Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 23 at Royal Anglesey Yacht Club

by Mike Hardie 25 Sep 2022 12:35 UTC 24 September 2022
Howard Mattocks last race in 'Siglen' - Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 23 at Royal Anglesey © Ian Bradley

So, as the saying goes, all good things come to an end.

Sadly this was the final season for Howard Mattocks and number 7, Siglen. Having launched the boat after a complete rebuild in 1989 and sailed it until this season (I make that 33 years!!), Howard having decided its time to 'swallow the anchor' has sold her to Ian Mercer, who will be joining the fleet next season.

Over the years Howard and his crews, Leo, John and Georgie have won just about every trophy going and have always been there or there abouts in the mighty Siglen. Hopefully Howard will continue to be involved in the class in some shore bound way? He will certainly be missed on the water!

Thanks as always, due to those who enable us to sail week in and week out. Like all clubs we rely on a willing band of volunteers to support the on (and off) the water fun and games. Our Race Officers, who are often criticised for the wrong course, its either too long, too short, the wrong way or whatever, rarely are they praised. So thanks Nick & Garth, we love you really.

The unsung heroes on the line, Andrew (Biscuit Monitor), Val (Master Baker), Gunner Bob (World Class consumer of cakes) Roz & Leslie (Flag wavers extraordinaire) Caroline (Race Officers minder) and anybody else who I may have forgotten, thanks for sitting on the line in all weathers.

Guy, Arwel & Archie, we thank you for your support, advice, help and good humour in the launches.

Cliff, Cat, Megan & Charlotte, thanks for all the beer (other beverages are available), always served with a smile to the waiting hordes.

So after all that, onto the final race of the Season. With a healthy NE blowing and a Penmon bound tide, Nick set an X course of B8, Bangor Pier, Friars, B7, Nwy, B10.

With 40 (Alistair, and the men of Panache), 35 (Hugo & Bob) and 38 (Mike, Steve & Matt) Starting closest to the Anglesey shore took an early lead, however with the rest of the fleet starting in the middle of the line and on Starboard it was always going to be difficult for them to extract themselves for the shore, and so it proved with some close calls as they came out on port.

35 continued to lead as 38 and 40 faded, 5 (Andy & Pete), 1 (Martin, Catherine & Harry) and 41 (Family Yates) moved through the pack to round B8 in that order, with 15 (Tak & 'Yellow Jersey' Dave), 29 (Family Robinson, featuring Emily on downwind legs) 22 (Roger & Darren) and a rather weedy 42(Henry & Stuart) completing the pack. 24, who were trying a special 'low aspect' rig for the day decided it wasn't working and retired early.

The run to Bangor Pier saw 35 consolidate their lead to round first for the beat back to Friars. With clear wind and a favourable tide they pulled away from 5, 1 and 41 as the peloton saw minor place changes in the fluky wind before Gallows. 35 maintained her lead around Friars, with no change behind, the run to B7 saw 29 (with Emily at the helm) pass 15 & 38 as she sailed over the banks as they wallowed by the pier.

Not surprisingly 35 held on to take the Cannon on the by now shortened course, finishing ahead of 1,5,1 and 41. After that came 29, 15, 38, 40, and 42 for the final cannon of the season.

So after a long competitive season (eleven different winners in 22 races shows just how competitive it is!) the final placings are as follows...

Results:

1st. 1 - Sian - 33pts
2nd. 35 - Tarka - 44pts
3rd. 38 - Sard - 48pts
4th. 29 - Gitana - 54pts
5th. 5 - Thelma III - 75pts

Related Articles

Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 22
Should have done the lottery! The penultimate race of the season saw the fleet presented with a fairly gentle and variable NW breeze and a building Menai Bridge bound tide. Although the programme suggested a 'long distance race', common sense prevailed. Posted on 19 Sep 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 19
Sun, Sand & Sangria, or Spray, Spinnakers & Seasickness as we are in Wales Tourist hordes all over town, Seagulls working overtime intimidating small children and stealing ice creams, Crabs by the pier enjoying a final flight or two before the seasons end, it must be the last Bank Holiday of the season? Posted on 1 Sep 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 16
Last chance to fine tune ahead of the Menai Strait Regattas With Menai Strait Regattas starting on Monday it was a last chance to fine tune the boats before the festivities commences. With 22 boats now on the water, it should be a cracking fortnight, free from the pressures of the 'A' series. Posted on 31 Jul 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 15
Forecast - Ffffresh to Ffffrightening As the nation sweltered through the week, the Fife fleet were keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts for Saturday. Surprisingly for once they all seemed to agree that it was going to be windy with 20+ mph being a common theme. Posted on 24 Jul 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 13
Summer finally arrives in Beaumaris Summer finally arrived in Beaumaris, marked by a outbreak of bare legs and red (sorry, bronzed faces). Posted on 11 Jul 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 11
None but the brave (or foolhardy?) On a day when the ‘Crema' blew off one's Cappuccino and seagulls flew backwards, things were not looking promising following an early morning pitch inspection by Nick, Race Officer for the day. Posted on 26 Jun 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 10
Glandore weekend - a match made in heaven? Like many sailing clubs the R.A.Y.C. has close links with other clubs formed over many years, with us there is a particularly strong bond with Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, which goes back to a visit to the Classic Regatta in 2005. Posted on 20 Jun 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 8
A long and winding road (not!) Following the previous day's Jubilifications, Race Officer Nick and his crew were faced with a difficult decision, with a healthy NE breeze and a lumpy sea evident from Race Control headquarters, it looked like the long distance race was a non-starter. Posted on 5 Jun 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 7
To tea, or not to tea?, that was the question As one would expect with a Royal yacht club, the Jubilee gave us all sorts of ways to celebrate (any excuse for a party). With an afternoon jubilee tea organised (you can tell we are 'posh', the crusts were cut off!!). Posted on 4 Jun 2022
Conwy Fife One Design 'A' Series Race 6
Looking like a bumper year for the fleet With 19 Fifes now afloat, it's looking like a bumper year for the fleet and if race 6 is anything to go by, it's going to be no pushover for whoever emerges triumphant at the end of the season. Posted on 29 May 2022
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024