South Caernavonshire Yacht Club Abersoch, Club Hwylio De Sir Caernarfon
The South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC) clubhouse has a perfect position on a headland overlooking Cardigan Bay. It has stunning views towards Snowdonia, the West Coast of Wales and St Tudwalds Islands.
The first National Championship was held in 1951 with the National Firefly Association. Since then numerous championships have been held at SCYC including the Squib Nationals in 2000 (and returning in 2006), GP14 Worlds in 2003 and GP14 nationals in 2004, and the Cork 1720 Europeans in 2001. In addition to championships, SCYC runs its own annual events of Keelboat week, Squib Open week, Mirror week and the increasingly popular Abersoch Dinghy Week.
The club has good facilities with changing rooms, bar and restaurant, plus car parking close by. Boats are moored at SCYC in a sheltered bay on swing moorings and the club has its own launch service running from their jetty to the moorings.
Nearby at Pwllheli (6 miles by sea) there is a large marina, with slipway and crane launching facilities plus overnight visitors’ berths.
The Sonata Nationals at Abersoch were the first time the event had moved away from the traditional Sonata fleet areas as the club has a growing number of sonatas, who actively race within its well-established keelboat fleet.
There is good access from the M6 and A55 in North Wales and therefore Abersoch is easily reached from all parts of the UK—a half-way point for the major fleets in the Solent, Medway, Scotland and the Lake District and a short drive from the ferry ports of Holyhead or Liverpool for the Dublin and Belfast fleets.
Abersoch is a small coastal resort about seven miles west of Pwllheli, occupying a sunny position on the south-eastern side of the Llyn Peninsula. The easterly aspect means it has picturesque views of St. Tudwal's Islands and the sweeping mountain ranges of Snowdonia. There are miles of sandy beaches in the area, including Abersoch and Warren beaches. The beach is considered to be safe with no severe currents and a motor-boat exclusion zone provides a secure area for bathers.
The development of Abersoch village as a tourist centre has only really come about during the last half of the twentieth century. Abersoch has grown to become an important water sports centre, with South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club running National, European and World sailing championships, plus the annual wakeboard festival, “Wakestock” run in Abersoch and Pwllheli. In addition there are good beaches for surfing and windsurfing nearby.
To get to the club, travel to Caernarfon either via the A5 or the A55. From Caernarfon follow the A499 to Pwllheli and thence to Abersoch.
As you enter Abersoch you will see the Harbour on your Left. The road bears round to the left, over a small bridge and up to the Town centre. Take the road up the side of the Petrol Station (actually straight ahead of you). SCYC will be found at the end of this road. Parking fees are payable during the sailing season.
Club contact details:
South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club
Abersoch
Pwllheli LL53 7DP
Telephone: 01758 712338
www.scyc.co.uk
info@scyc.co.uk