Category: News

We have now finished another very successful Festival, once again numbers increased for both the racing and LA-LA Rally and both weekends were very popular and enjoyable.

For those who were racing, we have published the results on the website:

For all participants, we have also created a public photo and video album, which is open to all – you just need to have a Google account and it’s as simple as drag-and-drop. If you have photos or videos of the event, please share them for all to see – many of you have already contributed yours:

The organisers would like to thank everyone who took part, and we hope to see you again next year!

The early bird discount on Conwy River Festival entry fees ends tomorrow, so this is your last chance to take advantage of the price reduction.

Before tomorrow, you can enter the racing or the LA-LA Rally for just £20, and both events for just £30.

After tomorrow, the prices go up to £25 for a single event and £40 for both events.

The festival is already proving hugely popular this year, with 53 signups across both events, so don’t miss out!

Entries for the Conwy River Festival are coming in thick and fast. We have 17 boats entered so far, across the LA-LA and every class in the racing.

If you haven’t entered yet, the online signup form is quick and easy and lets you enter both the racing and LA-LA at the same time, if you wish. Alternatively, you can download and print a paper form yourself, or pick one up from the Conwy Harbour Office.

Remember that the discounted entry fee of £20 for one event or £30 for both is only available if you pay before the end of June, so be quick if you want to take advantage of this offer.

You can now sign up for the 2019 Conwy River Festival online by clicking here. 

• The racing is £25 per boat.
• The LA-LA Rally is £25 per boat.
• If you sign up for both events, it’s just £40.

However, as an early bird special, if you enter and pay before the 1st July, the single event fee is £20 and it’s only £30 to enter both events.

Racing Entry Fee includes 4 tickets to the daily prize buffets on Saturday 20th July (at the North Wales Cruising Club) and Sunday 21st July (at the Conway Yacht Club), as well as 4 tickets for the final prize giving dinner on Sunday 28th July (at the Mulberry).

LA-LA Entry Fee includes 4 tickets to the buffet meal on Friday 26th July (at the Royal Welsh), free berthing at Caernarfon for Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July and 4 tickets to the final prize giving dinner on Sunday 28th July (at the Mulberry).

All entrants get discounted berthing at Conwy and Deganwy marinas from the 19th to 28th. See here for more details.

Festival Dates

Following the successful format last year, the 2019 Conwy River Festival will take place over two weekends in July:

• Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st – Quay Day, Racing
• Friday 26th – Sunday 28th – LA-LA Rally, Final Prizegiving

Further Information

We have just published the full 2019 calendar of events for the festival, as well as the Notice of Race, and the Sailing Instructions for Cruisers, Day boats, and Nobbys, Gaffers and Classics. Quay Day this year coincides with Conwy Lifeboat Day and will include kayak and rowing races, and you can even try out a jetski!

For the sail racing and LA-LA Rally, we will be accepting sign-ups and payment online and at the Harbour Office again this year. Online sign-ups will be available soon.

So the 7 week British heatwave summer decided it was going to have a little breather, coincidentally starting at just the same moment the LA-LA fleet left Conwy to head for Caernarfon on Friday, and finishing just as the fleet were approaching Conwy on Sunday. 

Although it was wet and grey on Friday, we at least had a good breeze and 15 boats headed out, up around Puffin and down to Menai Br where we waited for the tide. The weather improved a little during the day and we had a clear trip through the Swellies and on to Caernarfon where we had a warm welcome from the Royal Welsh and a buffet meal. 

Saturday dawned grey and dank. We had plans for a beach barbecue and despite some positive thinking and talk of braving it, common sense prevailed and many of us decamped to Weatherspoons for breakfast.   Various groups went walking or steam train riding, and by early afternoon it had brightened so some of us resurrected the barbecue idea on the waterfront, with great success.

A bit later, after some drinks and the judging of the quiz in Caernarfon Sailing Club, we all decamped to Fu’s Cantonese restaurant for a slap up meal.  Very loud, yes, but we had fun. 

Sunday dawned. And guess what – it was grey and dank. We donned waterproofs and set out in the morning, paused for breakfast on the moorings off Port Dinorwic and then headed off for a LW passage through the Swellies. With rather well executed timing, the weather started breaking and it was bright and good vis by the time we arrived at Brittania Bridge. 

