Newquay Open 4th August 1968

These photos are thought to be from a one day open meeing held at Newquay SC on Sunday 4th August 1968 which was a rehersal for the 1968 Mirror Nationals held about a month later. Thanks to the Steve & David 'Sweeney' Treen, from Falmouth, who were sailing in 10778 'Serendipity', for sharing these photos. These are clearly professionally shot, so may be © the event photographer

The story was recorded in the Cornish Guardian so report text is © Cornish Guardian. Also thanks to the www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk .

This appeared in the Cornish Guardian, Thursday 8th August 1968, page 1

National Sailing Contest

31 CORNISH ENTRIES

The Mirror Class National Championship 1988, biggest sailing event ever to be held In Newquay, is scheduled for next month, and has already attracted about 80 entries..........

...........On Sunday the Newquay club tried out the course with an open Mirror meeting. with races morning and afternoon for a trophy presented by Mr. Norman Anstis. It was a meeting which was intended to be a rehearsal for the championships themselves and it was a most useful rehearsal In that it discovered a number of snags which might otherwise have been found in the championships themselves. Looe took away the trophy and the Newquay organisers gained some useful experience.

This report, giving more details, appeared in the Cornish Guardian, Thursday 8th August 1968, page 3

Looe Boats Take The Prizes

Mirror Championship Races At Newquay

An open championship for Mirror dinghies was held by Newquay Sailing Club on Sunday as a rehearsal for the national championships to be held next month at Newquay. Looe boats took the first three positions in the final result.

The morning and afternoon races contributed towards a points total, the winner to hold the trophy for one year. Conditions were ideal with the breeze improving for the second race.

A long triangular course was laid the first leg being a beat out to the seaward mark. followed by a reach to Porth and finally a run to the Harbour buoy. From the start line, some boats tacked towards the Headland while others preferred to head for the centre of the Bay and this tactic no doubt paid off. The Looe boats were well to the fore and Petroc Dan, in ‘Keryth’, who has won in Newquay previously, was first to the weather mark, closely followed by B. Carvey in ‘Touche’. Two Newquay boats were forced to retire with rigging failures. The leading boats kept their positions but there was considerable changing of places by the remainder. Steve Mitchell. in the Treviglas boat ‘Puddleduck’, moved up to finish in fifth position. Result (start 11.30) 'Keryth'. Petroc Dan. 12.52.16; 2, 'Touche', B. Carvey. 12.54.41: 3. 'Shamrock'. D. Hocking. 12.56.35.

Almost a Replica

The second three-round race got under way with more breeze and a choppier sea. Again. boats tacked from the line in opposite directions but once more those boats which sailed into the centre of the Bay seemed to do better. This second race was almost a replica of the first with the same two crews from Looe leading the fleet. Bill Owen, of Newquay, in 'Nile Wiz'. improved his morning position to finish third which gave him an overall position of fourth. Nothing could heed off Petroc Dan in 'Keryth' who finished first again and was a worthy first winner of the Anstis trophy.

Results

Editors note: We only know the first three places I don't know what scoring system was used, so just race positions recorded.

The trophy and prizes to the first three crews were presented by Mrs. Norman Anstis, who with her husband had given the trophy for this Mirror open championship. The club Commodore, Mr. L. Bellingham, introduced Mrs. Anstis and also thanked visiting crews. 

Editors Note: For the sake of completeness,here are the other sail numbers in the photos: 1257, 4548, 5882, 7274, 7788, 10037, 10778 - Serendipity, 11900, 12060