World Championships & UK Nationals, Pwllheli Sailing Club, 23 Jul 2009 - 31 Jul 2009
Conditions have failed to moderate here in Pwllheli, leaving Race Officer Mike Pearson no alternative but to abandon racing on the the final day at the 2009 Mirror World Championship. This means that Andy Smith and his ten year old son Tom are the new Mirror World Champions. Second is the brother and sister team Chris and Jessica Rust. Third is Izy Fitzgerald crewed by Emily Peters who also win the Oceanair 2009 Mirror Junior World Championship....
As expected the RC have posted a one hour postponement while they continue to assess the weather conditions. The media team have just driven out to the point to check out the situation first hand and we have to say the chance of racing going ahead look pretty slim right now. There are some huge waves rolling across the race area and the wind appears to be continuing to build. More news when we have it.
The strong winds are back for the final day of racing at the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli Sailing Club in North Wales. Right now the bay looks pretty white and racing is questionable at this stage. The event PRO has boarded a rib and is on his way out to the race course to assess the situation. More news as soon as we have it.
If you have enjoyed following the Worlds coverage you you may be interested in purchasing a copy of the Official Book of the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli Sailing Club. Photographer Paul Todd and writer Justin Chisholm have been here in Pwllheli all this week and will be producing a large format book telling the story of the regatta in words and pictures. The book will be available to purchase online in a few weeks. You can find more details at www.aquabooks.org
After a full on day with four hard races, it is shaping up to be a fantastic final day
Day four was always going to be a critical one at the 2009 Mirror World Championship and those sailors who harboured serious aspirations of being crowned World Champion were painfully aware that today could be make or break. Happily the weather played its part and competitors were treated to four spectacular races in perfect conditions. Despite some huge waves and winds which built to over 20 knots during the day, the overall quality of the racing was top flight and fully demonstrated the high skill of all the competitors at this championship.....
The SailRacer media team have been busy on and off the water, capturing all the action from the Mirror Worlds
Tom Lovesy dominated race 7 leading from the first mark and built up a huge margin by the finish. Behind him the battle for second was a fierce one. Last reach the breeze really kicked in at over 20 knots. Top few: 70559 70535 69776 70502
Chris and Jessica rust won a thrilling first race of the day sailed in glorious conditions. They were pushed hard all the way by 70506 and Andy and Tom Smith. Top few results: 70537 70506 70513 70519 69667 70546 RC are setting up for next race
As the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli builds towards a climax the top five competitors know that today's races will be key to their chances of overall victory. Currently leading the regatta is Charlotte Fitzgerald and Annie Sibthorp who hold a three point lead over European Champions Chris and Jessica Rust. In third and just two points behind is Hugo Sloper and Emma Spruce. Both Andy Smith and son Tom as well as Izy Fitzgerald & Emily Peters share the same points and are poised to pounce in fourth and fifth respectively.
As the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli builds towards a climax the top five competitors know that today's races will be key to their chances of overall victory. Currently leading the regatta is Charlotte Fitzgerald and Annie Sibthorp who hold a three point lead over European Champions Chris and Jessica Rust. In third and just two points behind is Hugo Sloper and Emma Spruce. Both Andy Smith and son Tom as well as Izy Fitzgerald & Emily Peters share the same points and are poised to pounce in fourth and fifth respectively.
The penultimate day of the Mirror Worlds is looking the best weather wise with a moderate breeze and some sunshine.
The penultimate day of the Mirror Worlds is looking the best weather wise with a moderate breeze and some sunshine.
The penultimate day of the Mirror Worlds is looking the best weather wise with a moderate breeze and some sunshine.  
Last beat 70504 takes the gun from 70533 after a little tacking match. Close behind is 70557. Next 70502 69776 70513 steals it from 70537 70102
First three boats locked together at mark and all gybe together. After mark 70533 and 70502 and IRL70533 were involved in a luffing match. 70502 did turns.
Breeze softening to 5 knots.
Very close betwen first three boats. At leeward gate leaders take left hand mark 70533 70504 70502 70352 70537 69776 70557 70558 70505 70513
At wing mark Close battle for first and second now between IRL70533 70502 next is 69776 70557 70504 70552 70537 70557 just performed 720 on run.
70352 Then IRL70533 then 69776 70533 70502 70557 70704 70537 70505 70558 70513 70574 70465 70172 70562 50735
70352 Then IRL70533 then 69776 70533 70502 70557 70704 70537 70505 70558 70513 70574 70465 70172 70562 50735
Fleet evenly spread along the line. Boats coming off the middle of the line look to be leading.
Tough day for the race comittee and a long one for the sailors. The fleet are circling the RC boat to check who has been black flagged.
he finished 9th in that race and he told us the breeze has been flicking around a lot during the racing. He described it as 'scary'.
They told us they were delighted with their win and said they didn't expect to Ger into first. We will post the full video interview when we get ashore.
