Cymraeg 
Vaikobi 2023 420 British Nationals (24-28th August)
Pwllheli's 420 dinghy sailor Arwen Fflur is off to a flying start with her new crew Matthew Rayner from Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club. They had their first sail together on the 12th and 13th of August at the Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race - it was an auspicious start as they won the event. However, there remained much work to do in preparing the boat and themselves for the National Championships. Plas Heli invited them in on a stormy weekend to prepare the boat which was greatly appreciated! Both crew and helm remained focussed and worked hard at training (resisting a fantastic invitation to crew at the Keelboat Racing in Abersoch!) and the dedication and effort certainly seemed to pay off.
The first day was perfect for them and they were leading the pack at the end of the day! They enjoyed the Keelboat party upstairs that evening, but remained focussed and were in the boat park bright and early the next day. The second day brought lighter winds and a black flag saw them slip back to third place. There was keen pressure with talented and experienced Joe Warwicker and Hugo Valentine breathing down their necks and they finally pipped them at the post in the last race, beating them by one place; leaving Arwen and Matthew to fourth place overall and making the podium as 3rd mixed boat. Not a bad two weeks work!
Congratulations to Neil Marsden and Olivia Creasey on their National Championship win - Neil has played a considerable role in developing Arwen’s sailing and we love to see him at Pwllheli and following his victory speech he revealed he loves sailing at Pwllheli too. It is also sad to see second placed Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner (Matthews brother!) leaving the class for university, they have provided inspiration, challenge, friendship and guidance for the younger 420 sailors - we wish them well and they will be missed.
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Flag Officer's Newsletter - September 2023
A glorious weather window at the end of August and start of September, led to many opportunities for some great boating in the bay, both locally and afar - we look forward to hearing about the many cruises that took place, and there will be accounts of some of these in our end of season yearbook - Please email
CHIPAC continues to flourish, and after losing a couple of evenings to strong wind, it was great seeing the youngsters out on the water these last two Friday’s. it’s important we recognise the volunteers, so many thanks to Instructors Mike Chloe and James, and of course to Pete D and Pete W and Gwenno for their safety and supervision work, to Lyndsay Graeme and Jane, and of course all the parents. This is a section of the club that represents the future of sailing here in the bay, and we hope to assist CHIPAC with an entry into the GP14 World Championships “regatta fleet” here in Pwllheli, in August 2024.
The joint ISORA and PSC “night race” took place towards the end of August, and as is becoming tradition, the wearing of sunglasses was mandatory! A very fast race to Ynys Gwyllan Bach a Fawr off Aberdaron and back which was enjoyed by 8 boats, and a fantastic party in Plas Heli afterwards, with curry and live music. Congratulations to our race, series, and class winners, with Mojito crowned ISORA and PSC coastal champions and again left to fill the midland bowl with rum punch! This was a supreme effort by Mojito, skippered by Pete and Vicky recently back from the West Highland Yachting Week and Abersoch Keel Boat week - even the boat said it wanted a rest!
Arwen Fflur represented PSC in the 420 national at the end of august - see the report on the website here
September saw the start of the “Medi” series, with Finally taking the lead ahead of next week’s final weekend before the start of the ever-popular Autumn series for the Challenge Cup. For crewing opportunities in this series, contact
Last Saturday saw the completion of the ISORA offshore series, with a slow race to Dun Laoghaire, and although Mojito was just pipped to the post into second place for the series buy a couple of points, it was great seeing PSC boats dominating the final results, with Jackknife winning the last race, and finishing the series in 3rd place, and class 0 in 2nd, Mojito finished the series in 2nd place overall and as class 1 winners, Jac Y Do finished in 7th place overall and class 2 winners, with Jezebel 4th overall, Gelert 6th and Zig Zag 12th overall (and winners of class 2 in the coastal series).
Mojito ghosting into Dublin Bay, with a helpful full moon
Once again, our club has proudly won the Irish Sea trophy for the best performing club in ISORA, with a trophy to be awarded in November. www.isora.org
The bar and catering operation in Plas Heli continues to run Wednesday to Sunday, and Sean hopes to show all the Rugby World Cup games on the clubs big TV, including those on Sunday evenings . PSC is sponsoring the half time Aussie/Cymraeg themed treats during the evening game on Sunday the 24th of September.
