CLYWEDOG SAILING CLUB CLASSIC & VINTAGE RACING DINGHY ASSOCIATION CVRDA NATIONALS AT CLYWEDOG AUGUST 25th - 28th 2006

Clywedog Sailing Club were proud to hold the Nationals for the Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association over the recent Bank Holiday Weekend.
It is a spectacular venue and about twenty four boats arrived for the Regatta from as far afield as Aberdeen and Helford in Cornwall with a number of boats on the wrong side of 50yrs of age (Crews as well as boats). Several flying fifteens and other dinghies from the host club joined in to race alongside 2 international canoes, 5 Merlins, an Albacore, OK, Pegasus, fireball, 2 GPs and a Hornet. The oldest of these was Merlin 36 celebrating her 60th year,. This boat was originally owned by Ian Proctor who sailed her to third place in the very first Merlin Nationals in 1946.
As has become something of a custom for some CVRDA diehards the weekend started several days early with people and boats arriving as early as the Monday before to pitch their tents. The refurbished clubhouse makes a first rate camping centre - why bother with a camping stove when you can use a fully fitted kitchen?
The events started after lunch on Saturday with a pursuit lasting 100 minutes and using the whole of the main sailing area of Llyn Clywedog. The wind was having fun at our expense and gusted strongly up to 27 knots at times throughout the day. Several of us succumbed to capsizes even before the start and headed to the shore. It may have seemed a day for something like a flying fifteen ( both Sats entrants retired with rig damage!!!) but out in front for the whole race was Duncan Spencer Smith in his elderly OK 1644 He seemed to be unfazed by the windy gust despite his side decks working loose and a crack appearing in his mast. John and Lyn in Merlin 36 were putting their boat through it's paces and sailing very well until the tall river rig was too much for a gust and they capsized with only minutes to go. The day ended with a fine hog-roast in the clubhouse. We had been encouraged to dress in the period of our boats for this. Lois was born the year our boat was built and would like all photographs of her in her nappy destroyed!
Sunday saw a steadier wind without such gusts. An ideal CVRDA sailing day and the day's races were the first of the weekend's series. Three races followed a similar pattern to each other and although Roger Deveraux's Hornet 2070 was often in the lead with David Rollinson's Pegasus 194 Blast from the Past with crew Gareth Watson not far behind with Keith & Phil Rollinson in Flying Fifteen 1457 also on the pace . In the first race John Rawson sailed his Albacore 1458 well and deservedly took first place when the handicap results were calculated with David Rollinson second and Duncan's OK third . The second race saw Blast from the Past take first place, Spritefull (Merlin 507) was second and Keith's Fifteen third. However a capsize in the third race then saw a retirement for David's Peggie. No doubt David's brother Keith sailing a flying fifteen saw his chance to improve his score (family rivalry seems to run deep but very friendly!) . But the race belonged to Philip Philpot sailing a fine race in his National 12 with his daughter. Duncan's OK was second and Keith & Phil third.
The barbecue was lit and yet another Clywedog feast was enjoyed by all with tales of the days exploits getting taller and taller by the hour as the night drew on.
Monday saw a return of the stronger, gusty winds. Three races had been planned but the last was to be abandoned. The morning's race course didn't venture to the far end of the water where the wind coming through two valleys meet to give some amazing gusts. A few boats did not venture out and others returned home after capsizing.
So race four was won by Keith's Fifteen, followed by the National 12 and the OK. Even less people sailed what was to be the last race of the series. There were more casualties! One of the flying fifteens boldly hoisted their spinnaker only to be knocked down by a gust . Although these boats can't be easy to capsize this one was called U2 (Our very own Charlie and Alan) so we shouldn't be too surprised. A shroud fixing failed in John Rawson's Albacore causing some nasty damage and throwing him and his crew into the water. The two Rollinson brothers fought it out for the top two places with some very close marking and tactical sailing throughout with Keith just letting David through to take first. Duncan sailed another good race to take third - his cracked mast still holding up.
Overall winners by virtue of squeezing in to first in the last race were David Rollinson and his crew Gareth Watson in Pegasus 194 Blast from the Past, Keith & Phillip Rollinson Flying Fifteen 1457 second, and Duncan Spencer-Smith in OK 1644 taking third place.
An excellent showing for Clywedog with Duncan and Keith in the money against some very experienced and competitive sailors.
Awards were also given for each of the CVRDA categories, the 'Wingnut' award going to John Gardiner for a slight lack of buoyancy in his boat!

Overall Results:

1st David Rollinson & Gareth Watson Pegasus 194 Bowmoor Sailing Club
2nd Keith & Phil Rollinson Flying Fifteen 1457 Clywedog Sailing Club
3rd Duncan Spencer-Smith OK 1644 Clywedog Sailing Club
4th Philipp & elaine Philpott N12 3396 Helford River Sailing Club

Contact : Keith Rollinson Daytime 07768 992209 Evening 01686 640305 Email: rollinsonkeith@yahoo.co.uk