Llandudno Sailing Club

If you like waves at your championship, Jim Saltonstall recommends this Welsh venue

Race Area

The bay faces approximately north-east, and is exposed to any wind direction from approx 310 round to 070 degrees, so expect some nice waves in the bay, as well as on the beach, when the wind comes from anywhere in this sector.

Wind Direction

280-320 degrees: When the wind comes from the north-west, with the starting area near the shore in the eastern section of the bay, it pays to go left up the beat for the wind. This is because there is more pressure on the port side of the course due to the wind convergence area. There is also the possibility of a header on starboard tack as you go towards the shore, with lifts on port tack coming away from it. As always, check it out pre-start, to see if the port layline is going to be close enough to the land to feel the effect of the land mass on your left.

320- 050 degrees: This is the clearest wind direction, when the wind has the chance of being most stable in both strength and direction. This is also the direction for the roughest seas in the bay, giving some great waves to plane and surf on. Which way to go up the beat now depends more on the tide, which we will talk about in more detail later.

050-090 degrees: Now that the wind is coming from the eastern sector, it does not pay to go right up the beat for the wind, as there is less of it due to the divergence area of wind near the shore. But there is now the issue of tide, depending on its strength, which leaves you with the dilemma of heading inshore to cheat the tide in less wind, or stay offshore in more wind. You must address this catch-22 situation on race day, when you will be able to gauge the strength of the tide, and decide your game plan accordingly.

090-250 degrees: Shifty! You’ll have flat water, and you’ll need eyes out of the boat using the shifts coming off the relatively high land to the south. Points to remember as with any offshore wind:

* Fewer shifts over a narrower arc in the leeward mark/ starting area. * More shifts over wider arc in the windward mark area .
* As the wind leaves the land, its first sheer is to the right, lifting on starboard tack as you get closer to the land, but then lifting port tack as you get in really close to the land.

Use the shifts as you progress up the beat, also allowing for the tide, and do not get to either layline too early. Make sure you when you are high and low on either tack.

250-280 degrees: With the Great Orme in the background, it normally pays to go left up the beat for the wind, as there is more wind on the port side of the course, tending to head you on starboard tack as you go in, with lifts on port tack along the shore.

Sea Breeze

This normally fills in from the north at around 1300, and veers to the right, settling down in the north/north-east sector. It reaches maximum strength around 1600, and dies as the sun sets.

Tide

The flood tide offshore is to the north-east, creating a back eddy in the bay. During the flood, the tidal direction in the bay is actually to the west, as it is during the ebb tide. Check where the tide line is, if the race committee takes you further offshore, as this will obviously dictate your race strategy plans. Normally the race committee will keep you well inside the bay, in the west-going tidal direction. With neap tides, the strength is around 1-2 knots, at springs it is more like 2-3 knots. Tide plays an important part in your strategy in any wind direction, so remember your laylines, get transits when you can, and relate them to the marks so that you can see whether or not you are being swept above or below the mark.

Enjoy the venue, it is one of the better all-round venues for a championship both ashore and afloat.

Tourist Information Office

Tel. 01492 876 413