Abersoch Fleet Storming Ahead

16 June 2009

The fledging Abersoch Dragon fleet of six boats, South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club based, got off to a cracking season over the May bank holiday. Wil Williams' team at Hafan Pwllheli had all six Dragons launched and ready for off Saturday morning, Owi Lloyd-Jones had the moorings laid at Abersoch, off the yacht club as promised.

May Bank Holiday

Mel Barratt, an ex Dragon owner, planned a series of three races over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

On Saturday First honours go to team James Peters & the redoubtable local stalwart David Cummings on Hagred (GBR 575 was Floatation). Very well deserved. Both Jamie, brother of Russell Peters, & David are instrumental in instigating the fleet.

On Sunday Chris Taylor, new to SCYC and to Dragons, recruited a cracking crew on Sunday - the cigar was his! Monday saw rain & winds too strong for the fledgling fleet to risk early breakages after such a great start to the Dragon fleet project.

May 16th & 17th

Sadly the week-end's racing was called off thanks to strong Easterly's. On a positive note, despite the rough seas battering the boats on the mooring for an extended number of days, all the Dragons remained in good order due to;

• Expertly designed moorings thanks to Owi & Meirion Lloyd Jones experience & expertise.
• Tightly fitting cockpit covers and spinnaker chute covers designed & fitted by Jonathan Abraham of JKA Sails, Pwllheli.
• Electric bilge pumps.

Whit Bank Holiday

Five races in three days - On Saturday fresh south westerly's delivered perfect race conditions in Abersoch bay, flat(ish) seas and plenty of wind. Class captain Rob Riddell took Merlin (GBR 622) to 'first' honours for both races in very exciting and hard sailing. All six crews came ashore overflowing with adrenaline and enthusiasm. Discussion over flowing ale confirmed this really is what club racing is all about - our choice of Dragons for the new SCYC class was bang on, a perfect choice!

On Sunday - light airs of force two's & three's in sunshine, again two races. This time Chris Taylor & team picked up two firsts in Phantom (GBR 655), consistently achieving loads of boat speed and pointing incredibly high - Phantom's performance has set down a real marker for the fleet to overcome. Bar talk centred around generously sharing techniques to get all the boats & crews going full speed, essential if we are to take on other clubs. Thoughts of the Dublin Bay fleet are never far away!

Monday saw Phantom post another well deserved win, clinically taking the Whit series victory from the grasp of the fleet captain and Merlin -  surely..............

For those thinking of joining the fun, in these first races the learning curve for the helms and crews, all new to Dragons, is near vertical - with tweakers and mast rams, fine tuners and bits of string everywhere, all hell broke loose on each and every boat. But the upshot is the fleet finish each race from first to last within a couple of minutes, and the bar talk is alive with 'oh my, oh my, if only....'

Please call the class Captain Rob Riddell on 07777 695990 or email rob.riddell@hotmail.co.uk for more information if you'd like to join the SCYC Dragon scene. Remember, the SCYC Dragon acquisition spend limit is £15,000 including boat, trailer, sails, everything. Most of the Dragons are owned in syndicate.

 

Fiona Brown
Press Officer
Fiona.Brown@fionabrown.com