MADOG DASH - Rowing from Porthmadog to Plas Heli

Please be advised that the Madoc Yacht Club Rowing Section, Porthmadog intend to host a rowing event on Saturday, 26th July 2025.

This event is our MADOG DASH which is a timed endurance race and could involve as many as 20 Celtic Longboats racing from Porthmadog harbour to the beach at Pwllheli known as Glan Y Don.

Depending on numbers, we will either start as previous years with competing boats launching from the Porthmadog public slip then proceeding in single file up to a safety RIB positioned at the central mooring buoy 50 metres down-stream of the Glaslyn Bridge which will be sending boats away at 30 second intervals with the actual start line will be at the Madoc Yacht Club OR if we have a smaller number of participants, we will line up by Buoy 15 / the Pill Box at Borth y Gest and then all set off at the sound of the hotoer. 

The finish will be at Glan Y Don beach Pwllheli. 

The route follows the channel lateral buoys out to the Fairway Buoy then on to Pwllheli, a distance of approximately 13 miles.

This is an official Welsh Sea Rowing event and complies with all their organising and safety rules.

SAFETY

There will be a lead boat flying a green flag and a minimum of four safety boats on a ratio of one safety boats to six rowing boats. All safety boat handlers will be RYA Power boat level 2 qualified with at least one assistant.

At least two of the Safety boats will have Grab-bags containing emergency flares, foil blankets, foghorn, first aid and throw line.

There will be a Coxes briefing half an hour before the start of the race covering the start procedure, the safety cover, the course and action to be taken in the event of an emergency or change of course, the hazards of rowing through our busy harbour and the rules of SOLAS.

All competing boats will be checked for sea worthiness complete with grab bags containing emergency flares, survival foil blankets, throw-line and VHF radio. A comms check will be carried out with all vessels prior to the start.

All safety boats will have a VHF radio and regular comms checks will be carried out on channel 77.

High tide in Porthmadog is predicted at 10: 23 with a 4.82m tide. The race is scheduled to start at 945am.

We will contact Holyhead Coastguard on the morning of the race to advise on the numbers and race start, and contact again once all boats are back in Pwllheli

Once ashore at Pwllheli, all boats will be trailered back to Porthmadog.

We respectfully request your permission to use Porthmadog harbour for part of this race and to park boat trailers on the Pencei Green.

Yours faithfully

Sarah 

Race Secretary, 

MYC RowingPorthmadog