Sail Training Week
Last week we held our annual sail training week at Saundersfoot. Over the past week around 25 trainees, young and slightly more mature, have attended! The weather was kind and provided some ideal conditions for the trainees to test out there newly- acquired skills. This week included some exciting racing and of course the odd capsize! All agreed they had a fantastic week. We would like to thank the helpers for all their time and effort; without it we could not have run this week. Our sail training course this season is fully booked. However, it is not too early to reserve your place for next season. Anyone who is eight years or over and is able to swim can join our happy band of trainees. Training takes place on most Saturdays throughout the season. We are a recognised training centre that provides RYA sailing courses by RYA qualified instructors. Anyone who is interested in joining us or would like some more information, please contact Tina on 07818293954.
Club Racing
Sunday was a splendid day at Saundersfoot - warm sunshine, and almost a need for 'Full' signs in the village and on the beaches as well as the car parks. As ever, there was a serpent in Eden - in the form of unsuitable tides forcing an evening race, light winds falling away and last week's race officer going off with the starter box key. Once that was sorted, there were plenty of other incidents to add spice to the proceedings. The brothers Griffiths set an unusual course - Pendine, Monkstone, Amroth, Harbour, with a full length beat from Monkstone to Amroth. Horse races have photo-finishes, we have photo- starts and our ace roving photographer Landlubber has captured Leighton Price (RS300) comprehensively over the line at the start. He very properly re-started, but had to be content with second place, conceding first place to Nick Berridge (Phantom). In third place, Alistair Davies (Laser) continues to improve his performances and Tonia/Julia Griffiths (Graduate) continued their consistent form with fourth place. To round off a race full of incident, we had, unusually, a collision at sea in which (it is alleged - no names, no pack drill) a Graduate on port tack failed to give way to a Topper on starboard tack - no one can remember when this last happened, if at all, in a Saundersfoot club race. Finally, it was nice to welcome Ryan Crew, back from Army service in Afghanistan, and Rory Crew racing a Comet and reviving some forgotten skills. Next week, Saundersfoot Sailing Club will be hosting the Laser 2000 National Championship. Volunteers are still required to manage the on- shore activities, so please contact our peerless house manager Graham Wellman - he can't do it all singlehanded and he deserves our full support.
Ancient Mariner