Red Wharf Bay Sailing & Watersports Club presents
Sunday 9 August 2026 — Traeth Bychan
Thank you to every competitor and volunteer who made the first Four Islands race happen — on the water, on the beach and in the clubhouse.
Sunday 9 August 2026
First of all — please make sure you know where the race is actually starting from. Despite the club's name, we're not based at Red Wharf Bay itself. Race Control — the Red Wharf Bay Sailing & Watersports Club clubhouse — is at Traeth Bychan, three miles further north along the coast. Allow time to find it if you haven't raced with us before.
Parking on the day is limited to the paid, council-run car park. There's no realistic on-road parking within easy walking distance of the clubhouse, so plan on using it rather than looking for a spot nearby.
Launching is through the Dinghy Park, not straight off the beach. If you're early, please move through and leave your boat at the top of the beach — it keeps things moving and makes launching easier for everyone.
| 08:30 | Sign on at Race Control, Traeth Bychan |
| ~08:30 | Provisional course posted — noticeboard & WhatsApp group |
| 09:15 | Competitor briefing — RWBSWC clubhouse. All competitors to attend. |
| 09:35 | Launching signal (Flag D) — boats may then leave the launching area |
| 10:10 | Warning signal |
| 10:15 | Start |
| 15:15 | Time limit — fixed, whatever time we start |
| ~15:30 | Fleet back on the beach |
| 15:45 | Sign off, in person, on returning ashore |
| After racing | Prizegiving — as soon as practicable, RWBSWC |
Course length and the direction we start in are both decided on the morning of the race — see The Course, below, for how that call gets made.
If the start is postponed, Flag AP will be flown ashore — the lowering of AP, not a second Flag D, is the signal to launch. Full signal detail in the Sailing Instructions.
The Four Islands · Pedair Ynys
An out-and-back course with two long arms stretching north and south from a central Start/Finish at Traeth Bychan. You sail one arm, return, then sail the other. The course takes you through the waters around four islands — Ynys Dulas, Moelfre Island, Puffin Island and Anglesey herself. The race passes close to each, but the marks of the course are physical buoys positioned in the adjacent waters. No island is itself a rounding mark. Benllech may be a permanently positioned navigation buoy; the remaining marks will be laid for the race. At Moelfre, competitors may have the unusual choice of which side to pass — a tactical decision that could shape your race.
Southern Arm
Northern Arm
The final course and mark order will be confirmed on the day once wind and sea conditions are known. In lighter conditions the course may be reduced; in stronger breeze it may be extended.
Which arm we sail first, and how far we extend each one, depends on the wind on the day. Most likely, that means a shorter upwind leg to start, a long downwind leg, and another upwind to finish — but the order and length are only confirmed on the morning of the race.
The Course · Pedair Ynys
The race area — Traeth Bychan, the coastline and the waters of Ynys Môn, seen from above.
Who Can Enter
Open to monohull dinghies and non-foiling multihulls suitable for sustained coastal sailing. We would particularly like to see a strong turnout from club sailors across Ynys Môn and beyond — boats and crews comfortable with open water, tidal planning and a proper day's racing.
795 – 1300
RYA Portsmouth Yardstick 2026
Boats outside these bands or without an official PY may be accepted at the discretion of the Organising Authority. Full eligibility details are defined in the Notice of Race.
This is a decision about fleet management and safety focus for this format this year — not a comment on the capability of those classes. We hope future editions may evolve as the race grows.
The Race Returns
If you've sailed the AODR before, you'll know the old course well: Beaumaris to Traeth Bychan, threading Puffin Sound and sweeping along the Ynys Môn coastline.
For 2026, the course changes — and we want to be clear about why. The race is not becoming smaller. It is not becoming easier. It is not losing its coastal character.
Instead, it is being reshaped so that it can be delivered properly, safely and sustainably from Traeth Bychan — without losing the adventure, judgement and endurance that define it.
This is about building the next chapter of the race, not repeating the last one.
"The AODR has always been about adventure with purpose and a hard‑earned finish along the coast of Ynys Môn. That remains unchanged."
Context
The previous course was a classic. Many of us have raced it for decades. But times change. Launching in one location and finishing in another adds complexity for competitors and volunteers alike. Modern safety expectations demand more structure and coordination than they did in the 1960s — when planing 505s famously outran the safety fleet.
The ambition is unchanged. What changes is how we deliver it.
Post-Race
FAQ
Common questions about eligibility, the course, race day logistics and what to expect.
Competitor FAQ →For the Record
The 2026 Notice of Race — eligibility, safety requirements, entry procedures and race management.
Download Notice of Race →Signals, schedule, safety and course procedures for race day.
Version 1.1, issued 4 August — instruction 15: the race would not run beyond 15:15 even from a postponed start.
View Sailing Instructions →Get in Touch
Race enquiries of any kind should be directed to the AODR team. We will do our best to respond promptly.
Sunday
9 August 2026
Traeth Bychan, Ynys Môn