ANNUAL REGATTA
Saundersfoot Sailing Club held its annual regatta last weekend and, after a season of light airs, it was from one extreme to the other, with a gusty force six keeping the fleet ashore on Saturday afternoon, the only entertainment being old sailing films in the clubhouse and the barbeque, both of which kept all entertained until the early hours. Sunday showed more promise, despite a threat of strong winds later in the day, and the race officers chose, in view of the conditions and forecast, to only send the cruisers on the long trek around Caldey Island and to keep the dinghies closer inshore with a race to the Eel Point buoy at the entrance to Caldey Sound. This was to prove a wise choice, as the tip of the island was certainly not the place for little boats and the beat home would have been even more daunting than that from the end of South Beach! The impressive 12-strong cruiser fleet set off first and made a splendid sight leaving the bay. However, even they found the going pretty tough and only six were to eventually finish the race. Line honours went to Saundersfoot-based Geoff Titterton sailing Eclipse, but he was beaten on handicap into second place by fellow Saundersfoot helm John Miller, sailing Sea Fever, with Tony Spiller, Tenby SC, sailing Amphora, in third place. The dinghies set off in hot pursuit and made rapid time downwind, with spinnakers set to the turning mark at Eel Point. From there, however, it was a different story, with a long upwind leg back to Monkstone and what was to prove a very tricky beat into the finish line at the harbour. Capsizes were numerous and, of the 24 starters, only 15 boats were to complete the course, and the patrol boats were kept occupied and ended up towing several boats back to the beach. Line honours and the overall race win went to Pat Moore and Paul Bambridge from Corus SC in their 505, which completed the course in just an hour and 25 minutes, far faster than many motor boats could manage the trip, if a little wetter. Second place was taken by John and Peter Rose from Chew Valley Lake SC in the Scorpion, a tremendous performance against all the trapeze boats, with the first Fireball, sailed by David Morgan and Rita Walden from Llangorse SC, in third place. This year's turnout was a little down, with strong winds stopping some from travelling in the first place and keeping others on the beach to watch the more intrepid elements of the fleet set sail. One or two cruiser sailors that we know, however, would have gladly swapped sandcastles for swells as they battled their way upwind from Caldey on the long beat home. All returned safely to the bar and the exhilarating sail will be the topic of a few clubhouse boasts for a while to come; just like fishermen, the waves will get bigger and the winds stronger for the telling and as for that gust which took away Rolly Squibbs' mainsail, well there's no knowing just how strong that one will end up being! A big thanks to all involved; it's back to normal this weekend, with a club race at 15.30 on Sunday - see you all there.