Yachting event still as strong as ever (From Western Telegraph)

Yachting event still as strong as ever

The August Bank Holiday and the delightful Pembrokeshire village of Dale have, for 33 years, been the time and place for sailors to assemble for a weekend of high quality keelboat racing under the joint burgees of Pembrokeshire Cruiser Racing Club and Dale Yacht Club.

Yachtsmen and women from as far afield as Cardiff Bay assembled on Friday night at Dale Yacht Club for the Commodores reception and skippers briefing and buffet to herald the start of a full weekend of racing sponsored by Dale Sailing Company of Neyland.

This annual yachting event is still as strong as ever with part of it's appeal being that the event takes place over three days with many differing types of racing from offshore to Olympic allowing for every level of skill.

37 boats participated in this year's sailing/racing programme the highest number for many years. The first day of racing was to begin on the Saturday morning at 11am but unfortunately the fog was so thick the race had to be postponed until 12 noon when it had lifted.

The first race of the weekend taking yachts in all divisions outside of the harbour to round marks began at 12 noon as they headed out to Freshwater for Divisions One and Two and Sheep buoy for Division Three.

Light winds (and fog coming back in yet again) made the going skilful and tough for the yachts and all of Division Three and gentleman's racing yachts had to retire leaving Division One and Two to battle it out. Many more retired but 13 yachts in Division One and two in Division Two persisted.

Sunday morning brought clearer visibility and the 'round the cans' courses set by the race officer led to an interesting days sailing in the sunshine for all. Bank Holiday Monday's Olympic Course venues with 'laid' marks in and around Sandy Haven and Dale Roads went off without a hitch with near perfect weather to add much excitement, in particular on the start lines as boats jockeyed for position through the start gate.

The first race of the morning started at 11 noon and some enjoyed it so much that they continued going round the course set after finishing to do a lap of honour!! Many boats then rafted up against each other to enjoy a spot of socialising and food before starting the second race of the day at around 2pm.

By 4.30pm all yachts were moored and crews ashore as PCRC Commodore Chris Talbot officiated as Award presentations were made to the skippers and crews of the winning yachts at the Dale Yacht Club while Castle Photography put on a slide show of shots taken throughout the weekend.

The commodore commended all the competitors for the great levels of sailing skill. He then continued to present the prizes to the winners of the Olympic courses for the day and the overall winners of the whole weekend, finishing off by thanking the visiting yachts for making that extra special effort to attend and presenting yacht 'Certifiable' with the perpetual 'Redfern Trophy', (presented to the club by the family of the late Dr. John Redfern, a founder member and keen cruiser racer) for the best visiting yacht. Results for the weekend:

Day 1 - Saturday Division One: 1st Certifiable - Ian Watts; 2nd Riot - A Watkins; 3rd Yabadabadoo - M Barker. Division Three: 1st Daylight Robbery - Jamie Main; 2nd Selukwe - Andrew Humble.

Day 2 Sunday Division One: 1st Roxy - Rob Davies; 2nd Yabadabadoo - M Barker; 3rd Certifiable - Ian Watts Division Two: 1st Swn y Mor - K Rogers; 2nd Selukwe - Andrew Humble; 3rd Kijang - Mike Swain Daylight Robbery - Jamie Main Division Three: 1st Foxy - Jane Hunter; 2nd Rogue - P Humpries Gentleman's Racing: 1st Eloco - Stephen Jones; 2nd Extempore - J D R Williams; 3rd Dances with Waves - R S Dance

Day 3 - Olympics Division One: 1st Throbber - S Rees; 2nd Certifiable - Ian Watts; 3rd Trissie - R C Blacksell Division Two: 1st Swn y Mor - K Rogers; 2nd Spindrift - James Berry; 3rd Daylight Robbery - Jamie Main Division Three: 1st Foxy - Jane Hunter; 2nd Sea Vixen - Simon McGrath; 3rd Rogue - P Humpries Gentleman's Racing: 1st Extempore - J D R Williams; 2nd Eloco - Stephen Jones; 3rd Dances with Waves - R S Dance

Overall Winners of Dale Weekend 2003 Division One: 1st Certifiable - Ian Watts; 2nd Throbber - S Rees; 3rd Roxy - Rob Davies Division Two: 1st Swn y Mor - K Rogers; 2nd aylight Robbery - Jamie Main; 3rd Selukwe - Andrew Humble Division Three: 1st Foxy - Jane Hunter; 2nd Sea Vixen - Simon McGrath; 3rd Rogue - P Humphries Gentleman's: 1st Eloco - Stephen Jones; 2nd Extempore - J D R Williams; 3rd Dances with Waves - R S Dance.