Exciting sailing at Dale keel boat weekend (From Penarth Times)

Exciting sailing at Dale keel boat weekend

The August Bank Holiday and the pretty North Pembrokeshire village of Dale have, for over 30 years, been the time and place for West Wales sailors to assemble for a weekend of high quality keelboat racing under the joint burgees of Pembrokeshire Cruiser Racing Club and Dale Yacht Club.

This year was no exception. Friday evening saw the crews of over 30 yachts assembling for a Commodores reception and race briefing at Dale Yacht Club.

The Caribbean theme fancy dress and the accompanying rum punches got the crews firmly into the holiday mood.

On Saturday morning, however, it was down to the business of the weekend.

The day dawned wet and foggy with a modest southerly breeze but, as start time for the first race approached, the skies cleared and Officer of the Day Peter Harries elected to sail the Haven Approaches Race.

This takes yachts in all divisions outside of the harbour to round marks off the Turbot Bank and Skokholm Island.

Unfortunately, with the improving weather came lighter winds, of around force two southerly, and these proved insufficient to allow the fleet to negotiate the course within the five hour time limit, with, in fact, only five boats in Division One succeeding in rounding the windward mark on the Turbot Bank.

Back ashore crews overcame their disappointment by sampling the social programme provided by DYC, Griffin Inn and Planet Dale, where many danced the night away to the music of Voodoo Armpit.

On Sunday the weather got into a different gear and the wind, which had now shifted to the north, rose steadily through the day to a healthy Force four to five.

After an hours postponement while a large tanker was berthed, the OOD set intricate round the cans courses for all divisions, which criss-crossed the outer haven and fully tested crew skills while rounding 20 or more marks.

No sooner had the fleet finished this race than the OOD announced a second, shorter race to replace that lost the previous day.

By now the wind was approaching 20 knots and the short courses gave exciting close-quarters racing with a very tight spread of corrected times. The prize giving ashore was held in DYC, with many of the crews drifting off afterwards to enjoy the music of Cottonmouth at Planet Dale.

Bank Holiday Monday provided near-perfect sailing conditions, with a sparkling sundappled sea and a moderate north-easterly.

This enabled the OOD to set laid courses in Dale Roads.

The first race took all divisions on a windward-leeward course from Wattick Bay to Castle Head while the second, after lunch, used a modified Olympic course to test crews gybing skills.

Back in the DYC Clubhouse in the evening PCRC Commodore Chris Thomas officiated at the final Prize Giving.

He commended the competitors for the high level of sailing he had witnessed and had special praise for the visiting yachts which had made long voyages from Swansea and Cardiff to take part.

He warmly thanked the Clubs joint sponsors Dale Sailing and the Griffin Inn for their immense support and backing, without which the event could not have been run.

The Club, he noted, was also indebted to the kind support of James Williams Ltd, and Tomos Watkin Brewers.

He went on to express appreciation of the time and commitment to the event given by so many volunteer helpers, who had worked tirelessly all weekend.

Particular thanks went to DYC Commodore Peter Morgan and his team of bar staff, boatmen etc; to OOD Peter Harries of Neyland Yacht Club and his starting crew for providing the committee boat and for his Customary seamless race management throughout the weekend; to Mil Reynolds and Barbara Pomeroy for running the race office and administering the entries.

Before he handed over to Mrs Reynolds and Mrs Pomeroy, who graciously presented the trophies for the days winners and the over-all winners of the event, he expressed a hope that he would see all the competitors back in Dale in 2002.

Results: Haven Approaches - No finishers Sunday Race One Div 1: 1, Matico; 2, Mr Vain; 3, Inca. Div 2: 1, Deadbeat; 2, Raffles; 3, Swn y Mor. Div 3: 1, Spindrift; 2, Scarlett; 3, Sundowner. Sunday Race Two Div 1: 1, Throbber; 2 Mr Vain; 3, Naida. Div 2: 1, Swn y Mor; 2, Deadbeat; 3, Raffles. Div 3: 1, Sundowner; 2, Spindrift. Monday Race One Div 1: 1, Throbber; 2, Naida; 3, Riot. Div 2: 1, Deadbeat; 2, Swn y Mor; 3, Kijang. Div 3: 1, Sundowner; 2, Spindrift; 3, Cirdan. Monday Race Two Div 1: 1, Riot; 2, Naida; 3, Matico. Div 2: 1, RobberEE; 2, Deadbeat; 3, Raffles. Div 3: 1, Spindrift; 2, Sundowner; 3, Scarlett. Overall Div 1: 1, Throbber; 2, Naida; 3, Matico. Div 2: 1, Deadbeat; 2, Swn y Mor; 3, Raffles. Div 3: 1, Spindrift; 2, Sundowner; 3, Scarlett. Div 1 SSS Overall 1, Naida; 2, Matico; 3, Cascade.

The new 'Redfern Trophy', presented to the club by the family of the late Dr John Redfern, a founder member and keen cruiser racer, was awarded for the first time to Naida, a Contessa 33 from Swansea Bay Yacht Club, for the best overall performance by a visitor. A stunning collection of action photographs taken by Castle Photography, Haverforwest of the racing can be viewed by logging onto www.dale-sailing.co.uk

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