Cymraeg 
With everything to play for in weekend 3 of the series there was a good turnout for racing despite the forecasted strong winds. The morning started very calmly with just 7kts gusting 9kts, but with a forecast gale due to hit Pwllheli in the late afternoon many boats wanted to make sure that racing was still on. RRS Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing were stressed: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.” All boats there decided to go out and at least see what the conditions were like, with the idea that they would head back in if conditions got too much for their boat and/or crew.
By the time crews returned to their boats it was already evident that the wind was increasing and by the time boats left the pontoons gusts of 20kts were being experienced
with more out on the water. Once out in the bay a slight chop was obviously building but still manageable. Racing got underway with Mojito and Poppy getting a very good start. Predator had a poor start towards the back of the fleet but their size meant that they could easily catch the leaders and rounded the first mark with Mojito before pulling away to the second mark. However Predator were suffering in the chop, allowing Mojito to actually gain on them closing into the mark. Once round, Predator bravely went for the spinnaker whereas the rest of the fleet stuck with white sails. Following the direct route to the next mark and Sgrech, with just one reef in the main, were rapidly gaining on Mojito who kept their two reefs in. Another lap of the course and Predator still only just in the lead, with the two Js following closely, took line honours. This time on the downwind leg and Sgrech shook out their reef gaining again on Mojito but not quite enough to take second place on the water. A squall came through bringing 31-37kt winds before the remaining two boats finished.
Although winds settled back to high twenties again once the squall passed, stronger winds were forecast and being short handed, with just three crew, Poppy decided to give the 2nd race a miss and head in. A swift turnaround was essential to get the race in before the gale arrived. Mojito were late changing headsail and as a result, the last boat heading into the start line with newcomer Honey Bee having a lively start just ahead of them. This left Sgrech and Predator to get the good starts and round the first mark with a good lead over the other two. Mojito, performing well in the conditions were gaining well on the other two in front despite their poor start. Again Predator bravely flew their spinnaker but lost the pole, leaving the sail flying from the mast head for a time before they got it under control. Meanwhile the two Js Mojito and Sgrech were closely fighting for position surfing down the waves. Predator again took line honours but were less than a minute in front of the two Js. Sgrech, shaking out their reef again, managed to hold onto their lead over Mojito to take second on the water and 1st overall with Mojito 3rd on the water and 2nd overall on corrected time and Honey Bee 4th.
Everyone enjoyed a lively day on the water and continued the fun and discussions at the bar, during which the skippers all decided that, with a MetOffice forecast of a possible force 10 arriving in the following 24hours, no-one would be out racing on the Sunday. Sgrech have now taken the lead, on the same points as Mojito, closely followed by Predator. Places are still very much open for the last weekend on the 9th and 10th November.
The latest results, following the dissmissal of the two protests, in the Sialens Pwllheli Challenge series are available here.
These results show 2 discards (so far) in accordance with the SI's
The last weekend of racing is on 9th & 10th November.
The position regarding the discards/number of qualifying races has been refered to an International Race Officer and his decission will be posted here soon.
