Niners in Llandudno

New faces join the fleet for sunshine sailing

Along with a new venue on the 9er racing circuit for 2005 came some fresh faces. With competitors coming from the North West, Scotland and South Wales there was a very friendly atmosphere. As many experienced the joys of 9er fleet racing for the first time it was as much about transferring their club racing practice to a higher platform as absorbing as much information from the others on how they set the boats up and why.

Conditions on both days were more akin to the south coast of France with a cloudless sky, light breeze and plenty of tourists watching from the promenade. Saturday was the better of the two days with a constant onshore breeze, slightly above that forecasted and some challenging waves.

In the 49er the pairing of Jonny Coates and Charlie Muir showed good pace in the conditions pulling away from the pack in all races to take four firsts. The Irish contingent (from Glasgow) of the Mclaughey brothers put in a good show demonstrating impressive upwind pace and course position to grab a couple of seconds and a third to take over to Sunday. The rest of the fleet were close (some closer than others at times, Ed & John) with positions changing lap by lap as crews tried to figure out whether it was better to go out of the bay to get the breeze or stay in for the tidal advantage.

On Sunday the wind had dropped further to 2-4 knots so the starts and tide would play a large part on who would come out on top. It was clear that the top prize was not a certainty from word go with the crew on 806 doing their best to throw away their hold on first place. Everyone in the pack had a moment of glory in the light breeze with Connor and Johnny on 746 showing great light wind skills to pop out on top in all but one race. That said the racing was much closer with Allan Bennet and Mike ‘Sleepy’ Melles exploring how far you could go inshore and grabbing a second, Ed Stevenson and Pete Nicholson quick off the line in the 7th race to grab a first. The Reynolds brothers showed that siblings don’t have to sail in the same boat and fought hard against each other appearing at the leeward marks with good pace in the light conditions.

When the fat lady sang Jonny and Charlie had done just enough to hold onto first, joint on points with Connor and Johnny they had more wins to their name and just took the £250 top prize. Connor and Johnny took the £150 scond and were wondering what could have been if their first race on the Sat had been better. While Simon and Stephen on 681 were in shock to be taking away £100 from their first ever 49er event.

In the 29er fleet National Squaddies Huw Humphries and Max Todd had a perfect day leading the way throughout all four races to end the day with only four points. Behind them a fight for second place developed between Sarah Martin and Nicola Groves and Paul Turnill and Preston Taylor, both boats ending the day with two 2nds and two thirds each.

Sunday dawned slightly less than idyllic with cloudy skies and very little breeze. However by the time the 29ers had hit the racecourse there was a force 2 blowing and the sky began to clear. Paul Turnill and Preston Taylor made excellent use of good starts and shallow water to win the first three races of the day, while Humphries and Todd had a second but had to count a fourth and an OCS penalty in what was a no discard series. In the final race of the day Humphries and Todd won despite a fierce duel with Paul Turnill and Preston Taylor who were followed home by Sarah Martin and Nicola Groves who maintained consistency on Sunday with two second and two third places.

Overall consistency of results paid with Paul Turnill and Preston Taylor taking first overall and the big cash prize with Huw Humphries and Max Todd in second.
Great weather, welcoming club, cash prizes, no discards, close racing; more of the same next year for sure. Those that didn’t make it, missed out.

The sailors would like to thank Llandudno SC for hosting the event, which had superb racing and ran incredibly smoothly, I’m sure more sailors will be back next year…

Results 49er
1st Jonny Coates & Charlie Muir
2nd Connor Mclaughey Johnny Mclaughley
3rd Simon Evans Stephen Cronshaw
4th Ed Stevenson Pete Nicholson

Results 29er
1st Paul Turnill and Preston Taylor
2nd Huw Humphries and Max Todd
3rd Sarah Martin and Nicola Groves