A record entry of 104 dinghy sailors gathered at Saundersfoot from all parts of England and Wales for the 2004 Coppet Week Regatta (May 30 to June 5).

Over the six days, competitors met old friends and resumed old rivalries yet had time to spare to enjoy the attractions of Pembrokeshire with their families, such is the style of Coppet Week.

Usually, most of the racing is planned to take place round the club course in the bay, and 100 boats jousting for position provided a colourful spectacle for the many spectators on the beach.

A bay full of sailing dinghies concentrating on going as fast as possible could have lead to endless confrontation with trawlers, motor boats, cruisers and the odd day sailor, but somehow it did not happen.

It was a pleasure to acknowledge several instances of fishing boats courteously standing clear, while younger sailors at the back of the fleet struggled to the finishing line.

The week got off to a splendid start on Sunday, with 93 boats competing for the RNLI Pennant - all proceeds from the race going to that most deserving cause.

The fine weather and moderate winds favoured the fast and manoeuvrable Moths and International Canoes and the Pennant was duly carried off by Moth sailor Martin Weatherstone, of the Bartley Green Sailing Club.

Thereafter, two days of the racing schedule were lost to bad weather.

Race officials have to be constantly aware of the span of ability and experience in a Coppet Week fleet, ranging from ex-world champions at one extreme to youngsters taking on their first open championship at the other.

It is impossible to please everybody all of the time, but race officers prefer to deal with a few frustrations rather than a bay full of upturned boats.

After these disappointments, the weather settled into steady moderate winds which allowed very competitive sailing for all abilities and virtually no capsizes to disturb the tranquillity of the safety boat fleet.

At the end of the week, the leading boats were: 1. Robin Wood (Saundersfoot SC) - International Canoe; 2. Martin Weatherstone (Bartley Green SC) - Moth; 3. Gareth Caldwell (Blithfield SC) - International Canoe; 4. Alisdair James (Grafham Water SC) - International Canoe.

Throughout the week, first place was a close contest between former world champion, Robin Wood (five penalty points) and RNLI Pennant winner, Martin Weatherstone (six penalty points).

The outcome was not decided until the very last race, won by Robin Wood, while Martin Weatherstone was pipped for second place by Peter Conway, (Lymington SC), sailing an International 14.

Viewed from the committee boat it is easy to see how such experts succeed - tacks are completed with total economy of movement, three quick heaves on a halliard, spinnakers are up and the sails are driving again with minimum delay. From the committee boat it looks so easy.

Weather conditions may have favoured the agile Canoes and Moths, but there were plenty of 'high-tech' boats in evidence.

Nevertheless, 'veteran' classes - Ospreys, Enterprises, GP 14s, the Tenby Redwings - were well represented in the top half of the table.

The Mirror dinghy - cheap, cheerful, versatile, seaworthy - is one of the great classic designs, but racing greyhound it is not.

The RYA Handicap System should give all classes an equal chance, but for some reason it does not.

It is a pleasure to report that Mirror veteran, Ken Wilfort, (Corus SC), a Coppet week regular for many years, not only achieved a creditable 41st position overall, but gained fourth position in the Friday race, to prove that every dog has its day.

The event was well supported by Saundersfoot SC's own members - 29 in all and they were by no means outclassed by the visitors.

With Robin Wood out on his own, the position of second leading 'home' sailor was a closely fought contest between 10th Colin Newman (International Canoe), 11th Peter Bower (Tempest), 12th Nick Berridge (Phantom), and with Leighton Price (RS300) in 16th place.

Thanks are due to an army of volunteers, many of them sacrificing their own opportunities to compete, who pulled flags, blew horns, calculated lap times, manned patrol boats, fed and watered the competitors once ashore. Without their efforts behind the scenes, Coppet Weeks just do not happen.

Ancient Mariner