The 2013 Celtic Regatta incorporating the J Challenge was hosted by Pwllheli Sailing Club over three days in June.
Racing started on Friday 14th June with three windward leeward races. The Welsh National Event Centre Race Management Team started the regatta at the scheduled time despite the challenging force 5 winds and just as the skies and rain cleared to reveal the fantastic backdrop of the glorious Llyn Peninsula and the mountains of Snowdonia and mid Wales.
J109 Jeepster took an early lead in the regatta with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd closely followed by J109 Sgrech with two 1st and a 5th. Wil 2 Win (Corby25) also featured in the top three in two of these races.
The competitors were greeted ashore by Kev ‘Bach’ Williams of ‘HEART FM DISCO SOUNDS’ and later entertained by Meinir Gwilym.
The second day's racing was in a force 6 with wind speeds averaging 25 knots and gusting 30 knots. All competitors thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and exhilaration of the surfing conditions on the downwind legs and Andy Green the official photographer captured excellent images of boats in actionSgrech took the first race and then two 2nds. J111 Jezebel found her pace and scored 2nd and then finished the day with two firsts.
Saturday afternoon ashore entertainment was by the GYPSY TRIO and followed by a superb crew dinner for 90 competitors, friends and guests and music by the WEE BAG BAND until the early hours.
Sgrech lead the Regatta at the start of day three with Jezebel and Jeepster looking to snatch a victory. With lighter 17 knots of wind Sgrech failed to repeat her strong wind performance and the impressive Jezebel came first in the first race. So it was all down to the final race and with Jezebel pushed onto the course side at the start of the last race Sgrech failed to take advantage and Jezebel won the regatta by one point (10 points). Sgrech was second on 11 points and Jeepster third on 14 points.
Mojito (J109) fought it out with Jetstream for 4th place and finished the regatta with a second place on the last race and Jetstream achieved their best result in the earlier race (2nd).
All results were very close and the standard of racing was considered exceptional with evidence of good seamanship in the high wind regatta.
The most impressive photograph of the Regatta is of Predator dwarfing the committee boat.
Gareth Roberts the CHPSC Events Manager presented prizes to the winning boats donated by English Braids, Sta-Lok and Partington Marine and thanked all competitors, race management team - lead by Richard Tudor, volunteers, staff, entertainers and sponsors including Cwrw Llyn and Hafan.
Planning has started for the 2014 event which will be hosted in the new Sailing Academy and National Event Centre.
The full Regatta Results is available here
There is a fantastic selection of Photographs by Andy Green
Warning: No images in specified directory. Please check the directory!
Debug: specified directory - https://www.ircwelshchamps.com/images/Racing/celtic/2013/celtic2013
