenge Series week 3 © Sam KitteringhamPwllheli was expecting strong gusty winds and rain showers from the tail end of storm Babet but the fleet woke to glorious sunshine and flat glossy seas for the start of the third weekend of the Autumn Series.
Luckily the wind filled in for racing to a pleasant 8-13kt Northwesterly. As is always the case with Northerlies in Pwllheli, the wind comes down off the mountains in eddies, creating very shifty and gusty conditions to test the fleet.
A close fleet at the start line saw Mojito, Jackpot and Sgrech Bach all get great starts with Paul Kitteringham's Elan 350 Finally, coming in at the pin end. Along the beach to mark no 1, Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox's J109 Mojito just managed to break overlaps and get ahead to round first. Kite up and they were covered by David Lean's J99 Jackpot, eventually forcing Mojito to gybe away. However, the wind shifts benefited Mojito and they started to pull away from the rest of the fleet.
Further back, J70 Mojito Bach, helmed by Chris Jones, got a slow start compared to sister J70, Sgrech Bach, trailing the fleet by 30 seconds at the first mark. An increase in breeze on the final downwind saw the team enjoying the downwind capabilities of the J/70, planing past a few of the larger boats, reaching speeds of over 12 knots.
The top finishing positions were Mojito first, Jackpot second and Sgrech Bach third. Difficulty on Cryd Yr Awel saw them retire from the first race, however, undeterred, they stayed out for the second.
The second race saw an equally close start, this time with autumn series regulars Honeybee, Mojito, Jackpot and Sgrech Bach at the line when the gun went but with winds gradually building throughout the day, the second race saw winds shift around to a more Northerly 15 to 22kts. The race saw close battles between several boats in the fleet, with Finally fighting Jackpot downwind and the J70s going head to head on the first upwind. The race was defined by a large raincloud on the long upwind back to mark 2, bringing the breeze up and left, Mojito Bach, Finally and Faenol were the primary beneficiaries of this in the midfleet, pulling away from those unable to make it left in time. Meanwhile, Mojito and Jackpot, both on good form had disappeared upwind, claiming first and second respectively, with Mojito Bach coming in third.
Sunday and forecasts all showed very little wind but with katabatics at play first thing, race officer Robin Evan's was able to start the race with an enlarged fleet, joined by Wild Haggis, Flair IV, Lightning and Darling.
Mojito Bach, late to the start area had to sail over the start line with kite up before they could start, joking with Stephen Williams' Darling that everyone else was going the wrong way. Meanwhile at the front, series leaders Mojito, just ahead of David Lean's J99 Jackpot and Will Partington's Hunters, Honeybee, thought they'd got a perfect start, only to find they were recalled. Eventually after managing to get back, they started the race about 5 minutes after the rest of the fleet but with tricky wind holes to negotiate, they were able to sail around much of the fleet to be third to the windward mark following Mark Thompson's J70 Sgrech Bach and Nigel Ingrams Farr 30, Wild haggis.
Just behind, coming across to the mark on starboard was Paul and Sam Kitteringham's 'Finally'. Adamant they weren't going to give room to Jackpot, Mojito Bach and Ashley Field's Sunfast Panache all on port, they lost speed allowing the tide to pull them into the mark and ended up having to do turns in the falling breeze.
Down to the Pwllheli fairway buoy and Paul Sutton's Farr X2, Lightning showing off their beautiful gossamer sails as they were keeping the pressure on the rest of the fleet.
In the end, it was Sgrech Bach who took the win, demonstrating their skill and experience in navigating the challenging conditions. They were followed by the rapid Farr 30, Wild Haggis. Mojito Bach recovered from their inverted start to third.
The last race saw a mildly stronger, more reliable breeze arrive. Mojito Bach started correctly and ahead, closely followed by Honey Bee. The course saw the fleet sail a right-trapezium course, with a light upwind followed by 2 kite legs. Leading boats Wild Haggis, Lightning and Mojito Bach managed to make it around the reach mark before the wind shifted, forcing some of the trailing boats to drop their kites prematurely.
A carefully managed race saw Mojito Bach take the win for the first time in the autumn series, followed by Mojito and Wild Haggis. Wild Haggis frustratingly only 1 second behind Mojito on corrected time after an hour and 20 minutes of racing.
Mojito still leads the series and class 1 by just one point ahead of class 2 leaders, Sgrech Bach. David Lean's Jackpot is in third but despite missing 5 races, Nigel Ingram's Wild Haggis is on the same points in 4th place overall, currently first in class zero.
A great weekend of racing, the Pwllheli Autumn Series resumes on the 4th/5th of November, with the final showdown planned for the 18th/19th.
Full results and more information can be found on the club website at www.PwllheliSailingClub.Co.Uk
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We all wish the best of luck to the J125 "Jackknife" team lead by Andrew and Sam Hall, competing in the Middle Sea Race, starting in Malta tomorrow at 11 am.
Further information and tracking can be found on the event website here
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