Clywedog Sailing Club held its annual Classic and Vintage Open meeting on Aug 6th & 7th.
Clywedog’s fleet of six dinghies were joined by four visiting boats two of which were over 50yrs old. The CVRDA races under 1965 handicap ratings and modified boats are further handicapped according to their state of tune. There was a good variety of boats, from the little Wagtail that came out but didn’t race, the Enterprise, with wooden spars and 1965 sails, a couple of GRP Applecores having tight racing, and 2 very different examples of Wayfarers, one very old wooden and a not quite so old GRP one, both very much in the spirit of the cvrda. And of course, the Clywedog fleet of Flying Fifteens.
The weather, while being typically shifty, was windy enough for good fun, whilst not putting people off, causing capsizes, or breaking things. Two races were held on Sat afternoon in ideal conditions and racing was very close. The flying fifteens took line honours but Rupert Whelan in his immaculate minisail won both on handicap with the Enterprise of Peter Vinton lying second after the first day’s racing.
A great social and evening meal was enjoyed by all on the Sat night, Sunday dawned overcast and with gusty winds but perfect for these older dinghies.
Two races were held back to back in the morning with extremely close racing throughout with Whelan in the Minisail and Rollinson/Townsend in the fifteen sharing the honours.
And the course for the last race was a stonker! Long, long beat, followed by a short run, then a tight planing reach, gybe, a broader reach where spinnakers could be set by the ff’s, gybe, another tight reach, gybe, and then a run down to the leeward mark. Excitement all the way with Rollinson/Rowley in the fifteens neck and neck the whole race with Rollinson just edging it on the line. The competition was just as intense further back with the Albacores and Wayfarers enjoying a great duel.
On the final countback despite four line honours Rollinson/Townsend were edged into second place by Rupert Whelan on handicap and in third overall were Pat/Sandy in the Albacore. Peter Vinton took first classic prize after some close racing with Giles Penfold’s Wayfarer.
Despite the low numbers this was rated as one of the best meetings at Clywedog for some years with great sailing wind all weekend and classic dinghies doing what they were designed for, racing with enthusiasm and enjoyment.