RC have aborted that start and are resetting the line
Heavy port bias and tide pushing fleet towards the line.
Six to seven knots of breeze.
64909 takes comfortable second
64909 are in second. Closely followed by 69647 and 63244 as boats start second lap.
While the main fleet wait for wind the Beach fleet are set up for their first race of the day. Ten boats are jockeying for position on a short start line a few hundred yards from the beach.
It seems there is no happy medium with the UK weather. It's either blowing dogs off chains or Harry Flatters. Right now the fleet is rigged and ready on Abererch Beach but the RC has held them ashore as they wait for the forecast 10 knot breeze to arrive. From our Media Rib on the water we can hear the chattering from the competitors clearly. Hurry up and wait.
The storms of yesterday, which looked as if they were never going to fade, did finally subside in the early hours of this morning. Conditions here in Pwllheli are now much more benign with cloudy skies and a gentle five knots of breeze blowing. We are scheduled for a long day on the water with four races planned to try and catch up a little after yesterday's enforced layday....
After no racing on Day 2, competitors are waking to another wet and windy day, fingers crossed the breeze will ease to allow the Worlds to get back on track.
With no sailing today we grabbed an interview with Andy & Tom Smith to chat about their mixed performance on the first day at the 2009 Mirror World Championship.
Amongst the welcome visitors at the 2009 Mirror World Championship in Pwllheli is Johnny Bucknall, son of the original Mirror designer and TV DIY celebrity Barry Bucknall. Johnny who is in town for a couple of days to soak up the atmosphere of the World Championship said he was delighted to see so many people enjoying the Mirror experience. 'I was about seven when my dad produced the very original Mirror prototype....
A short while ago the Race Team made the sensible decision that the wind conditions are too strong to safely send the fleet afloat and has accordingly posted flag N, which means that racing is officially canceled for today. Conditions for tomorrow look better and the plan at this stage is start racing at 11AM and try to get four races completed.
Mirror legend Guy Wilkins has just arrived back in Pwllheli having seen the fantastic sailing going on at the Worlds yesterday. Guy was a competitor at last week's UK National Championship here in North Wales but made the decision not to sail this week at the Worlds. However back in London he was avidly watching the day one action online via the Official Worlds website. Eventually it all became too much to bear and he realised he just had to be involved. Having re-packed the boat and wetsuits he made the trek back to Pwllheli and arrived here this morning. Nice one Guy! It's good to have you back....
Competitors at the 2009 Mirror Worlds have been greeted by twenty five knots winds and big seas on their arrival at the regatta centre this morning. With racing looking uncertain today, the race committee will be sending a rib out to the racecourse at ten o'clock to accurately assess the conditions. Based on this information and the most up to date weather forecast a decision will be made regarding today's racing schedule.
Competitors at the 2009 Mirror Worlds have been greeted by twenty five knots winds and big seas on their arrival at the regatta centre this morning. With racing looking uncertain today, the race committee will be sending a rib out to the racecourse at ten o'clock to accurately assess the conditions. Based on this information and the most up to date weather forecast a decision will be made regarding today's racing schedule.
It has been a great day for the family crew pairings on the first day of the 2009 Mirror World Championship in Pwllheli, North Wales. All three races were won by brother and sister or father and son teams. Chris and Jessica Rust from Brightlingsea SC lead the Championship with an impressive 2, 3, 7 scoreline.
It has been a great day for the family crew pairings on the first day of the 2009 Mirror World Championship in Pwllheli, North Wales. All three races were won by brother and sister or father and son teams. Chris and Jessica Rust from Brightlingsea SC lead the Championship with an impressive 2, 3, 7 scoreline.
Christopher and Jessica Rust from Brightlingsea SC lead the 2009 Mirror World Championship after three exciting races on day one in Pwllheli, North Wales. Their impressive 2, 3, 7 socreline gives them a three point margin over second placed Ed and Beth Grey who won the first race of the day in fine style. After winning the pin end of the line they were able to tack and cross the fleet. Although they rounded the first mark in second place they took the lead on the first reach and were never challenged from then onwards. Ed and Beth who are from the Royal Windermere YC and won the 2008 Mirror Swedish Championship, said conditions on the water made for superb sailing. 'The downwind sailing was great with plenty of surfing opportunities.' said Ed. 'Going upwind was more difficult in the monster waves.'....
70513 has a big lead over 70506 Next: 70519 70535 70559 70574 70537 Great surfing conditions.
South African boat nailed the pin and leads the fleet away to the left.
Breeze is up to 16 knots. Pin bias on line. In sequennce for next start.
URL 70444 is the back marker by a long way. They are perseveringl however and on final reach. Should be finished in next five minutes.
