New Quay Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta 2021

Bobble, Wonderwall and Cadenza prepare to star, during the tNew Quay YC Keelboat Regatta © Pete Thomas

Some very un-summery grey skies greeted the fleet who made it to New Quay (Ceredigion) for the annual Keel Boat Regatta (KBR). Some of the 'usual suspect' competitors were absent due to Covid, but the ten boats who gathered for the Coastal Race were not going to be denied some long-overdue regatta racing - especially after missing out on the 'KBR' last year.

The 'town' event, the Cardigan Bay Regatta, had been cancelled for the second year running but the yacht club, without the burden of inshore sports and swimming races to organise, could provide some long-awaited, high-class cruiser racing in the idyllic surrounds of Cardigan Bay.

The regatta involved a 3 hour coastal race to and from Aberaeron, the next town up the coast, on day one; in shifty offshore breezes, a day of 'round the cans' in the rain and finally, a brighter last day of windward-leeward courses in the bay when the oilskins could be discarded. The post-Covid fleet looked very different from other years - with only one Fulmar and two Super Seals; which reflects the current 'downsizing' trend here but with an ever-increasing fleet of Hawk 20s.

There are now eight Hawks in the harbour - whilst not all were out, their boat-for-boat tactics made the racing very exciting to watch. It was also heartening to see young and old enjoying the sailing in boats not seen out racing for a while - especial mention must go to Captain David James and his three grand-daughters aboard Cadenza.

All were taking advantage of the club's adoption of Byron/Cardigan Bay System handicap in addition to the IRC fleet - run as dual system. The fleet was blessed with a number of top sailors including previous National and Welsh Champions; starting and the first beat was a tense affair!

After the Coastal Race (which was won by a country mile by Nigel Howes in Vixen), the racing throughout the fleet was close and competitive and there were a number of races where there were only 30 secs between first and 5th on corrected time; going into the last race, any one of a number of boats could have won overall.

After some start-line dramas, it was left to Wonderwall (Oasis 21) and Bobble (Hawk) to fight it out in a fickle breeze but ultimately, Bobble, helmed by Steve Berry (fresh off a successful Fastnet where he was 10th in IRC), hung on to save her time on Wonderwall (Chris Seal) and become overall winners - both on IRC and Byron/CBS, as well as being first Hawk. Third was Crawford McLeary in Sprite (Hawk), while Martin Seal (Mathilde, Hunter C27) was first Master, Emma Venner (nee Evans), on Rev Band (Super Seal/P27), was First Lady helm and Evie Jones (True Companion, Fulmar) was awarded the prize for 'Rising Star'.

Sprite was again the 'best dressed boat' and this year, there was a prize for 'participation with a smile' in memory of shipmate Spencer DeFriend from Aberaeron YC who, sadly, passed away in the spring - won by Norman Robertson and Martin Hoskins in Hawkeye.

Prof Nick James and his on-the-water team ran an excellent event while Mike and Liz Masters in the results office were as efficient as ever. A Greek Night was run by the 'Two Lesleys' which was well attended as could be under the club's Covid restrictions - unsurprisingly, the food and the company were excellent! The overall event sponsors were Golwg y Mor - the local high-class butchers - to whom the club is hugely grateful in these continuing strange times.

Covid willing, in 2022, it is hoped to run NQYC KBR over four days in July, which will incorporate the Welsh Hawk Nationals and the Admirals' Cup for the Welsh Lift Keel Cruiser Championships.

www.nqyc.club/keel-boat-regatta

Results (Byron/CBS):

1st Steve Berry - Bobble (Hawk)
2nd Chris Seal - Wonderwall (Oasis 21)
3rd Crawford McLeary - Sprite (Hawk)
4th Nigel Howes - Vixen (Hawk)
5th Justyn Jones - Cadenza (Super Seal 26)

Bobble (owned by Steve Berry) wins the New Quay YC Keelboat Regatta - photo © NQYC