CYRCS

The gales that buffeted the whole of the Welsh coastline certainly provided challenging conditions for the youngsters who arrived for the club youth racing circuit last Saturday.

Whilst Saundersfoot gets some shelter from the southwest, the 16 youngsters starting the first race had to contend with force five conditions, with some gusts near gale force.

The severity of the conditions was reflected in the fact that only eight finished the single lap course.

There were inevitably many capsizes, but the calibre of the competitors was very high and whilst the safety crews were kept very busy, everyone coped extremely well.

The fleet returned to the clubhouse for a well earned lunch - thanks to Graham, Denise and Tricia.

Conditions did improve slightly after lunch and two races were run before the prize giving of rosettes (courtesy of Graham and Vanessa Wellman) and SSC 60th anniversary caps.

Thanks to West Wales Cruisers who are generously sponsoring the prizes for all this year's CYRC events.

Well done to our five juniors who competed and congratulations to Ben Dancer who took first place in the Open Fleet.

Thanks go to Malcolm and all the safety boat crews and in particular to Rolfe John who provided his cruiser 'Twm Barlam' to act as committee boat at short notice.

In view of Rolfe's frequent association with harsh weather in previous events, one might speculate whether the name of his boat is some long lost Norse God of storms!

Club Racing

By Sunday, the gales of the previous day had blown out to provide still conditions and a most glorious summery day, so it was some relief when a nice breeze picked up for the 6 pm start of the club race which was in the experienced hands of Trevor Smith and Sarah Borman.

Three Solos and a Laser battled it out with the elusive Phantom for three laps round the Amroth, Pendine and Harbour marks.

Peter Bower's skilled helming again produced him poll position, with Paul Griffiths coming in second and Paul Johnson gaining third place.

Coppet Week

Coppet Week is now looming in just two weeks, so it seems timely to give some background to this prestigious event which has now become a Saundersfoot maritime tradition.

Coppet Week officially started in 1973, growing from a visit by several Midlands clubs to Saundersfoot in the previous years, most notably from Greensforge, Dudley and South Staffs Clubs. 

They were made welcome in the usual Saundersfoot manner with races and off-water facilities and things have never looked back since. 

From this fairly humble start, the event has grown to a consistent 70 or 80 entries, with a high of just over 100 about 10 years ago - if we are honest, just a few more than we would ideally like.

Coppet Week is now the undoubted highlight in the SSC sailing season.

Over the years, it has attracted sailors from across the country and helps to boost club funds as well as providing a great week of competition for all of us to enjoy.

It also contributes strongly to the Saundersfoot village economy, with whole families returning year after year for this special family sailing week.  

Of the present competitors, very few have been there from the start, with our own Trevor Smith, for many years crewed by Norma in a GP14 and then a Graduate, and Greensforge's Keith Jones, crewed first by wife Val in an Enterprise and latterly by son-in-law Richard Copper, in an Osprey, probably holding the record for most attendances.

These veterans are followed closely by our own Paul Griffiths sailing single-handedly recently, but for many years sailing with brother John, who first met his wife Tonia when she crewed a GP14 here back in 1977 for Greensforge helm Max Reynolds. So Coppet Week has a lot to answer for!  

The winners have included several national, European and world champions and the classes of boats reads like a history of the development of modern dinghy sailing - from GP14s, Enterprises and Graduates, through Lasers, Fireballs and Ospreys to the latest developments in Moths, International 14s, Canoes and RS whatevers. 

Over the years, there have been several Saundersfoot winners - David George in a Graduate Cyclops back in 1974, followed by son Mark George in another Graduate Breakaway in 1975.

After that, in 1982, John Griffiths in a Laser, Druke-er Gwaine.  

In 1988, John, now sailing with brother Paul, won in an Osprey Mistral and they managed it again in 2000, this time in a Fireball, The Full Monty. 

Let's hope its not too long before another SSC helm picks up the Coppet Week Rose Bowl, surely the hardest trophy to win around our club course.

Offers of help for the event would still be welcome - please contact Tina on 812383 or Graham on 07890 987825.

Pre-Coppet Safety Briefing

Can all Coppet Week safety boat helms and crews, OODs and assistants please attend the safety briefing to be held at the clubhouse at 2 pm on Saturday, May 23. It is extremely important that you attend. Before the briefing, we will be sorting out all the boats and equipment required, so if you can attend earlier, please come and give a hand.

Nautical Nips

Reference to starting signal flags last week reminds us of the long history of sending messages by this means before the sophistication of radio or telephone.

By the late 18th century, a complex system of messages could be sent by the British fleet using combinations of numeric and special flags and pennants.

In 1804, the French captured the British signal book and a totally new signal code was devised which provided greater communication possibilities.

Lord Nelson's famous signal at Trafalgar (England expects that everyman will do his duty) involved a total of 32 flags flown from 10 halyards using all three masts of his flagship.

Signal officers were highly skilled and were regarded as the elite of the navy. The term flag officer became synonymous with admiral.

Skipper's Mate