Abersoch Keelboat Week 2025
by Mike Crompton 30 Aug 16:02 UTC
17-22 August 2025
In memory of Peter Driver who sadly died on Sunday 17th August whilst swimming from his boat Crud Yr Awel. Peter was a great supporter of Pwllheli and the Abersoch sailing clubs and will be very sadly missed by all. Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
Thanks to the Abersoch Lifeboat, the Air Ambulance and fellow sailors who worked hard to save Peter.
Sponsored by One Sails, Abersoch Boatyard, Key Yachting, Ben Miller and Ben Hodges.
A sunny and warm Keelboat week at the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club Abersoch was a very pleasant affair after last years event when we were battered by 25+ knot winds all week.
There was even some concern by the organisers that there would not be enough wind to race this year but thankfully unfounded with only the practice race on Sunday abandoned when boats failed to cross the start line against the strong ebb tide and for the rest of the week we had good sailing breezes for at least one race every day.
The event is always well supported by a few visitors and this year we had the pleasure of welcoming boats from Neyland,Windermere,Liverpool,Pwllheli and of course Abersoch.
The IRC fleets 1 & 2 were equally split and soon a pattern emerged with Impetuous a Corby 37 sailed by a slick crew of "40 somethings" in IRC 1 and XpletIVe an X34 with an ageing crew of "grandads" in IRC2. Great competition albeit in different fleets with a perfect score the target.
Two races a day with starts at 12 were expertly managed by PRO Phil Snewin who arranged a great series with perfect start lines and races of an hour for the leaders.
Mark layers varied during the week and the comical comments from the teams on the radio kept all the fleets entertained.
On one afternoon after a splendid first race the wind decided to turn off and frustration was kicking in by the race team and the competitors alike but for one last check the mark layer, Gary Catterall, was despatched to the windward mark for a wind reading.."Ok Phil we are at the windward mark and I am recording one knot: Should I lift it?" Racing was abandoned for the day.
The White sail fleets size and speed varied widely and the PRO Malcolm Blackburn set courses that would allow races to be shortened. The St Tudwals islands were often a mark on the course and made for interesting roundings with wind shadows and tides making a big impact on course selection.
Several boats performed well and it was good to see "Loopy Juice" a relatively new boat to the bay scoring a couple of bullets to put pressure on the early leader "30 something". Results remained tight all week and the resultant three way tie on 8 points could only be split by race wins.
30 something Ian Middleton prevailed with the Collins crew in Loopy Juice 2nd and the Saunders family in Marauder 3rd.
IRC 1 was a fleet with plenty of talent and several boats capable of winning.
Car Gods Paddy Atkinson and Peter Schofield always started well but too many handling errors let them down and finished with a string of 2nd places trailing in behind Impetuous who had no such issues and claimed a series of firsts. Jackpot David Lean's J99 made up the podium in 3rd place overall.
Great to see Pata Negra racing on the short windward leeward courses that were not ideal for her but on the odd occasion her pace was unleashed and the sheer power of this 46' ocean racer was seen.
Will Partington in Andromeda scored a race win in the opening race but didn't maintain this during the series. We must also mention the Lowther family from Canada. They spend the summer in Wales and raced their Beneteau 44.7 Tormalind three up. David and his sons successfully deployed their kite on every downwind leg which is quite a feat as you need to be particularly strong which just happens to be in abundance to this family of giants...
The IRC 2 fleet was also a strong fleet with many competent teams. The very well sailed J70 Mojito Bach helmed by Gareth Jones-Davies and crewed by a young team from Pwllheli were race one winners and came agonisingly close on another day but the stronger breezes suited the larger X34 XpletIVe who prevailed overall.
Quattro a Beneteau 31.7 has had a busy year racing in Pwllheli,Kinsale,Dun Laoghaire and finally Greystones next weekend. Regularly in the mix it won't be long before this crew become more acquainted with the boat and start winning. 2nd overall this year well done team.
The other boats in the fleet all had moments of brilliance and Daydream Believers Port flyer in race 1 was worryingly good. Penelope Pitstop Dave & Sarah Leather we're also very pleased with their performance and when Jaya decides to get the new sails they are planning they will immediately move up the rankings..
Keelboat Week is renowned for good fun sailing and as always the bar was buzzing from 4-7pm every day with free nibbles, the daily prize-giving and free gifts from the sponsors: One Sails, Key Yachting, Abersoch Boatyard, Ben Millar, Ben Hodges and of course the principal organisers David and Linda Lean.
Random prizes were allocated and you could even win a bottle of Champagne for staying in the bar all afternoon..Well done "Geillo" from Neyland we hope to see you again and we will arrange a special price for your jugs of Cider.. but only if you consume at least 5 per night. No problem!
Two hugely successful dinners were held during the week and a quick curry on Friday before the final party when Pete Schofield's band Junction 12 rocked the club to its foundations.
Thanks all another great week.
Next year's event will start on Sunday 23rd August to Friday 28th August 2026.
Prize Winners:
- Kearns Trophy: Impetuous Crompton,Miller,Hodges
- ChubbAlarm Salver:XpletIVe Mike Crompton
- Andrew Shaw Plate: 30 Something Ian Middleton
- Best Visiting boat. Mojito Bach. Gareth Jones-Davies
- Overall Endeavour. Tormalind. David Lowther and family
- Most Contribution. Theo Paul Kearns one life trophy Oliver Toole "Super Yacht Dogcockle"
Overall Results: