| SUMMER 1964. |
| SAILING. |
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| PLEASE QUOTE REF: lead053 |
| The Sailing Hobby at Aberdovey |
| L to R. Niland, Lt. Peters, Wiles, French, Burrow, Kelly, Main |
| This year we have seven G.P.14s on the water and straight away let it be said what a great debt is owed to Capt. Lewins, who is now in Germany. It was mainly due to his skill and energy that the hobby acquired these boats - he directed their construction by Junior Leaders from the basic kits. With this legacy we form a fair sized Group of the Army Sailing Association, affiliated to the Dover Sailing Club. |
| We have now organised ourselves in proper nautical fashion in line with other Groups. The Commandant has consented to be our Commodore. Major Yeats, our hobby Field officer has accepted the title of Vice-Commodore and other officers fill less impressive sounding but essential appointments. While the Permanent Staff undoubtedly enjoy themselves, the emphasis is given in fact to teaching Junior Leaders and giving them experience, so that when they leave the Regiment they may take with them written proof of their sailing experience which should give them a flying start in any station where they find themselves able to sail. |
| Last term fitting out was completed and a very thorough job was made of repainting all the boats and the safety launch. The Summer Term has started with some splendid sailing weather, sun and wind generally combining on the right days to make the hobby the envy of many. We start the season with three Class A helmsmen, three Class B, two Class C and a hobby full of keen crew members many of whom show early promise and will undoubtedly qualify as helmsmen. |
| On the 11th and 12th June the Group is to be represented by two crews each of three in the annual A.S.A. Regatta off Seaview, Isle of Wight. Racing takes place in Mermaid class boats which are half decked keelboats with a exhilarating performance. Through the term we shall be racing regularly in races organised by the Dovey S.C., hot though racing is important if only to establish a reputation, equally important is the training of fresh blood in the Group, as helmsmen. At the time of writing the Group has entered only one race this season: the Brittania Cup, from Aberystwyth to Aberdovey. An account by the crew of one of our boats appears below. |
| D.G.B. |
| BRITTANIA CUP, 1964 |
| Having launched into the choppy waters of Aberystwyth Bay, Capt. Lockett, helming "Trocadero" crewed by Lt. Peters, made for the outer end of the start line followed by J/Ptes. Main and Cross in "Tornado". While the helmsmen wrestled with the unexpected off-shore shore swell, the crews announced "minutes to the gun" and watched for rights-of-way among the increasing number of boats tacking round the line. At the gun, Capt. Lockett took "Troc" over the line ahead of the fleet, but shortly lost ground when his rudder stuck, forcing the boat into a tight circle. |
| Beating out of the bay we met the full force of wind and swell. The waves were breaking occasionally, and with both boats flat out and punching through them it was not long before water was slopping about under the floorboards. Worse was to come, however, for as the fleet spread, the wind rose, and it became increasingly difficult to remain upright. Water poured over the foredeck and spray streamed from the lower edges of the sails. |
| Beating past Borth, "Troc" began to wallow with the weight of water inside her, but soon the leaders began to tack over the bar into the Dovey estuary, and we knew we could not afford to stop and bail. Turning ourselves, we found that we had to beat right to the finishing line, as the wind was coming straight down the estuary. Furthermore, the tide was making, and the contrary wind was chopping it into steep, awkward waves. "Troc" was now being pressed by another boat of her class, and was passed halfway to the finish, but there was still hope that we would catch the last of the bigger, slower boats which had started earlier. |
| Meanwhile, Main had brought "Tornado' over the bar well ahead of the last four boats, but one of the stays supporttug his mast parted, and he was forced to retire. He had sailed particularly well despite the handicap of less weight than most to hold his boat upright. |
| Nose well down now, "Troc" plugged on, beating the sloop with a quick change of tack and crossing the line almost immediately. Perhaps it was tiredness, perhaps mere relief at finishing - but in turning to run to the beach the boat staggered under the weight of shifting water, broached to, and very gently capsized with Capt. Lockett on top and his crew in a sitting position in the waters of the Dovey. We put it all down to experience. |
| D.M.P. |
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