Teams from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competed for the title of Tri-Nations Champions 2012 at Pwllheli Sailing Club on 28th/29th January. 

Saturday dawned with a typical winter’s day of crisp, clear skies, glassy waters and Snowdonia basked in sunshine and snow… Stunning but not very conducive for sailing.. and this was how it stayed.. Not to despair, as each team had their coach at hand to make best use of the time and run some sure activities from mock protests, goal setting, equipment work whilst the race organiser (yours truly) came up with a plan B.

And so at 15:00 (still sunny, glassy, and very pretty) Wales, Ireland & Scotland move the race track to Glaslyn Park Go Carting for a series of heats before a final involving 4 from each nation… and of course the coaches had to have a go at the end where all application of the RRS 2009-12 were dispelled, as cries for “room” were duly ignored as overtake and die ethos applied… (and whilst making a seamanlike rounding of turn 3 yours truly was rammed off the track by racing hound dog Paul Simes with cries of RRS NA – “you were in the way”)

Anyway – Micky Beckett (from Wales) converted his Laser pace into a fine Go Carting win making it Wales 1, Ireland and Scotland 0, at the halfway point.

A dinner for the nations back at the National Watersports Centre Plas Menai of fine Xmas dinner feed was followed by an insightful and inspirational talk by Olympic Head Coach Chris Gowers and what it takes to follow the long journey to become an Olympic Athlete…

Sunday was what home countries do best… 2 degrees C at lunch time, driving rain which never ran out, 16 knots from the south…  For mere mortals this would be a day to think carefully before visiting the supermarket.  At 09:45 the teams launched to join their coaches (who all looked like green headed ski bears) before sailing out to the race course.  This was after the safety briefing to decide which shade of blue racing should be curtailed.

These were not mortals.. these were the Welsh, Scottish and Irish elite; here to claim victory for their nation. Battle commenced. 30 minute race time. 3 General recalls. 4 foot swell. Race 1 – Scotland look good. Race 2. A lot of Irish green stickers near the front – how are the scores looking? Race 3... Race 4… The coaches working hard between races.. Race management team holding on, as the wind moves nearer the 20 knots and the rain drove harder.

The sensible decision that 4 good races was enough, and the fleet returned to warm up, debrief with their coaches on the day, the lessons going forward and prize giving at 15:15

Wales 19 Points
Scotland 45 Points
Northern Ireland 47 Points
Full Results

Thank You all for the weekend and braving the weather! Fantastic sailing conditions and excellent racing!

Pictures on Facebook to follow and event video will appear on the event website in the next day or so!

Am nawr Diolch yn fawr i bawb and GO WALES
1st Laser Radial Beckett Michael WAL L
2nd Laser Radial Preece Jack WAL L
3rd Laser Radial Eames Christopher NI L

1st Topper Goddard Aled WAL T
2nd Topper Murray Aaron SCO T
3rd Topper James Tilly WAL T

Wales Team 2012