Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships 2023 at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy,

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli © Stephen Wright

The destination for the 2023 Late Summer Championships was exciting even if the wind forecast wasn't. Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Academy in Pwllheli, North Wales, has a special place in the hearts of UK Optimist sailors - the 2015 Optimist European Championships were held there when the academy first opened, followed immediately by the British Nationals, which returned in 2018.

Pwllheli, and the waters of Tremadog Bay, have also provided a reliable training venue for the Welsh and National Optimist Squads over the years. With a direct line tracing out into the North Atlantic the swell can be tremendous - competitors in the 2015 Optimist Euros enjoyed a fresh breeze and waves of 2-3 metres.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

With a heat wave over much of the UK and high pressure stuck over northern Europe there wasn't much prospect of breeze in Pwllheli, or anywhere else for that matter. Not to be deterred and keen to give it a go, just shy of one hundred Optimists arrived at Plas Heli on Friday night and Saturday morning. As a national Class sailors arrived from all corners of the nation - from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight and from Dorset to Norfolk, all welcomed by sixteen Welsh sailors. Among the Welsh contingent was a flotilla of boats from Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, a club which is home of our current National Champion, Dylan Creighton, as well as a number of other talented and committed Optimist sailors.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

With not a breath of wind on Saturday morning, Race Officer Chris Hoppins postponed racing for three hours, giving families time to settle in after their journey and sailors time to rig boats and catch up with friends. After a bacon sandwich the Mark Layers, led by local expert Rob 'Moley' Morsley, headed out to the race area to look for wind. It was glassy at first and the wind indicators might as well have been divining rods but at 12:45pm the clouds thinned a little and a zephyr developed - just enough to race. The PRO was radioed and excitement built but by 1pm the breeze dropped back to 2 knots or less.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Time passed, the sailors played indoor cricket in the event hall, paddle boards were inflated and the cloud cleared off the summit of Snowdon. By 3:15pm, with the sailors still ashore, little prospect of things improving, and nothing forecast on any wind model the PRO decided to abandon racing for the day. One forecast showed an hour or two of sailable wind on Sunday morning, so the warning signal was brought forward half an hour and fingers crossed for the following day.

Saturday evening was for many the highlight of the weekend, starting with families heading down to the beach to swim, paddle board and relax. The sun came out and the water was exceptionally warm, well warm for Wales anyway. The sailors took to the SUPs in groups of friends, helping each other aboard before attacking other SUPs in acts of piracy. It was wet, noisy and a lot of fun. As if to mock us, a sailable breeze picked up for perhaps an hour before fading again.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Carole Blades

By now the bar was open and Kirk Ward played acoustic guitar on the balcony. Many thanks to Sean Devlin for putting on a great BBQ and for arranging the live music, with Paul Rogers and Carousel playing late into the evening. After eating, some younger children headed off for an early night, while the older ones played 'Welsh Manhunt' in the dunes, or joined the rugby fans watching the England vs. Argentina match in the bar. Many families stayed on site, either camping or in caravans or camper vans.

On Sunday morning, the flags hung limp on the flag poles. A race management meeting was convened and after discussing a number of options the PRO decided to get the fleet on the water and be in a position to race if the breeze filled in. Thanks to the whole beach team for getting everyone tallied and on the water so efficiently, the trolley team hitching up twenty two launching trolleys for a new Welsh record.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Lorna White

The plan seemed less wise at 11am with sailors paddling out through a mill pond but by 11:30am we had an average wind speed of 4 knots with occasional 'gusts' of 6 knots. Chris Hoppins and his team snapped into action and the course was laid, with a 500 metre beat. After one general recall, Main Fleet started under a black flag, getting away the second time with only one unlucky sailor. The 28-boat Intermediate Fleet started cleanly five minutes later, sailing a slightly shorter course on the inner loop.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

After such a long wait it was wonderful to see the boats racing. Some sailors went right, believing there was more breeze over there but a big left shift during the first leg favoured those who'd opted for the middle or left side of the course. The breeze stayed long enough to complete the first race but no longer and, after a short pause to reassess, racing was abandoned for the day.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Well done to all the sailors for taking part and congratulations to those who had a podium finish. The winner of Main Fleet was Thomas Knight of Chichester YC, the runner up Noah Mathers, third was Fraser Hakes of Parkstone YC and the first girl Beth Llewllyn of Hayling Island Sailing Club.

Sean Di Salle, from Gurnard Sailing Club, won the under 11 trophy, which was made by Rolls Royce, donated by Brian Staite of HISC in 2016, and has an inscription "Strive for perfection in everything you do" on the base.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

The winner of Intermediate Fleet was Guy Kent of Emsworth SC and Parkstone YC, second overall (and first girl) was Roisin Epstein and third was Sam Bourke both from Cardiff Bay YC. The Regatta Fleet, who had enjoyed some fun sailing and a little racing on both days, was won by William Foster, aged 8 years, from Warsash Sailing Club. Thank you to Gill, our main sponsor, for providing the prizes.

A nod of approval is due to Lochlyn Grant who after being caught in a slow-motion, port-starboard situation but unable to change direction quickly, did his two turns and continued racing.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Overall, it was an enjoyable and worthwhile weekend, despite the lack of wind. The last word goes to Lady Carla Stanley, IODA Vice-President Europe, who at the 2015 Optimist Euros opening ceremony in Plas Heli said: "If you don't try, you fail before you start..."

The Optimist Class will be back in Plas Heli in August 2024 for our Nationals, when we will be assured of a warm Welsh welcome, fabulous scenery and, hopefully, some of the world-class sailing conditions it is renowned for.

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Regatta Fleet Results:

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Intermediate Fleet Results:

Gill Optimist Late Summer Championships at Plas Heli - photo © Stephen Wright

Main Fleet Results: