SAILING: Spinnakers flying at Menai before a windward finish (From Wirral Globe)

SAILING: Spinnakers flying at Menai before a windward finish

2:45pm Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Sport By Andrew Stratton

WIRRAL sailors were well rewarded for their participation in the first half of the Menai Regattas Fortnight with superb conditions for competition on all six days.

The annual Beaumaris to Caernarvon race through the notorious Swellies in midweek turned out to be a leisurely affair with spinnakers flown for much of the way before an about turn by the breeze ensured a windward finale.

Mark Hinton headed the Falcon fleet and Geoffrey Watt in Aida took the Opera prize when the lead boat Fidelio (Steve Stratton) retired after mistakenly flying a spinnaker between the bridges.

Peter Bramley had Hicotee at the head of affairs in the Hilbres and others to triumph included David Mayhew in the Star Jupiter and Sam Walsby-Tickle in the Mylne Mercantile.

Caernarvon enjoyed it’s best events for many a year. It was sunshine sailing all the way for the Royal Welsh Yacht Club and Caernarvon Sailing Club and the light wind very conveniently changed direction overnight to ensure a different challenge.

Falcon wins were posted by Peter Evans and John Corkhill. Bramley and Roger Glover took winning guns in the Hilbres whilst John Edge triumphed twice in the Mylne Mersey which has a partly blind crew.

Gavin Melling and Andrew Stratton shared the Operas successes and wins in the Stars were achieved by John Laing and Mayhew.

The Port Dinorwic Regatta concluded the first week of action before the fleet returned to Beaumaris in readiness for the second half of the festival.

The weather forecasters were not over optimistic but Hoylake Sailing Club who are due in charge on Wednesday at Beaumaris and Royal Mersey Yacht Club who host the Thursday competition at the same venue remained optimistic their events would take place.