Plas Heli continues to upgrade many facilities for our primarily safety and security, with showers now available to Plas Heli berth holders - these are in the old club building – “Caban Heli”.
On the quay side – “Cei Heli”, CCTV has been fitted, which covers the car park, craning in area, and the bridgehead to the pontoons. In the main compound – “Parc Heli”, upgraded boat washing facilities, smoother tarmac and CCTV has been installed, making it easier for members to move and clean their dinghy’s when accessing and returning to the dinghy storage area.
Social - The Autumn supper takes place on the 7th of October, with tickets available from the Flag Officers - Mark, Lyndsay, Vicky and Sam and are priced at £25 for a roast meal. There is live music in Plas Heli from 3pm featuring the “wave machine” - Angus playing cool tunes to keep us in the beach spirit as the Autumn nights draw in. Sadly, Ian Herbert Jones has had to pull out of his talk, as he had a last-minute invitation to race in the Ocean Race that starts today but has promised to re-schedule – Good luck Ian with the race.
It still promises to be a great afternoon and evening, so please reserve tickets by emailing:
December the 2nd is the black-tie Christmas Party and Prize Giving in Plas Heli, with a three course meal and live music - further details will be available next month.
That all for this month, and I wish everyone fair winds and safe boating and look forward to hearing about what people did in this superb weather window.
Hwyl - Good Sailing
Mark H Thompson - Commodore.
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Following the very successful Regata Pwllheli Regatta event in Plas Heli recently, our next club planned social event is the Autumn Supper, on October 7th with music from 3pm with a Roast Supper from 7pm
This is an afternoon and evening event, and everyone is welcome to join us in Plas Heli for any or all of the planned activities.
The supper is a ticketed event, see the poster for details, but the afternoon music - featuring Angus Trott - The Wave Machine is open to all, and tickets not required. Angus is a talented Cornish based singer song writer, passsionate about the ocean, and its great to get him up to Pwllheli - Angus's website is here
Following the supper we have the privilege of a short talk by club member and Golden Globe sailor Ian Herbert-Jones, again this is a not to be missed opportunity to hear Ian's account
After - its dancing to a CHPSC bespoke disco playlist!
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Great to get reports of some of the activities of our younger sailors, now that they are on their summer break - Morgandie Harrold and Harry Cartwright sailing with team "Mojito" at West Highland Yachting Week, with Harry stepping up to the plate, and entering the event "cake baking competition", using the onboard facilities! - a first prize in he U16 class - Da Iawn Harry!
Back home, after a long gap due to the pandemic, friends since age 3, Iago Tudor and Ed Cook got back on the water together sailing Ed's RS Vision -it wasn't long until the spinnaker was up! A great sight from the balcony and a potentially strong regatta pairing.
This week we welcome the Topper nationals, and we wish all competitors a great week.
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Congratulations to Pata Negra ( Andrew/Sam Hall and crew) and Finally (Paul Kitteringham and crew) for completing the 2023 Rolex Fastnet race in fine style, after encountering challenging conditions with a particularly difficult start - including a beat out of the Solent into building pressure with up to force 9 gusts, with asssociated big seas and strong tides - conditions that lead to many retirements. 
Afer the first 24 hours, with a moderating breeze and transition from SW to NW, a tricky routing round the TSS near the Scillies and then calm winds - at times no wind in the Irish Sea!.
After rounding the iconic Fastnet lighthouse, both boats enjoyed some fast reaching to the french coast and a spinnaker run to the finish.
All the crews are in great spirits and enjoying the aprés race party in the race village, and hopefully the memories of the leg back from the Fastnet rock will erase the memories of the leg to it!
Finally crew joined by the Pata Negra crew in Cherbourg yesterday.
We look forward to seeing the crews back in Pwllheli soon, and wish both boats and crew a safe delivery home.
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