Right on cue, almost 100 dinghy sailors converged on Saundersfoot on May 25 for the start of the annual Coppet Week Regatta hosted by Saundersfoot Sailing Club.

Twenty-five members of Saundersfoot SC took part, five from Tenby SC and the rest, including many familiar faces who attend year after year, from distant parts of the United Kingdom.

The organisation of the sailing week encourages competitors to bring families and friends to enjoy not only the sailing but the many other attractions of Pembrokeshire.

Traditionally the first race of the week is the RNLI Pennant Race - all proceeds going the the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Eighty-eight entrants contributed £440 to a very worthy cause, plus a further £25 levied in fines on competitors (and paid without demur) for infringement of rules.

The sailing competition was dominated all week by what a classic Goon Show described as 'winds light to variable' and which produced problems for both race officers and competitors. A hundred slow moving dinghies take up a large area of Saundersfoot bay; low water and incoming tides added to the problems of finding sufficient room on the start line.

The competitors faced different problems, including unpredictable 'holes in the wind'. Competitors would be making steady progress and suddenly find an area of almost flat calm.

There was one such hole at the Pendine Mark during the final race on Friday, when spectators were treated to the amazing sight of Mirrors and Toppers steadily overhauling the speed merchants leading the race. It was too good to last and eventually the back markers fell into the same wind hole as the speed men and just took longer to extricate themselves.

To the casual observer, a boat may appear to be making stately progress with the crew relaxed and at peace with the world - on the contrary, blood pressures are off the scale and tempers short as crews struggle to make progress where none is to be had.

Under these race conditions, it is no surprise that the overall winners were sailing Moths or Canoes - there was just enough wind to stop them falling over and with so little hull area in contact with the water, they were able to make best use of what wind was available. Interestingly, the 'high tech' boats were able to make little impression in these conditions.

Gordon Evans (British Steel SC Margam) was fifth overall, but then, over the years, Gordon has demonstrated an ability to coax unseemly speeds out of the most unlikely boats such as the sturdy Wayfarer.

With this exception, the leading places were filled by stalwarts such as Lasers, Enterprises and Ospreys.

Peter Bower (Saundersfoot SC) achieved 12th place in a rare Tempest - a boat which gave an impression that it would reduced to matchwood any high-stepping dinghy which got in its way.

Sailing events like this one do not just happen - thanks are due to a large band of volunteers who accept entries, record lap times, man patrol boats, lay on barbecues and on and on. Particular thanks are due to the Saundersfoot SC cruiser owners who provided 'mother ships' and to additional patrol boat support provided by Tenby SC and Pembrokeshire Water Sports.

Overall results: 1. Richie Adams - International Moth (Bartley Green SC); 2. Alisdair James - International Canoe (Grafham Water SC); 3. Martin Weatherstone - International Moth (Bartley Green SC); 4. Richard Dee - Merlin Rocket (Midland SC); 5. Gordon Evans - RS 400 (British Steel SC); 6. Ian McDonald - Osprey (Blithfield SC).

The leading Saundersfoot SC competitor was veteran Colin Newman in seventh place.

ANCIENT MARINER