There was a very leisurely start to proceedings for those launching through the harbour on Sunday, July 2, where the Saundersfoot Harbour Authority were holding their annual harbour festival and the decking was awash with stalls, exhibitions and information booths, while tempting treats were being served up to the accompaniment of the live bands. This is another excellent event put on by Saundersfoot Harbour in conjunction with Pembrokeshire Fish Week and is well worth visiting and supporting.

While all of this was going on ashore, we had two races continuing the mid-season series and yet again it was another fantastic sunny day, but with light winds to start.

There was much discussion about the course for the first race, not helped by the mysterious disappearance of the Monkstone mark and the swirling wind, but eventually a figure-of-eight course was set and the fleet drifted over the line in the direction of the Pendine mark. The lead changed hands probably a dozen times or so and everyone seemed to be ahead at one time with the whole fleet converging on the first mark from different conditions.

The shifty and variable winds continued throughout the whole of the first lap proving to be more like Snakes and Ladders than sailing and everyone was glad that race officers Martin and Alan called a halt after 45 tortuous minutes. The eventual winner finding more ladders than everyone else was Keith in his Magno (or is that Mango), followed by Dave in his Solo and in an excellent third place was Sam in the Topper, followed by James in his Phantom.

The wind steadied somewhat for the second race around a triangular course again in lovely sunshine, but with a few gusts which caught out some of the assymetrics, in particular and after three laps for some. The winner this time was Dave ahead of James with Rosie in a Laser Radial finishing in an excellent third place just ahead of the (furiously zigzagging at times) RS 200 of Paul and Julia.

Thanks to all on duty supporting Martin and Alan with a welcome return on safety for Terry with Paul, while John and Nina provided a relaxed presence combined with camera duties.

This Sunday, July 9, we have just one race due to the late tide starting at 1730 with Maurice and Eirwen in charge, plus Mark and Trish back from Skiathos to do safety, together with Ann and Lloyd.

Dizzy Rascal