Pwllheli racers enjoyed a variety of races this weekend. The day started early with a feeder race from Pwllheli to Abersoch so that boats could join Abersoch regatta races and crews could enjoy activities in Abersoch town.
Starting at the PSC bridge at Gimblet Rock, the course was kept simple to ensure everyone could arrive at Abersoch, in good time to enjoy the day. The course rounded Partington Marine's turning mark to port shortly after the start and then headed to Abersoch, through the moorings to ODMY finish line.
Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J122e, Mojito took first overall, Andromeda 2nd and Crackajack 3rd.
Mojito also won trophies in the Abersoch racing before returning to Pwllheli for the last of the ISORA Welsh Coastal races of 2026.
The night race started just after 20:00 in a light south-southwesterly. The course took in Firmhelm boatyard's turning mark number 2 before heading out through St. Tudwall sound. With wind angles opening up, code zeros were deployed to take them west to Gwylan islands off Aberdaron. A port rounding then returned the fleet to Pwllheli with kites up, to finish on the Plas Heli finish line by the fairway buoy.
The race already presented some excitement for some of the young mojito crew who were experiencing their first ever night race but the night presented an amazing array of additional sights, spectacles and distractions throughout the race.
Firstly as boats rounded Cilan Head, they could see a glow on Rhiw mountain in the distance. The drama of a wildfire starting to take hold ensued, accompanied by blue lights as fire engines rushed along the coastline. Once round the Gwylan islands, it was a relief to see firefighters had reached the scene and before the fleet disappeared back around Cilan Head, the flames had reduced to smoulder and smoke, leaving just the blue lights to pierce the dark night sky.
Although tired from the long day, the use of head torches provided much merriment for our young crew. The skies above added to their wonder as they were entertained by an abundance of shooting stars, part of the Perseid meteor shower at this time of year.
Mojito, with a mostly female crew, won the race overall. Paul&Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350, Finally, were 2nd overall, taking 1st in class 1 followed by Geoff Dufton Kelly's First 40.7, Crackajack, 2nd in class 1, 3rd overall.
Focus at Pwllheli is now on the Welsh IRC National Championships on 4th to 6th September with boats arriving from Ireland in the ISORA race the weekend before on 29th August. There is still time to enter and we are making a special appeal for YTC cruisers to come and join the fun on the water as well as the superb social program ashore.
See ;- www.ircwelshchamps.com
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