70502 70513 70537 70504 70315 70558 70356 70548
Breeze still at around 13-14 knots. 770502 70546 70523 70537 70356 70504
Bot were righted quockly.. Leaders are around leewrd gate for first time and heading to the right of the best. All very close between top five.
The fkeet is away for race two. Leaders look to be coming from the middle of the line. Breeze is at 16 knots at the windward mark. Breeze in left phase so most oof the fleet are on por5t right now.
Line is set. Breeze has built slightly snd conditions are getting more lumpy. We are at the windward mark
Race one has been sailed in soarkling conditions. 15 knots bright sunshine and 15 knots of breeze.. We are now on station in the media boat to cover race two although it is pretty lumpy out here!
The 2009 Mirror World Championship fleet are a spectacular sight as they make their way to the race area on day 1 of the regatta. With the sun breaking through, ten knot breeses and with the Snowdonia mountain range as a back drop the scene is set for a perfect day's racing here in Pwllheli...
Good morning from the media team on Day 1 of the 2009 Mirror World Championship. Thankfully the high winds of yesterday have moderated and the general weather system in play here in Pwllheli appears much more suitable for racing. That said there is still plenty of breeze for the competitors to deal with as well as some lumpy conditions left over from the gales of the previous day.....
The wind has eased the sun shining, all competitors in the Worlds are ready to go
On the eve of the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli, North Wales, competitors were able to make their final preparations before the scheduled start of racing tomorrow. The forecast weather front, which hit the North Wales coast in the early hours of this morning, made for a damp and blustery start to the day but conditions began to improve around lunchtime. The strong winds are not expected to die down before late tonight, however hopes are still high that the low pressure will have passed through before morning.
This evening resplendent in their country team uniforms, the entire hundred and seven World Championship crews took part in a noisy and colourful parade from the town to the official opening ceremony at Pwllheli Sailing Club.
The weather system currently situated over the World Championship regatta site is set to move through this afternoon and hopes are high that the planned Competitor Parade from the town of Pwllheli to the Championship Opening Ceremony at the main marquee will go ahead. Currently the wind is screaming through the rigging in the dinghy park and out in the bay conditions are pretty extreme with the wind topping 35 knots at times. Happily the weather forecast for the first day of racing tomorrow calls for a much more suitable 10 - 14 knots.
Newly crowned 2009 UK Mirror National Champions Ross Kearney and Katy Jones are looking forward to the racing at the 2009 Mirror World Championship which kicks off in Pwllheli tomorrow. However, neither of them are in any doubt about the challenge ahead. ‘The Worlds fleet will be tougher even than the Nationals’ commented Kearney. ‘With more boats on the startline it will be hard for anyone to guarantee a consistent set off results.’ ..............
Good morning from a wet and windy Pwllheli, where competitors at the 2009 World Championship have a day to complete the official regatta scrutineering process, before racing start tomorrow. UK Mirror Class chief measurer Martin Egan is heading up a twelve strong team volunteers and explains the process: 'For the main Championship fleet we are scrutineering all the boats. We check a variety of things such as the weight of the boats and the depth that the centreboard projects beneath the boat. We are also checking that all sails have been officially measured and stamped and that key dimensions on the masts like the spinnaker halliard exit point are in the correct place.....
1st Ross Kearney and Katy Jones 2nd Tom Lovesey and Milly Pugh 3rd Charlotte Fitz and Andy Sipthorp
The sun is shining, with light winds for the final day of the Nationals. Results up to Race 6, Race 7 finished, R8 starting
Peter Newton who took some awesome photos on Monday, will be back at PSC on Sunday and Tuesday
Competitors are waking to moderating winds, three race scheduled. First mark roundings now in
Day 1 of the Mirror Nationals kicked off with a brisk breeze and big seas that had being building over the last few days. This led to a short postponment to allow the Race Officers to assess the conditions.
An army of helpers have descended on the Race Office to pack the 100s of event polo shirts, caps, programmes, brochures and other goodies.
UK National Coach Peter Aitken has just started the pre-nationals training for 19 boats
Pwllheli SC is seeing a buzz of activity as the first competitors have started to arrive.
The penultimate day of the Worlds will see the prize draw for the MK3 Winder Mirror package, could this be you ?
The Mirror Worlds will be one of most media friendly ever, with on water reporting, SMS alerts and broadcast TV crew
We are pleased to annouce that local chandlery Firmhelm will be supporting the Mirror Beach Worlds. Each boat will receive a £10.00 voucher redeemable with purchases at their Chandlery/Leisurewear shop. There will also be some great spot prizes. Firmhelm are also offering a 10% discount to all competitors, family, friends and officials during the event period.
Along side the latest Mirror #70600, which can be won in the IMCA fund raising raffle you will also be able to see one of first ever Mirrors #3.
The programme has now gone off to the printers, but please feel free to download in advance as it contains plenty of useful information.
We are pleased to announce that the entry fee to the Beach Worlds is now just £10, please enter now
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