Anglesey Offshore Dinghy and Catamaran Race

Perfect conditions in the Menai Straits and Red Wharf Bay

The Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race, sponsored by Iain McLaverty Wealth Management and Rain & Sun took place on Sunday August 4th. The 14 mile course starts at Beaumaris, passes round the coast of Anglesey finishing at Red Wharf Bay's clubhouse at Traeth Bychan. 44 monohull dinghies and 11 catamarans, sailing an extra loop, took part.

The race started with a 5 mile, force 4 run down the Menai Straits to Puffin Island, competitors dodging the tide either inshore or over the sandbanks, until meeting the new ebb. The leading Nacra catamaran was clocked at 26mph, as he outran the safety fleet. Once through Puffin Sound a very tight fetch to the Red Wharf quarry was followed by a challenging close reach into Benllech. Then a broad reach to Moelfre, turning by the RNLI's new Tamar lifeboat, and finishing after a short beat to Traeth Bychan. The ideal wind conditions meant that the leading monohulls were home in 2 hours, and with only 3 minutes separating the top 10 boats.

By mid-afternoon the wind dropped off Red Wharf, preventing some of the catamarans completing their second loop, and having to retire.

The monohull fleet was won by David Clark in a Laser Radial, from Shotwick, followed by Red Wharfs own Fred Mainwaring in a Blaze (winning the fast handicap fleet) and third was Fireball of Keith McDonald. The Phantom fleet was won by Phil Worth from Delph, (as part of the Phantom Northern traveller series). The catamaran fleet was won by David Park and John Congreave of Bala in a Nacra Carbon 20.

Full results at www.redwharfbaysc.co.uk/anglesey-offshore-race