Harken 29er Grand Prix 5 at Pwllheli Sailing Club
by Alice Masterman 3 Sep 2013 09:57 BST
29er Harken Grand Prix 5 at Pwllheli © Andrew Connellan
72 sailors (36 boats) arrived in Pwllheli on a brisk Saturday morning in an overcast Wales where the weather had dramatically changed from shorts to steamer.
The race management were extremely efficient and the first race was underway on time. There was bare breeze on the race course with huge shifts which made the whole situation pretty epic. The travelling Scots Gillies Munro and Daniel Harris from Royal Findhorn Yacht Club slaughtered the first race posting in their first bullet of many. Team Loveridge followed close behind with Owen Bowerman and Morgan Peach putting in a solid performance despite being ill.
The next race was déjà vu but Ed Connellan and Matt Rhodes took third position. Ed and Matt took the bullet in the next race followed by a race win by the on-form girl pairing Ruth Allan and Alice Masterman.
Going into Sunday Gilles Munro and Dan Harris were leading overall discarding a second putting them in a good position. Sunday started with bare minimum breeze on the race course but slowly built throughout the day.
Performance of the day goes to the new spur of the moment pairing of Morgan Peach and Ellie Hide (HP sauce) who managed to get more yellow flags than the fleet put together but were still leading the first leg of the first race despite a yellow flag - that's some impressive pumping guys.
Ruth and Alice took another bullet sailing a gnarly race closely followed by new pairing Tilly James and Paddy Keech.
In the next two races Gillies and Dan dominated posting two more bullets which guaranteed them the win. Second overall and first mixed went to Rob and Emma Loveridge who also led a consistent series despite breakages.
Third overall and First Ladies went to Ruth Allan and Alice Masterman with Ed Connellan and Matt Rhodes in fourth despite a protest leading to arbitration in the last race. Dan Venables and Finn Murphy came fifth overall closely followed on points by brother Matt Venables with a new crew, Curtis Mearns.
Phoebe Connellan and Hatty Ward took both second ladies and junior with Anna Prescott and Jessica Eales coming 3rd ladies. The Junior prize went to Lewis Marr and Aaron Murray with James Eales and Henry Collings coming third junior.
Overall the weekend was a great success with all races sailed so a big thank you to the race committee, volunteers, sponsors Harken, and Pwllhelli Sailing Club. Well done to all the competitors and see you all in Torquay for the 6th Grand Prix of the year. The series is hotting up with some great prizes still to be fought for,