Never Say Die
The light south Westerly breeze and flat sea indicated that the Long Bay Race would indeed be just that. June 2000 and not much of a year so far for getting sunburned whilst racing, but this day might be an exception. The Pwllheli Sailing Club event attracted about six competitors in P.Y. Class, and once more Red Hot Chocolate was pitting her guile against the muscle of the bigger yachts.
The course was to take us round the St. Tudwald Islands, leaving them to Port and returning to the finish via a Starboard rounding of Number 6 can off West End Beach, Pwllheli. Before RHC got to Llanbedrog Head [5 miles] Concerto, a Contessa 32,could be seen between the Islands and the mainland, a Mig 25 was spinnaker running towards the gap and Jasper a Sadler 26 was about three quarters of a mile ahead, and that gap was closing rapidly. A'ha, I thought, I've found the 'groove' at last.
However, as I arrived at Jasper's stern and stopped! I realized why I had caught her so quickly. No wind! Both boats slopped round until the put -put of the internal combustion engine signalled Jasper's frustration and retirement to SCYC for refreshments. RHC stuck it out and put up her spinnaker, but then took it down again, then put it up again!
Somehow we were approaching the Islands. Unfortunately no other competitors were in sight, but it was hot and sunbathing had been in short supply up to now. We drifted towards the gap between mainland and Islands and every so often the boat would do a 180-degree turn, I still don't know why. The spinnaker was dowsed and the Genoa raised but a very unpleasant slop was now spoiling a pleasant drift, as was the approaching rocky shore of St Tudwels West, and the very real danger of either hitting the Island, or drifting between East and West. Not the way we wanted to go. Fate took a hand and after putting the outboard into the water and making ready with the starter cord, yes the rocks were that close, RHC did another 180 and drifted passed the Island on the right side.
Now being able to see round the island we were surprised and disappointed not to be able to see any of our competition, no wind to move them anywhere so where were they? I managed to convince Allan that they had managed to sail round and were now blocked from our view by the Islands, and were probably as we spoke, getting the finishing gun. We now began to appreciate the strength of the tide as we quickly left the island in the direction of Cork. Then, we spotted a yacht approaching from the direction of Hell's Mouth and she was flying a spinnaker, probably making about 2 knots, so in anticipation of being drifted into the same wind we hoisted the spinnaker and waited. Keeping my eye on the approaching yacht I remarked to Alan Mills, my crew, how similar to Concerto the approaching yacht was! Very soon we had the sail filling and managed a closing course with the other yacht, and as we sort of met near to Carreg-y-Trai it brought joy to my heart to see that it was in fact Concerto.
She had arrived at the Tudwalds some three miles in front of Red Hot Chocolate, and there being no wind she had been swept by the tide passed Hell's Mouth!! I only found this out later of course. Now Concerto gives me quite a bit of time, so you can imagine that our concentration level increased somewhat in order to stay on her heels.
Shifting winds were the order of the day and just after rounding number six mark it was all we could do to hold the boat, beating into 15 knots with the big genoa up, but a sail change would have cost valuable minutes so we stuck it out to the finish.
Concerto and ourselves were the only yachts to finish, but the important thing was that Red Hot Chocolate WON the Long Bay Race, the remainder of the fleet abandoning the course at the Islands and resorting to the bar at SCYC. Only seconds in it though, and that after a seven hour race. I put that down to good judgement in arriving at the Islands at the right time!
Never Say Die!
© Bill Stacey
