40th Coppet Week at Saundersfoot Sailing Club

40th Coppet Week at Saundersfoot © Tony Charles

40th Coppet Week at Saundersfoot © Tony Charles

40th Coppet Week at Saundersfoot © Tony Charles

Saundersfoot Sailing Club in the far south west of Wales is not the oldest Club in the Country (founded 1949), nor the biggest or most famous, although it is one of only a handful that is recognised in its local Harbour Order as the key representative of sailing interests in the locality. It has however been running a unique sailing event for forty years which is neither a championship nor a regatta but a week of highly competitive, but very friendly racing to which sailing families flock each year at the end of May for a holiday in a fabulous location with some stimulating racing thrown in! The event is simply called "Coppet Week" and was started in 1973 by a group of sailors from the Midlands who organised a week's dinghy racing from Coppet Hall Beach which adjoins Saundersfoot. The Sailing Club was asked to help run the event and it has grown from there. The "Coppet" name is derived from "Coal Pit" reflecting the widespread anthracite mining that occurred in the area in the past. (It is reputed that Queen Victoria insisted on Saundersfoot anthracite for the Royal fires as it burnt more brightly and cleanly than other coals).

Coppet Week now attracts 60-80 boats covering an enormous range of Classes from Toppers (PY 1313) to International Foiling Moths (PY 600) and a regular Tempest keelboat (PY 942). This year's entries comprised a total of 30 different classes and sailors from 21 UK clubs including experienced novices, a spectrum of regular club sailors, as well as national and world champions. It is a "family week" combining top class racing and super opportunities for holidaying. We are not aware of anything quite like it anywhere else.

The Sailing Instructions prescribe a race a day over 6 days but include the flexibility to move races forward or back depending on the weather. The conditions this year proved the value of this, as on one day there was insufficient wind to fly a feather and on two others a regular blow of force 5-6 with gusts at the top end of 7! In between, we had some fine racing conditions especially notable for a large amount of sun which had been sadly lacking for a long time, and managed to fit in all six races of the series.

Saundersfoot village is centred around its harbour both physically and in its traditions and the Sailing Club is an integral part of the Community. This year's Ruby Anniversary Coppet Week was very well supported by local businesses, with St Brides Spa Hotel being the major sponsor and providing a magnificent first prize for the winner of a luxury two day break for two. Many families have been competing for many years – Saundersfoot's own Paul Griffiths has only missed two of the forty! As a result there is much long term friendly banter and rivalry which this generous prize only added to.

The first day of this year's racing was provided with a steady SSW force 3-4, blue sky and flat water. The Race Officers provided a wide triangular course with a good beat and some cracking reaches resulting in our own bit of sailing heaven. Either this, or the prospect of the fantastic first prize for the winner, pumped up the eager enthusiasm of the 65 competitors to run-away over-exuberance, requiring two general recalls! At the third attempt, the race officers resorted to the I flag, (round the ends if you are OCS in the last minute) which seemed to do the trick and finally got the fleet away cleanly.

The first race was won by Coppet Week regular and former National, European & World Champion Robin Wood (International Canoe) who thus won the RNLI pennant, with proceeds from this race going to support their invaluable activities.

With gales on the Monday and no wind at all on the Tuesday, further racing had to wait until Wednesday when there was a better breeze, but still tending to fall away, until it was realized that each time the OOD got too hot in the lulls with the hot sun and took his trousers off, (over-trousers that is!!) the breeze strengthened nicely – so appropriate action was taken!

Two decent races were sailed with a slightly delayed start as a result of the well proportioned legs of a certain patrol boat driver squeezing the bag on his lap and inadvertently holding his radio transmit button constantly on, thus preventing any communication to get the fleet underway! Even the best organisation can come unravelled sometimes!

Whilst the fast boats sailed by top sailors, including national and international champions tended to lead the results, there were some excellent performances from slower boats and other helms. This justifies the decision not to split the fleet. The first race on the Wednesday saw Ian Fryett in a Streaker (Llandegfedd SC) gain 4th place and Saundersfoot's own David Plester sail his Solo most competently into 8th place with Cathy Godwin and 13 year old Cerys Murphy from Port Dinorwic SC take 26th in the red sailed Miracle. In the second, D Edwards with 10 year old Sophie crewing, secured first place in his National 12 (despite a damaged gunwale which when hiking out on starboard tack, threatened to impale his backside!), with Ben Pickering using his youth & full 6'3" length to hang out of a Blaze to secure 4th place. Again a good number of "slower" boats made the front half of the fleet. The other top honours for these two races were shared between champion sailors in very fast boats, namely: Chris Martin (Merlin Rocket), Robin Wood and Gareth Caldwell (both in Int Canoes).

The Thursday was again "blown out", but Friday thankfully provided a complete change with a reasonable wind. The lasting enthusiasm of competitors was demonstrated by the totally manic start of the last race with boats dodging back over the line in the last seconds. Peter Bower's Tempest – a keel boat and by far the largest vessel afloat, frightened the living daylights out of one of the tiny Toppers as he tacked to dip back behind the line at the last possible moment, but all got away cleanly (just). Peter in fact had the most storming first two legs of this race almost beating the Canoes to the gybe mark and getting the Tempest to fly, gaining his best placing of 7th overall. The same names and fast boats dominated the leading positions at the end, but a pleasing finish to the series was enjoyed by all under bright hot sun.

The clubhouse events meanwhile provided a comprehensive social programme with "virtual horse racing", a quiz, live musical entertainment (which showed that expert sailing skills are not always coupled to musical talent !), a treasure hunt and of course good food including a hog roast and ample real ale, all of which supplemented the racing extremely well. The clubhouse was packed beyond capacity (overflowing onto the veranda) for the prize giving, which as always was a very boisterous and friendly affair. One of the biggest cheers was received by Colin Spence and Steve Watkins from Greensforge SC (Fireball) who gained the award for stamina and determination by sailing all the races but securing the lowest place. There were prizes for the best over 70, over 60 and over 50 helms & crews as well for the best under 18 and under 12 – so honours were shared very widely.

The overall winner and 2013 Champion of The St Brides Spa Hotel Coppet Week Prize was Gareth Caldwell – current National Osprey Champion - from Blithfield SC who sailed an Int. Canoe in this competition. He beat fellow club members Chris Martin & Matt Smith (Merlin Rocket) by just a single point – making it a really close competition. More importantly, it was an event providing great enjoyment to a large number of sailors with a wide range of abilities in a very good natured contest.

www.saundersfootsailingclub.org.uk