Stewart Murdoch and Ken Scott-Brown win the Kestrel National Championships at Mumbles © Richard Woffinden

‘Bore Da’ from Mumbles Pier at the conclusion of the UK Kestrel Nationals, held at Mumbles Yacht Club in Swansea Bay in Wales following three exhilarating days of sailing in strong winds, only one day too strong to sail, the others providing champagne sailing conditions for the fleet of 13 boats, including a brand new Kestrel fresh from the Hartley’s on its first outing.

Warm weather and a generally westerly weather pattern meant most course s were laid well west of Mumbles Point with the fleet, beating towards the clubhouse from the impressive Swansea waterfront Marina and Tower. The first day had more south in the wind and, it would conspire to gradually move round to the west later that day, which was to prove decisive.

The first start in particular, for the Draycote Trophy, was keenly contested, with one boat over the line at the start, but no further infringements during the regatta ensured the black flag was never deployed. With the strong winds, a good start was essential for a podium finish on any race but there were place changes through out the fleet on most legs of the course and every race was keenly contested throughout the fleet. Defending Champion Malcolm and Danielle Worsely took the first race from Chris Grice after a close race.

Kestrel National Championships at Mumbles – photo © Richard Woffinden

In the second race, for the Designers Trophy, two boats elected to try for a port flyer and this choice was vindicated by Stewart Murdoch who managed to cross the fleet on port, and then take advantage of the wind moving west and loosely cover the fleet for the rest of the beat and gradually open up a comfortable lead. With Malcolm taking second place from Chris Grice.

Friday saw a freshening breeze further out of the west, and a 2 mile sail out to the start. With three races, for the Kestrel 2000 Trophy, the Ashford Bowl and the Rock Trophy, each an hour or more in length to fit in, the race committee were kept very busy, and the Kestrels were all put through their heavy weather paces. They were rewarded with some super-fast three-sail reaches.

Stewart managed to combine the tide and the wind to squeeze up to the top mark first in each race with each first beat very closely contested. Calling the lay-line accurately making a huge difference to all members of the fleet. The reaches particularly involved very close sailing through out the fleet, with three or four abreast regularly and congested gybe mark rounding which could result in a two or three position place change.

Excellent all-round sailing in strong winds and exciting seas with a couple of capsizes.

Kestrel National Championships at Mumbles – photo © Richard Woffinden

The third and final race included a welcome shortening of the second beat at the top mark of the third beat saving the fleet the final triangle and long beating to get home. One of the many wise decisions from the excellent race committee to maximise the competition but also manage the workload on the teams. Stewart Murdoch and Ken Scott-Brown took line honours in all three races, the right-hand side of the course having paid off as on the Thursday beats.