Riot stars in Martha's regatta (From Western Telegraph)

Riot stars in Martha's regatta

You would have been forgiven if you thought you were at the Albert Hall rather than sitting in Marthas Vineyard bar or enjoying a meal last weekend.

The Marthas Cup Regatta was held to celebrate the tenth anniversary of both Marthas Vineyard and Milford Marina. While local and visiting Yachtsmen slogged it out for eight hours during Saturdays Island Races, the more sedate supporters of the Marthas Cup Regatta were being richly entertained ashore by the young and talented Cellist Caryl Caffery throughout the afternoon, with her repertoire of Bach Suites. Locally renowned guitarist John Rodge later joined her.

Saturdays Island Race sponsored by Milford Docks Company and Investing in Enterprise proved to be an exciting offshore event, rain and overcast conditions combined with fluky winds gave challenging racing.

Two courses were set, one of 40 miles setting off from Milford Haven with a committee boat start, out passed St Annes head, round Skomer to Green Scar and return. The second course for the smaller boats began at Milford Haven, out passed St Annes Head, round Skokholm and return, a total of 16 miles.

Rain drove down as the fleet beat their way past St Annes Head round Skomer Island and headed across St Brides Bay to Green Scar Island just off Solva. The wind became very light as we passed in-between Solva and close to Green Scar, the harbour opened up to reveal its pretty coloured houses and high streets on the cliffs above.

Cormorants sitting on the jagged rocks of the Scar islands were drying their wings, we gybed the main and headed for home, Mr Vain, Riot and the rest of the fleet all set their spinnakers as they rounded Green Scar and started to accelerate across the bay.

Fluky winds were experienced round Skomer where Maiden sat for about 10 minutes waiting for some breeze to carry her past the island. Once inside the Haven with 1.5 miles to go dodging coasters and the ferry made the course a little more challenging. Everyone finished the offshore races successfully.

In contrast to the rather grey conditions the view from the bar took on an array of colour, with dozens of yachts dressed with flags and bunting, including the ex-Angle Lifeboat Spirit of Angle dressed in her lifeboat regalia. The classic Nicholson Nocturne of Newport received a prize presented by Bosuns Locker Chandlery for best dressed boat.

With prize money totalling £1500 for the weekend, fresh breezes and sunshine on Sunday brought dramatic racing.

The yacht Tradewinds lost her forestay within minutes of starting the morning round the cans race and Juanita blew out her mainsail halfway round the morning course. Sunshine and lighter breezes were experienced during the afternoons racing, with some very close starts with all the boats fighting for positions. With lighter winds in the afternoon the heavier boats were slower.

By 5.30pm the crews had mustered to the bar to watch the highlights of the racing on the big screen by Castle Photography. Meanwhile at a safe distance from the pig roast local RNLI supporters were filling 500 balloons that were released to race across the country at 7pm raising over £500 for the Lifeboats. The prize giving was held upstairs in Marthas Vineyard with every body squeezing in, a raucous crowd celebrating every prize and placing.

The IRC fast division was won by Riot the X-99 who walked with four first prizes having won all three races and the series Throbber a Robber won the IRC slow division but it was a close battle with Matico, Sigma 33.

In Portsmouth fast division Trissie an Impala battled it out with Serifos, Celeritas, (hustler 36), Morning Glory S&S 34 and a Legend One & Only giving exciting racing. The last division was Portsmouth slow which saw a lot of cruising boats which have never raced before to take part, Syn Y Mor won overall by winning the Island Race and coming second in both races on the Saturday. Altalina was better suited to the round the cans racing and won both Sunday races.

Everyone who took part thoroughly enjoyed themselves, there was live music every night and the atmosphere was buzzing around the marina. Milford Yacht Brokerage was taken over as the race office for the weekend and lots of people came down to have a look at the classic lifeboat display.

We are looking forward now to next years event and will publish a date as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone in taking part and thank you to everyone for supporting the event and making it the Cork week of Wales. The exciting weekend of quality racing and entertainment would not have been possible without the generous support of local and national sponsors, the Regatta organisers wish to thank: Carlsberg-Tetley, Milford Fish Auctions, Milford Docks Company, Marthas Vineyard Bar & Restaurant, Pembrokeshire Cruiser Racing Club, Milford Yacht Brokerage, Milford Marina, Brescot Seafoods, Westfleet Haven Cruising, The Walters Group, The Sewin Restaurant, Dr & Mrs Gerald Leighton Davies, Stephen Ratsey Sails, Consort Equipment Products Ltd, Lyndhurst House, Cuisine Direct and Dyfed Electronics. Series Race Results:

IRC: Fast Division:

1, Riot owned by Alan Watkins & Lawrence Wood Riot was the only boat to win all their races; 2, Mr Vain owned by Trevor Owens; 3, Maverick owned by Mike Johnson.

IRC: Slow Division:

1, Throbber owned by Steve Rees; 2,Matico owned by Barry Kingston; 3, Mischief owned by Dave Yeomans; 4, Maelstrom owned by Doug Macintosh.

Portsmouth: Fast Division:

1, Trissie owned by Bob Blacksell; 2, Serifos owned by Richard Ayre; 3, Celeritas owned by owned by Rob Griffiths; 4, Morning Glory owned by Billy Russell; 5, One and Only owned by Dave Stoney

Portsmouth: Slow Division:

1, Syn y Mor owned by Kevin Rogers; 2, Spindrift owned by James Berry; 3, Raffles owned by Steve Vines; 4, Nocturne of Newport owned by Mark Thomas; 5, Altalina owned by Graham Phillips; 6, Perky Puffin owned by Tom Bennett.