Plain sailing for Aberdyfi

Sailing ABERDYFI swept the board in the recent WSRA Joint League Races at Newquay.

Joint league races include clubs from all over Wales from Ynys Mon in the north to Pembroke in the south, and with up to 25 boats taking part.

With the courses starting and finishing opposite the pier, starting off heading north towards Aberaeron before following an elongated triangular route south and finally east.

Disposing with the traditional timed start in favour of a line up where all boats set off together, this led to some interesting battles as the boats vied for position on the first leg, and several minor clashes as they rounded the first buoy turn.

Aberdyfi were first across the line in the ladies race, followed by Pembroke’s PYC in second place, winning the Veterans category, and Aberporth in third.

PYC also won the Supervets title, with Madog MYC second in the Veterans race.

Despite following a longer course, the men’s race led to some equally fierce battles and a close finish with less than a minute separating the first four boats.

The winners were Aberdyfi, with Aberystwyth second and Ynys Mon third, winning the Veterans race.

Llangwm were first Supervets over the line, with Madog MYC third in the Supervets category.

The Mixed race followed the same course as the ladies, and once again Aberdyfi were in first place, followed by their Supervets crew in second, and PYC third winning the Veterans race. Madog MYC were third in the senior mixed category with just a minute and a half between the first six boats.

Beaumaris Rowing Club hosted the Puffin Island Race on July 1.

Fourteen Celtic longboats were entered in the 10-mile endurance event that started and finished opposite the castle in Beaumaris.

Despite some confusion at the start when almost half the boats were not in starting positions when the hooter went off, this turned out to be a closely fought race.

Eventual winners Ynys Môn men had to fight their way almost from the back of the pack.

The race started just before low tide with the ebbing flow and easterly breeze helping the crews as they headed east from Beaumaris, following the Anglesey coastline past Penmon Point and on to Puffin Island.

There was little distance between the first six boats as they passed the narrow sound between Penmon lighthouse and Puffin Island, and started on the hard slog back.

Ynys Môn men were first to cross the line in just under 107 minutes, with Llanberis men in second.

Madog MYC ladies in Madog followed in third overall, and winning the ladies category in 113 minutes and 10 seconds, with Madog MYC’s Mixed Senior Veterans crew in Fleetwing just 35 seconds behind them in fourth, and the first mixed boat home.

The first eight boats crossed the line in under two hours with the last to finish taking just over 139 minutes.