2024 Comet National Championship at Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club: Join the Excitement!

2024 Comet National Championship at Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

24-26 August 2024

An excellent turnout of 29 competitors plus supporters arrived at the stunning rural location of Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club for the 2024 Comet National Championship. This location is nestled on the shores of a large reservoir in a beautiful off-grid setting, high up (over 1,000 feet) in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The views are spectacular, and all necessary facilities are available due to the hard work of the club members, who are excellent hosts. Solar panels and gas containers proved to be effective substitutes for mains supplies.

The participants experienced a variety of conditions, including wet, dry, overcast, sunny, windy, and light winds from the West or South West. The West winds in this valley setting are particularly tricky, as they blow over the narrowest part of the reservoir, with tall trees and steep slopes creating wind shadows and shifty conditions.

The fleet included 7 ladies and had a wide age range from young adults to seasoned veterans, with the oldest competitor being 78 years old. Four former national champions were also in the mix.

The local support team did an outstanding job in welcoming sailors, assisting with boat unloading, launches, recoveries, rescue services, and the external RYA race officer Ken Newing. Moreover, they provided meals for all competitors throughout the three days and organized two fantastic social events. Kudos to MTSC!

Saturday

Race 1 – Winds were light and variable from the West, making it a challenge to set a course. The first start resulted in a general recall; however, that was the only significant issue of the event. Following a tricky first beat, Pete Coop and Eddie Pope were battling at the front throughout the first lap, but unfortunately, they sailed off toward the wrong mark on lap two, slipping back to around 12th place. Despite this, as the race progressed, Pete managed to reclaim first place, with Guy Wilkins finishing second, just ahead of Eddie. The fleet then headed ashore for lunch.

Race 2 – The wind picked up, providing a more stable racetrack. Ken decided on a windward-leeward course with a spacer mark, keeping us cleared from the unsettled winds off the shoreline. Pete led nearly the entire race, finishing comfortably in first, followed by Eddie and then George Coop, Pete’s son.

Race 3 – Ken shortened the first leg for the third course change of the day. Eddie had a great start but was seemingly unaware of the course change and sailed past the windward mark by some distance, ultimately recovering to 4th place. Pete completed a clean sweep on day one by winning again, with Guy and George finishing thereafter.

After day one, Pete was leading the event, followed by Eddie. Discards would only apply from race 4 onward, and both George and Guy had a poor result they needed to drop. Pete worked hard for his results, as he often faced challenges from boats behind him in changing wind conditions.

Sunday

Big breeze and rain were in the forecast, and that is precisely what we received, with winds coming from the South West. This allowed Ken to set a course more easily. The windward-leeward format worked well on Saturday, so he maintained it for Sunday. Additionally, he opted for three back-to-back races in the morning due to a forecast of stronger winds in the afternoon. Large gusts and wind shifts led to several capsizes, and some crews wisely utilized the reef option.

Race 4 – This race saw a close battle between George and Pete, with George winning by a mere boat length. A new face on the podium was Andy Dale.

Race 5 – As the wind continued to build, several boats opted out of the last two races on Sunday. There was considerable place-changing throughout the fleet, with Guy and Nigel Austin starting strong. However, by the end, Pete resumed his position at the front, followed by George and then Guy.

Race 6 – The wind was at its strongest for the regatta, with the fleet reduced to 20 boats as 9 decided to forgo the final race of the day. In addition to strong gusts, heavy showers made conditions even more challenging, prompting many in the fleet to switch to dry suits. Despite the weather, this was thrilling sailing, with many boats getting on plane throughout the fleet. Pete again took first, followed closely by George, though Nigel had led earlier in the race.

With a score of 5 wins and a second, Pete Coop had secured the regatta victory with a day remaining. However, it was still competitive for the remaining podium places among George, Guy, and Eddie as they headed into the final day.

Monday

The wind had eased, dropping down to 7-10 knots from the South West but veering to the West at times. On a sunny day, all 29 boats turned out, and Ken continued with his windward-leeward format. This decision kept the fleet away from wind shadows, allowing significant movement and chances for advancement based on wind shifts and fresh pressure.

Race 7 – This race produced a new winner on the podium: David Peacock. David expertly navigated the shifts on one of the later beats to secure a good lead, followed by Pete and Nigel, with Peter Mountford finishing fourth. George placed seventh, which, combined with Guy and Eddie finishing outside the top four, allowed him to clinch second place overall.

Race 8 – With third and fourth places overall still undecided between Guy, Eddie, and Andy, there was tremendous pressure. Eddie made a perfect start at the pin end of the long line and led at the first windward mark but was unable to maintain his lead against Pete and Guy, who finished ahead of him and gave Guy third place overall.

Overall Results:

The ladies were well represented with seven helms. Charlotte Coop won the ladies’ regatta trophy, finishing 14th overall while outperforming the other female competitors in most races. This success capped an excellent weekend for the Coop family!

Ladies Results:

1st Charlotte Coop
2nd Jacky Stagg
3rd Louise Curry
4th Meg Warren
5th Trish Peacock
6th Helen Leivers
7th Sarah Thomas

Not surprisingly, the team prize went to Winsford Flash SC, with Pete, George, and Charlotte, along with Martin Loud, all from this club. Eyott SC (Andy, John Hancox, Tobia Hancox) secured second place.

Eddie, the class chair, and Championship winner Pete thanked Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club for their hospitality and tremendous effort in hosting such a successful event.

The Comet continues to be a popular choice in the dinghy market, with many sailors choosing it after trying different dinghies. The Comet is light, manageable in a wide range of wind conditions, has a flexible rig with reefing options, and boasts a friendly, active class association. Remarkably, three of the first four finishers sailed Comets built over 20 years ago, showcasing the hull’s longevity—good maintenance and a newer sail are the keys to sustained performance.

Full list of prize winners:

National Champion: Pete Coop
Ladies Champion: Charlotte Coop
Ancient Mariner Trophy: Nigel Austin
Veterans Trophy: Chris Robinson
Committee Prize: Will Griffiths