The wind picked up to a decent f3-4and we all had a great sail back to Conwy, ending the day in bright sunshine, just to rub it in.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part – we ended up with 18 boats (as a couple more joined us over the weekend) which was a fabulous turnout and thank you all for the lovely gift to myself and Mary at the prize giving – that really made our day!

Congratulations to the four prize winners:

• The CRF Shield for expert seamanship to James on Magic Dragon
• The Dawson Cobbler Trophy for unconventional sailing activity to Chris and John on Barada II
• The Good Egg award to Sally from Pinch of Thyme
• The LA-LA Trophy (awarded to the winners of the quiz) to Sandra and Arthur on Scooby.

To see photos from the whole of the CRF – racing and LA-LA – please check out the gallery here, and please feel free to add your own photos too.

Best wishes, and see you all out on the water.

Austin.
Mahalo of Conwy

Saturday dawned clear and sunny, with a forecast that promised an 8-12kt breeze from the W/SW.   It would have been nice if the breeze had turned up in the bay, and for a while we thought there would be no races at all, but eventually a light zephyr arrived from the N/NE and  all classes set off on short courses.

After a while the courses were shortened further.  The Class 1 boats all managed to finish while some of the Class 2s completed a shortened, shortened course.  Unfortunately the Nobbys, Gaffers and Classics just didn’t get enough wind to get moving so their race had to eventually be cancelled.

Meanwhile in the river, there was a gentle N/NW force 2, which was enough for the CODs and small cruiser class to get going on course 7.  The CODs completed a lap and a half, while Scooby completed a lap.

After the slow day on Saturday, the breeze finally arrived on the Sunday, both in the river and out in the bay, providing between 5 and 15 kts from the SW. The classes in the river completed two races, all classes got some good, close and competitive racing and at one point there were even rumours of protest hearings!

Hopefully most had fun on the water, if a little frustrating until the wind arrived, but at least the weather was gorgeous with blue skies and warm sunshine.

For the full results from both days, please click here.

We have also set up a picture gallery here that you can all contribute your photos to if you wish.  Please feel free to add any of your own photos from the racing or upcoming LA-LA Rally.

 

The festival committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the following:

• Our sponsors Quay Marinas, Lakeland Leisure Estates, The Quay Hotel, The Conwy Council, Mostyn Estates, Buckley’s Mobile Crane Service, Roland Young Haulage, Robinson’s Brewery, Riverside Business Park and Parisella’s of Conwy.
• Dave Rowlands & John Fothergill, race officers for the cruisers.
• Richard Stagg & Pam MacDonald, race officers for small cruisers and CODs.
• The Conwy Harbour team.
• Bob Grace for the use of his boat, Rovin,  as committee boat.
• Pat Sale, Harry and Carrie Thompson and Alan Courtney for organising the evening event at the NWCC.
• Vic Edwards and all who helped in the galley at CYC.
• Becky and Elaine, behind the bar at CYC and NWCC.
• And finally a big thank you from Steve Gorst, CRF Chairman,  to the members of the CRF committee for the time and effort they have put in and the level of commitment they have shown.

Here is a selection of some of the photos from the weekend:

Briefing Day

Racing in the Bay

Racing in the Harbour

Thank you to Roger Millward for the excellent photography.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ENTRANTS TO THE CONWY RIVER FESTIVAL:

Your entry in either the racing or the LA-LA entitles you to up to 4 free tickets for the main prize giving event on Sunday 22nd July at the Conwy Golf Club.

Apart from the prize giving, the night includes a buffet meal, live band and dancing.

The evening kicks off at 1930 with food served from 2000.  However, you MUST sign up in advance if you wish to attend.  To do this, click the link below and fill in the very quick and simple form:

IMPORTANT: Click here to sign up for the prize giving dinner

 

We have some great news on berthing for the festival.

The Conwy River Festival organisers are delighted to announce that the discounted berthing offer has been extended to 14 days for CRF entrants.

Entrants to the Conwy River Festival and/or the LA-LA rally are eligible for up to 14 nights berthing at Conwy or Deganwy Marina for £10 per night.

Berthing is subject to availability, must be arranged with the Marina direct, and is subject to confirmation that you are entered in the event.