BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND AT CEFN SIDAN

Despite our expectations of a ripply beach we were blessed with the beach at its very best. Normally when the wind is offshore the sand is left covered with ripples and sailing on it is a teeth rattling experience, not helped by the fact that the water stays in the dips while the wheels rattle over the ridges. So in addition to the vibration and double vision you also have a lot of spray to contend with.

Not this time. The beach was smooth, firm and very soon dry. With 15mph (24kmp/h) of breeze blowing along the beach and bright sunshine we had that rare combination of a perfect beach, perfect wind and temperatures high enough for pilots to sail in shorts and tee shirts all day.

DAY ONE: SATURDAY
The first races in each Class were sailed on a relatively narrow beach but as the tide dropped the beach just got bigger and better, with smooth sand running right out to the tide line. There were the occasional poles and holes to look out for where the tide had scoured the sand from around odd bits of jetsam or wrecks, but all were easily spotted.

A 500 yard windward leg from the start was followed by a downwind tacking leg of about 1.5 miles with both marks set well inshore. The wind direction, slightly off the land, meant that there were various lifts and headers to take advantage of, so there was always opportunity to catch up, pass or be passed depending upon whether you read the shifts correctly or not.

The high water time meant that a late start to the day was necessary but we then sailed until after 5.00pm, with four races in each Class.

In Class 3 Alan Scantlebury put a stamp of authority on things from the off, drawing away from the pack to lead from Steve Borrill. This rather set the scene for the weekend as he went on to win every race. Steve's yacht speed seems to have lost its edge since his mast collapsed at York a couple of weeks ago but even with his original mast it is unlikely that he would have been able to do sufficient to catch Alan. Behind him came Richard Austin and that was the race order for three of the day's races, with Adrian Warren taking the sole remaining third place.

In Class 5 Chris Wright lead from the grid and took the first race ahead of Dave Green, who clawed his way up to second place only on the last lap, and Ray Thompson third. Race 2 and Dave Green had a flyer of a start and drew ahead as the race progressed. Behind him Mike Hampton, Mark Sidey and Chris Wright battled for the lesser spoils, with a number of changes in position occurring in the wind shifts on the beat back each time. Eventually Chris Wright took second place narrowly ahead of Mike Hampton.

By Race 3 the wind had risen to 18mph (29kmp/h) gusting up to 22mph (35kmp/h) but with a windward/leeward course there was no need for much in the way of the rig changes or ballasting that would have been necessary for a reaching course. Dave Green continued his winning ways ahead of Chris Wright and Ray Thompson, while Mike Hampton and Mark Sidey had such a close finish that they were scored as equal fourth across the line. The day's final race again went to Dave Green, ahead of Chris Wright and Mike Hampton.

With the weather still holding good, and a lovely warm evening in store, those with enough energy to carry on sailing did so, either swapping yachts to compare performance or going on an exploratory end to end foray along the beach.

DAY TWO: SUNDAY
Sunday's early promise did not last. A warm sunny morning soon deteriorated into a cooler, cloudy one. By the time the tide had receded enough for the first race of the day to get underway the grey clouds had rolled in and yesterday's shorts and tee shirt attire were replaced by sweatshirts, windproofs and eventually drysuits.

The wind continued to blow along the beach at 15mph (24 kmp/h) for the first of the day's two Class 3 races, again won by Alan Scantlebury ahead of Richard Austin and Steve Borrill. With Class 5 on the grid the wind decided to rise and swing, so instead of a tacking race the Class 5 pilots had to endure a gusty and processional reaching race which Dave Green won, ahead of Mike Hampton. Matt Taylor found some spare yacht speed from somewhere and cruised through the fleet to take third. At least he enjoyed the reaching conditions, even if many others did not.

By the time that the final Class 3 Race had got underway, intermittent rain had arrived and the beach was getting increasingly wet. Andrew Bottomley led the first couple of laps but it was not long before Alan Scantlebury was in his accustomed first place ahead of him, with Richard Austin following in third.

The start of the final race of the day was delayed while Dave Slawson's Class 3 was cleared from the course. Intent on passing Derek Nixon, Dave had failed to spot the ribs of a wooden, and very solid, 18th century shipwreck sticking out of the sand and had sailed into them. The wreck won in the ensuing collision and Dave's mast and axle suffered terminal damage. Dave escaped somewhat shaken and bruised, having come to a very sudden halt that forced him down inside his yacht.

The aftermath of Dave Slawson's c3's run-in with one of the ancient shipwrecks which litter Cefn Sidan

Dave Green won what was a wet and unpleasant race, which was sailed in pouring rain on a beach that was becoming increasingly slippery. Behind him Chris Wright clung on, just, to second place ahead of Mike Hampton, who himself was closely pursued by Ray Thompson.

Dismantling of the yachts and loading of cars and trailers was conducted in more rain, to provide a damp finish to a memorable weekend.

Overall results

CLASS 3:
1 Alan Scantlebury
2 Steve Borrill
3 Richard Austin

CLASS 5:
1 Dave Green
2 Chris Wright
3 Mike Hampton