RAE 2026-08-22

Mark Rosenthal

Quite choppy overnight on the mooring with the NE wind but as I prepared the boat for the arrival of the crew the winds turned more NE and apart from the odd motor boat passing close to the mooring all went well but again it was too windy to drop the jib to do more to free off the roller furler. Once the crew had embarked we stowed gear away and prepared to sail off the mooring. We set the Code 0 and prepared the spinnaker as planned for the day’s weather. Unfortunately as 2 of the yachts had cancelled their entries the fleet was smaller than anticipated. Some of the yachts started a while before us as planned as start times and finish times were left to the crews to record. We set off across the start line at 11:40 in 12kt NNW wind making it quite tricky close to the breakwater. Once out of the new harbour we made rapid progress overtaking the other yachts by the time we passed West Mouse. This is the SailTies app screen showing the recorded wind speeds. Once round Carmel Head and heading towards Harry Furlong buoy we deployed the Code 0 and had a wonderful leg along to Point Lynas although past East Mouse the following swell increased and made helming quite difficult. We had then to sail someway past Lynas to avoid a commercial tanker, at anchor before we deployed the spinnaker to turn onto the course to Puffin Sound. With the spinnaker pulling nicely we enjoyed a lunch with Henrie’s very tasty Spinach Pie. The winds were nice and constant most of the way until we got near the Puffin Lighthouse when the winds, as expected, dropped a little but we turned onto a reach to sail SW along theStrait and maintained our speed until we passed Gallows Point when the winds coming over the woods on the shoreline became very fickle. Fortunately before the winds changed we sailed through the local Menai Strait boats in one of their races, we were very careful to sail to leeward of the racers and to give them clearance as the leading boats rounded the mark and sailed back towards Gallows Point. Once past the Gazelle Hotel the winds filled back in with a more constant direction and allowed us to maintain one final tack all the way to cross the finish line. FlairIV Finish Time 17:11 We rafted up alongside the Windfarm service vessel and waited for the other yachts to arrive, which didn’t happen for quite a long time. Once Panther had arrived we helped them get moored alongside us and arrange to meet them at the Indian Restaurant in Menai Bridge; however when we got there both Indian restaurants were full so we moved on to Hydeout, a BBQ cafe. Once back on board we enjoyed a whiskey tasting session thanks to Theresa before retiring to bed around midnight along with members of the other 3 yacht crews who had finally made it to St. George’s Pier.